Question

Physics Lab #7-Electric Potential and Field NAME: Pre-lab questions: 1) S ketch the expected electric field patterns for equal and opposite charges separated by a distance d. Repeat for 2 infinite lines of equal and opposite charge separated by a d. How would you expect the electric field pattern to change of the lines have a finite length? (Hint: The line-line electrode arrangement should produce an electric field that is similar to a charged capacitor with a large plate separation.) iyn elcric pt isil with clerty titele figure 3) Why don't electric field lines ever cross? Justify with a clearly labeled figu

Answer 1

3. Electric field lines reveal information about the direction (and the strength) of an electric field within a region of space. If the lines cross each other at a given location, then there must be two distinctly different values of electric field at that given location. This could never be the case. Every single location in space has its own electric field strength and direction associated with it. Consequently, the lines representing the field cannot cross each other at any given location in space.

2. In the same way, If they did, it means that the force on a charge at that location would point in two different directions, which is practically impossible.