(a) An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve. That is, a field line cannot have sudden breaks. Why not?
(b) Explain why two field lines never cross each other at any point?
Answers
Answer:
(a) Electric line of force or field lines is the curve along which a small positive charge would tend to move when free to do so in an electric field.So, the field lines are continuous.The sudden breaks in field lines will show that the charge is not in continuous motion at that point and jump from one point to another point, which is not possible.
(b) The tangent to a line of force force at any point gives the direction of the electric field at that point and if two field lines crosses each other at any point then at the point of intersection there will be two tangents which shows two direction of electric field at that point, and at a point there is only one direction possible of electric field.
So, never two field lines cross each other.
Answer:
(a) An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve because a charge experiences a continuous force when traced in an electrostatic field. The field line cannot have sudden breaks because the charge moves continuously and does not jump from one point to the other. ... Hence, two field lines never cross each other.
(b) If two field lines cross each other at a point, then electric field intensity will show two directions at that point. This is not possible. Hence, two field lines never cross each other.
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