In what direction do electric field lines point with respect to positive and negative charges?

Electric field lines are used to represent the strength and direction of the electric field produced by charges. They always originate from positive charges and terminate at negative charges. This representation is based on the nature of electric force; a positive charge experiences a force that moves it away from other positive charges (hence the lines point away from positive charges) and towards negative charges, which exert an attractive force.

The pattern of these lines provides a visual understanding of how electric fields operate. The greater the density of the lines, the stronger the electric field in that region. Since electric fields are defined by their influence on charged particles, a positive charge moves away from other positives due to repulsion and is attracted to negatives. This concept highlights that the lines emanate from positive and converge towards negative charges, clearly illustrating the interaction between different types of charge.

The correct understanding of electric field lines is fundamental in analyzing electrical interactions, and recognizing that they flow away from positive charges and towards negative charges is a key principle of electrostatics.