The electric field due to a positive point charge is directed...

• A. It points toward the charge.
• B. It points perpendicular to the radial line.
• C. It points away from the charge.
• D. It has no definite direction.

Answer: (C)

The direction of the electric field from a positive point charge is outward from the charge along the radial line. This follows from the definition E = F/q: the field points in the direction a positive test charge would be pushed. A positive source charge repels a positive test charge, so the force—and thus the field—points away from the source along the line joining the charge to the point where you're measuring the field. It’s a definite radial direction, not toward the charge and not perpendicular to the radial line. (Magnitude shrinks with distance as 1/r^2, but the direction remains outward.)