Question

Is the electric field of a charge has any effect on itself?

Answer 1

Are you asking if a point charge effects itself with its own electric field? The answer is no.

Think of it this way. Place a point charge at a certain place in space (let's say the origin... It doesn't matter). It will have an electric field that point radially inwards or outwards from itself (depending on if it is positive or negative). Either way, all of the vectors in that vector field will cancel out.

You could prove that mathematically, or you could just look at it qualitatively. If all of the arrow are pointing inwards, then where would the charge go if it were to move under the influence of it's field? It feels an equal push from all side, so it will go nowhere. If all of the arrows are pointing outwards, again, where would it go? It would feel an equal pull in all directions, and go nowhere.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

This is analogous to asking if the gravitational field of an object with mass affects itself. In as sense any interactions that would be possible are represented by the gravitational field observed. So if there are any other self-interactions, there would be none.

Answer 4

Can someone compare the situation with Self Induction? A physical comparision not a mathematical one.

Answer 5

Both capacitors and inductors store energy. For a capacitor it is in an electric field and for an inductor it is in a magnetic field.
For a capacitor it is quite simple to visualise the storage of energy because it is linked to the distribution of charges and it can be likened to the energy stored in a stretched spring - potential energy.
A magnetic field is produced by moving charges and as the charges have mass the charges must therefore possess kinetic energy. That is what an inductor is - a device which stores energy because of the motion of charges within it and so can be likened to a moving mass at the end of a spring which has kinetic energy.

Answer 6

A charge doesn't experiences the effect of its own electric field; similarly a mass doesn't experiences the effect of its own gravitational field.

What is reason that a similar situation is not observed in case of magnetic field?

Answer 7

^^ This is what I actually wanted to ask..

Answer 8

Self-induction is manifested by the the inductor "fighting" a changing current that passes through it inducing a voltage across its coils. Similarly, a capacitor will "fight" a changing voltage and induce a current through it. We see all this as a "lag" in current flowing through the inductor relative to the induced voltage and a "lag" in the voltage across the capacitor, relative to the current flowing through it.

These properties where currents or voltage lags within these types of elements is so essential to life as and was so important to our understanding of electromagnetic waves, including light and radio.

These induced properties are not self-interactions per but are the result of external energy and their reactions to it.

I am not aware of anything similar with gravity where gravitational fields are induced by a changing mass, for example.

Answer 9

no electric field of a charge is produced by itself so it has no effect on itself. it is only affected by other electric field produced by another charge