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phy
Why are electric field lines always crossing equipotential lines at right angles? Can somebody please explain this to me? Thanks 
Electric Field Lines and right angles
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ThanksIn summary, electric field lines cross equipotential lines at right angles because points along an equipotential line have the same potential, meaning no work is done when a charge is transferred between them. This is because the electric field has only a normal component to the equipotential line.
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ehild
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phy said:Why are electric field lines always crossing equipotential lines at right angles? Can somebody please explain this to me? Thanks
Equipotential line or surface means that the potential is the same at every point. If two points are at the same potential then no work is done when a charge q is transferred from one point to the other. Take two points close to each other along the equipotential line, at a distance of ds, and decompose the electric field into components normal (En) and parallel (Es) to the line. The work done when the charge is transferred is simply q*Es*ds and this is zero, that is the electric field has only normal component to the equipotential line.
ehild
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Tide
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Didn't I answer this question already?? Please avoid duplicate posts of the same message.
Related to Electric Field Lines and right angles
1. What are Electric Field Lines?
Electric Field Lines are a graphical representation of the direction and magnitude of an electric field. They are used to visualize the electric field around a charged object.
2. How are Electric Field Lines drawn?
Electric Field Lines are drawn in such a way that the tangent to the line at any point gives the direction of the electric field at that point. They are drawn in a way that shows the direction of the electric field from positive charges to negative charges.
3. Why do Electric Field Lines form right angles with the surface of a conductor?
This is because electric field lines are always perpendicular to the surface of a conductor. This is due to the fact that electric charges accumulate on the surface of a conductor and create an electric field that is perpendicular to the surface.
4. How do Electric Field Lines behave near a point charge?
Near a point charge, Electric Field Lines are radially symmetric and point away from a positive charge and towards a negative charge. The density of the lines is inversely proportional to the distance from the point charge.
5. Can Electric Field Lines cross each other?
No, Electric Field Lines cannot cross each other. This is because electric field is a vector quantity and can have only one direction at a given point. Therefore, the lines must always be tangent to each other and cannot intersect.
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