What does the electric force describe?

The electric force specifically describes the attraction or repulsion between electric charges. This force is governed by Coulomb's Law, which quantitatively defines how the magnitude of the electric force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that like charges repel each other while opposite charges attract.

Understanding this principle is foundational in physics because it explains a wide range of phenomena, from the behavior of particles at the atomic level to the forces experienced in everyday electric and magnetic fields. For example, the electric force is responsible for the attraction between electrons and protons in an atom, maintaining the structure of matter.

In contrast, while the motion of charged particles relates to the effects of the electric force, it does not define what the electric force is. Similarly, the interaction between charges and magnetic fields pertains to the electromagnetic force, which encompasses both electric and magnetic interactions, rather than focusing solely on the electric force. Lastly, the transfer of energy between charged objects is more aligned with electric potential energy concepts rather than the fundamental nature of electric force itself.