Question

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

Answer 1

(i). Here, in the figure, the electric lines offorce emanate from A and C. Therefore, charges A and C must be positive.
(ii) The number of electric lines of forces enamating is maximum for charge C here, so C must have the largest magnitude.
(iii). Point between two like charges where electrostatic force is zero is called netural point. So, the neutral point lies between A and C only.
Now the position of neutral point depends on the strength of the forces of cahrges. here, more, more number of electric lines of forces shows higher strength of charge C than A. So, neutral point lies near A.