To calculate the force exerted by an electric field on a charge, you can use the equation:

Electric fields are generated by charged particles and can exert forces on other charged particles within their influence. The strength of an electric field is measured in newtons per coulomb (N/C) and is denoted by the symbol $E$. According to the equation $F = qE$, the force $F$ (in newtons) exerted by the electric field on a charge $q$ (in coulombs) is directly proportional to the strength of the electric field $E$ (in N/C).

To apply this equation, you must know the charge of the particle and the strength of the electric field it encounters. For instance, if a charge of $2 \, \mu C$ (microcoulombs) is placed in an electric field with a strength of $5 \, N/C$, the force acting on the charge can be calculated as follows:

It is essential to understand that the direction of the force is influenced by the sign of the charge. Positive charges are attracted to regions of lower potential energy, while negative charges are drawn towards areas of higher potential energy. Additionally, the orientation of the electric field affects the direction of the force: for positive charges, the force acts in the same direction as the electric field, whereas for negative charges, the force acts in the opposite direction.