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If the field lines were not perpendicular to the surface, then they could be decomposed into components perpendicular and parallel to the surface. But if there is an E-field along the surface, the surface is no longer an equipotential.

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Q: Why must electric field line be perpendicular to equipotential surfaces?
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What is Equipotential lines in electric field?

Equipotential lines in an electric field are imaginary lines that connect points having the same electric potential. Along these lines, no work is required to move a charge between the points, as the electric potential is the same. Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to electric field lines.


Why are equipotential lines perpendicular to the insulator mapped?

Equipotential lines are perpendicular to the insulator surface because the electric field lines are always perpendicular to the equipotential lines in electrostatic equilibrium. This relationship ensures that there is no component of the electric field tangent to the insulator surface, which would cause the charges to move. As a result, the charges remain at rest on the surface of the insulator.


How are equipotentials lines oriented with respect to electric field lines?

Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to electric field lines. This is because equipotential lines represent points in a field with the same electric potential, so moving along an equipotential line does not change potential. Thus, the electric field lines, which point in the direction of the greatest change in potential, intersect equipotential lines at right angles.


Why are the equipotential lines near conductor surfaces parallel to the surface?

For conductors, the electric field perpendicular to its surface and no field exist within the conductor. As a result the equipotential lines are found near the surface. They are parallel to the surface since equipotential are perpendicular to field lines.


Why electric field is zero when electrical potential is constant?

When the electric field is zero, it means there is no change in electrical potential across the field. In other words, the equipotential surfaces are parallel, indicating a constant electrical potential. This relationship arises from the fact that the electric field is the negative gradient of the electrical potential.


Q and -q are two charges d distances apartFind locus of a point at which electric fields are parallel to the line joining the charges?

The locus of points where the electric fields are parallel to the line joining the charges Q and -Q forms an equipotential surface. This surface is perpendicular to the line joining the charges and passes through the midpoint of the line connecting them. The electric field lines are always perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces.


What are equipotential lines?

A uniform electric field exists between parallel plates of equal but opposite charges.


Why aconductor is an equipotential surface?

A conductor is an equipotential surface because the electric field inside a conductor is zero in electrostatic equilibrium. This means that all points on the conductor have the same electric potential, making it an equipotential surface. Any excess charge on the conductor redistributes itself to ensure this equal potential.


Why electric field lines are always perpendicular to the surface of the conductor?

Electric field lines are always perpendicular to the surface of a conductor because in electrostatic equilibrium, the electric field inside a conductor is zero. Any component of the electric field parallel to the surface would result in the flow of charges until the electric field is perpendicular to the surface, ensuring a state of equilibrium.


Is the velocity vector perpendicular to electric field affected by electric field?

No, the velocity vector of a charged particle is not affected by the electric field if it is perpendicular to the field. The electric force acting on the particle is zero in this case because the force is given by the product of charge and the component of electric field parallel to the velocity vector.


What is the physical meaning of electric flux?

Electric Flux is generally accepted as the amount of electric field passing through a perpendicular area. For curved surfaces, we sum up infinately small contribututions to small areas that are infinitely small and thus flat.


When area is held perpendicular to the field lines then the magnitude of electric flux is?

When the area is perpendicular to the field lines, the magnitude of electric flux is given by the product of the electric field strength, the area of the surface, and the cosine of the angle between the field lines and the normal to the surface. This is known as Gauss's Law for electric fields.