Question

What are electric lines of forces? State the properties of lines of forces.

Answer 1

Hint: Electric lines of force are the field lines. They are produced when a test charge experiences a force due to a unit positive charge at a particular distance and then an electric field is produced and so the electric lines of forces or electric field lines.

Complete step-by-step answer:
An electric line of force is an imaginary curve drawn in such a way that tangent to this curve at any point gives the direction of the electric field at that point.
It can be a path with maybe a curve or a straight line.
Properties of lines of forces:
1. Electric lines of forces start from a positive charge and end in negative charge.
It is shown in the following figure, the electric lines of forces are originating from the positive charge. In another figure, electric lines of forces are converging towards the negative charge.

2. Since tangents of electric lines of force represent the direction of the electric field and at a particular point the electric field does not have direction more than one. So, two electric lines of forces cannot intersect or cross each other.
3. Electric lines of forces are continuous curves if there is no conductor. And the lines of forces are discontinuous for the conductor.
4. Electric lines of force can only contract longitudinally and expand laterally.
5. The electric lines of force in the same direction repel each other and vice versa.
6. Electric lines of forces are always perpendicular or normal to the surface of a charged body.
7. Inside the body, there is no existence of electric lines of forces.

Note: Electric lines of forces and electric field lines both are the same. These lines start from the positive and end in negative charge. We can relate this concept with magnetic lines of force where field lines originate from the North pole and end in a South pole.