Question: In a uniform electric field, the equipotential surfaces are always:
Options:
Perpendicular to the field lines
Parallel to the field lines
Curved
None of the above
Correct Answer: Perpendicular to the field lines
Solution:
Equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to electric field lines.
In a uniform electric field, the equipotential surfaces are always:
Practice Questions
Q1
In a uniform electric field, the equipotential surfaces are always:
Perpendicular to the field lines
Parallel to the field lines
Curved
None of the above
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a uniform electric field, the equipotential surfaces are always:
Step 1: Understand what an electric field is. It is a region around a charged object where other charged objects experience a force.
Step 2: Know what equipotential surfaces are. These are surfaces where the electric potential is the same at every point.
Step 3: Realize that electric field lines show the direction of the force on a positive charge in the field.
Step 4: Remember that equipotential surfaces cannot have any electric field lines crossing them. If they did, it would mean there is a change in potential, which contradicts the definition of equipotential surfaces.
Step 5: Conclude that since equipotential surfaces are always at the same potential, they must be perpendicular to the electric field lines.
Uniform Electric Field – A region where the electric field strength is constant in magnitude and direction.
Equipotential Surfaces – Surfaces where the electric potential is the same at every point, meaning no work is done when moving a charge along these surfaces.
Perpendicularity of Equipotential Surfaces and Electric Field Lines – Equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to electric field lines, indicating that the electric field does no work on a charge moving along an equipotential surface.
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