# What is the difference between an electric field and gravitational field? [duplicate]

Since the electrostatic field and the Newtonian gravitational field share a similar form: proportional to

$$\frac{1}{r^2}$$

Is there any qualitative difference between motions under the influence of electric field and gravitational field?

• I can't see how your assumption is justified. The gravitational field is a tensor field while the electromagnetic field is a vector field. The two are different in important respects. – John Rennie Sep 16 '15 at 16:16
• Sorry, i re-edited my question excluding that assumption. i was really thinking about the kinetic energy – soundslikefiziks Sep 16 '15 at 16:17
• The difference is that the gravitational field is a tensor field while the electromagnetic field is a vector field. At long range they both obey an inverse square law, but that's a pretty superficial similarity. Gravity is described by general relativity while the EM field is described by Maxwell's equations. – John Rennie Sep 16 '15 at 16:21
• I see what you mean, But if eventually they both push\accelerate an object(mass\electron) why is the extra "charge" definition needed ? why can't it be said that they simply different in the ways you mentioned. – soundslikefiziks Sep 16 '15 at 16:28
• I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it shows dearth of any research-effort; questions like this can be easily solved by quick googling or so. – user36790 Sep 16 '15 at 16:32