1. What is an electric field line? How are they related to the direction of forc

Question

1. What is an electric field line? How are they related to the direction of force on a point charge? (Consider both positive and negative charges)

2. What are lines of equipotential? How are they related to the electric field lines?

3. What can you say about the electric field in a region where the lines of equipotential are denser (i.e. closer together)?

4. How many electric field lines can exist in the space between two charges? How about the number of equipotential lines in the same space?

5. Imagine placing a point mass in a region of space where a uniform electric field exists, and points towards the East. State what the point mass will do after release if it is:

a) positively charged

b) negatively charged

c) uncharged

Explanation / Answer

1.

Electric field line - An imaginary line which shows the direction of electric field. As we know that electric field is

vector quantity , so the line have an arrow which shows the direction of electric field.

lt is away from a positive charge and towards a negative charge.

How they related to the direction of force on a point charge - As we know that E = F / q

so,  direction of the force would be taken as direction of the electric field. lf force is b/w two like charges, lt will be

away from each other (repulsive). And if force is b/w two opposite charges, lt will be towards each other (attractive)

2.

lines of Equipotential - As the name suggest These are lines along which the electric potential is constant.

These are in form of radial distance from a point charge.

How they  related to the electric field lines - lines of Equipotential are always perpendicular to  electric field lines.

3.

We know that,

E = V / d

lf  lines of equipotential are denser or closer together means distance d is less , so electric field will be more if

thses lines are denser.

4.

There is no fix number of electric field lines b/w two charges. lt depends on polarity of charges (opposite charges

have more lines b/w each other) and how dense is electric field there. there are many lines b/w two charges.

Same happen in case of equipotential lines. There is no fix number for such lines.

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