A long straight wire carries a uniform positive charge distribution. Draw the el

Question

A long straight wire carries a uniform positive charge distribution. Draw the electric field lines in a plane containing the wire at a location far from the ends of the wire. Do not worry about the magnitude of the charge on the wire.

a. Take the wire on the x-axis, and draw electric-field lines perpendicular to it.

b. Take the wire on the x-axis, and draw electric-field lines parallel to it.

c. Take the wire on the y-axis, and draw electric-field lines along it.

d. Take the wire on the z-axis, and draw electric-field lines along it.

Explanation / Answer

If the wire is very long and we are talking about the point very far away from the ends, there won't be a component of electric field parallel to it because any point in one half producing a parallel field component will have it's effect nullified by a similar element at same distance but on the opposite side of the point (where field is being studied). So, the field at any such point will be perpendicular to the wire which is only satisfied by option (a).

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