Fig. 1.11 shows the electric field lines around three point charges A, B and C. (a) Which charges are positive? (b) Which charge has the largest magnitude? Why? (c) In which region or regions of the picture could the electric field be zero? Justify your answer. (i) near A, (ii) near B, (iii) near C, (iv) nowhere.

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

a) We know that electric field lines starts from +ive charge and terminates at –ive charge , As we can see in the fig it is starting from Charge A and C , So charge A and C are positive.

b) The charge C has the largest magnitude as we can see the electric field line are still remaining after terminating at point charge B and the electric field lines of C is deflecting the electric field lines of A, So charge C has the largest magnitude.

Using the principle no. of electric field lines associated with the charge is proportional to magnitude of charge.

c) (i) near A, the electric field be zero because as the charge A and C have same positive nature and Charge C has higher magnitude so, The Line joining the charge A and C ,and close to A will have zero electric field.