Question

Define an equipotential surface. Draw equipotential surfaces
(i) in the case of a single point charge.
(ii) in a constant electric field in Z direction.
Why the euipotential surfaces about a single charge are not equidistant ?
(iii) Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface ? Give reson.

Answer 1

(i) An equipotential surface is that at every point of which electric potential is the same. Due to a single point charge, equipotnetial surfaces are centred at the
charge, As `V prop (1)/(r )`, the equipotential surfaces
about a single charge cannot be equidistant.
(ii) In a constant electric field in Z- direction, equipotential surfaces lie in XY plane perpendicular to Z-direction as shown in Fig.

(iii) As electric fied is perpendicular to the equipotential surface, the field cannot exist tangenital to the equipotential surface.