Why electric field lines are continuous and open loop?

If the electric field lines form a closed loop, these lines must originate and terminate on the same charge which is not possible because electric field lines always move from positive to negative. Therefore, we say electrostatic field lines never form closed loops.

Why Cannot electric field lines be discontinuous?

An electrostatic field line cannot be discontinuous. The force experienced or the path followed by charge cannot be discontinuous and hence the lines are not broken. Also, electrostatic field lines represent the electric field strenth and the strength of field is never broken.

Is field lines are continuous?

That is, a field line cannot have sudden breaks.

Are electric field lines discrete?

The electric field is a map of the force that would be felt at any location by a +1 coulomb test charge. The charges creating the field can have a discrete distribution or a continuous distribution.

Why can’t two electric field lines cross?

Answer: Electric field does not direct in two directions that is why electric field lines never cross over each other. When two lines intersect each other, tangents are drawn at that point indicating two directions of electric field lines, which is impossible therefore electric field lines cannot cross over each other.

Why do the electric field lines never cross each other Class 12?

Electric lines of force never intersect because, at the point of intersection, two tangents can be drawn to the two lines of force. This means two directions of the electric field at the point of intersection, which is not possible.

Why two field lines never cross each other at any point?

If two lines intersect at a point, then the tangent drawn there will give two directions of force, which is not possible. Hence two field lines cannot cross each other at any point.

Why do electric field lines never cross each other Class 12?

What is the purpose of electric field lines?

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 with their own individual direction at that given location.

Is electric charge continuous?

In a continuous charge distribution, all the charges are closely bound together i.e. having very less space between them. But this closely bound system doesnt means that the electric charge is uninterrupted. It clears that the distribution of separate charges is continuous, having a minor space between them.

Are electric field lines continuous or discontinuous?

The idea is that electric field lines can start on positive charges and finish on negative charges. In such a case electric field lines would be discontinuous. With no charges present the electric field lines must be continuous. Share Cite Improve this answer

Where do electric field lines start and end?

By convention, electric field lines are said to start from a positive charge and end at a negative charge. As you can see in the above figure, the field lines come to an abrupt stop at the surface of the charge. When there isn’t any charge, the electric field lines must be continuous. The only place where they can start or end is at a charge.

What is meant by a continuous curve of electric field?

Continuous curve means, a field line cannot have sudden breaks. Electric field lines exist throughout the region of an electric field. The electric field of a charge decreases gradually with increasing distance from it and becomes zero at infinity i.e., electric field cannot vanish abruptly.

Why do electric field lines not pass through a conductor?

Electric field lines can not pass through a conductor; that’s why the electric field inside a conductor is always zero. In a charge-free region, electric field lines are continuous curves. Electric field lines tend to contract in length due to the force of attraction between two oppositely charged objects.