I am studying for a physics exam next Monday and I need tounderstand this concept a hell of lot better than I do. Hopefullysomeone on here can dumb it down for me.

My textbook says the following:

1. If the probe charge q is positive, the electric fieldvector points in the same direction as the force on the charge; ifnegative, the electric field vector points opposite theforce.

What is this really saying? I don't understand.

2. For the equation, Electric field = K|q|/r^2 , theelectric field is going away from q if q>0, and the electricfield is going toward q if q<0.

I don't understand this either. Is the electric field going awayfrom q because the electric field is negative and q is positive,thus q is attracted to the field? If q is negative then the fieldis going to be going toward q because it's being repelled from thenegative field?

I just want tounderstand the two bolded concepts above and how they relate toeach other, if they in fact do. My job does a horrible job atexplaining it.

Thanks.

pg 155, #30, "college physics" serway 8th:
A projectile of mass "m" is fired horizontally with an initialspeed of "Vo" from a height of "h" above a flat, deseert surface.Neglecting air friction, at the instant before the projectile hitsthe ground, find the following in terms of m, Vo, h, and g: A)workdone by the force of gravity on the projectile
B) change in kinetic energy of the projectile since it wasfired
C) final kinetic energy of the projectile
D)are any of the answers changed if the initial angle is changed?