Question

The spatial distribution of the electric field due to two charges (A, B) is shown in figure. Which one of the following statements is correct?

(A ) is +ve and B -ve and \[\left| A \right|{\text{ }} > {\text{ }}\left| B \right|\]
(B) is +ve and B -ve and \[\left| A \right|{\text{ }} = {\text{ }}\left| B \right|\]
(C) Both are +ve but A > B
(D) Both are -ve but A > B

Answer 1

Hint Electric field lines originate from positive charge and settle down in negative charge. A positive and a negative charge is said to create its field around itself.

Complete step-by-step answer:
A single point charge will give out electric field lines, which move away from it till infinity. Similarly, a negative point charge will converge electric field lines coming towards it from infinity. Therefore A is a positive charge and B is a negative charge. Moving onto the second part, \[\left| A \right|\] and \[\left| B \right|\]. Magnitude of an electric charge is measured by the number of electric field lines converging or diverging from it. In our case, the number of electric field lines diverging from A is 12. Similarly for B, the number of electric field lines converging on it is also 12. Therefore, the numbers of electric field lines converging or diverging on the 2 charges are equal and hence their magnitude is also equal.

So, Option B is correct

Note Electric field lines do not form closed loops. They always end up or originate from a source of charge. Also electric field lines do not interfere. If they do, there will be 2 directions of electric field which is not possible.