A number of observations are in order here:
(1) The electric field intensity depends on the charge and the distance R from the charge.
(2) If the charge is positive, the direction of the electric field intensity is from the point charge radially outward, since any point in space is connected with the charge along a radial line (Figure 3.6b).
(3) If the charge is negative (Figure 3.6c), the direction of the electric field intensity is directed radially toward the charge.
(4) At equal distances from the charge, the magnitude of the electric field intensity is constant. This can be seen from the formula or simply from symmetry considerations.
(5) The electric field intensity varies as 1/R2 where R is the distance from the charge.