Question

Write some important characteristics of electric field lines

Answer 1

Hint: The paths, along which the unit positive charge will move due to electrostatic force in the field, are called the electric lines of force.

Complete step-by-step solution:
 The direction of the above force can be represented by the imaginary lines. These imaginary lines are known as electric lines of Force.
Properties of Electric field force lines:
1. These field lines cannot intersect each other.
2. These lines are perpendicular to the surface of the charge
3. The magnitude of charge and the number of electric field lines both are proportional to each other.
4. The start point of field lines is at the positive charge and end is at the negative charge. For the field lines to either start or end at infinity, a single charge should be used
5. Field lines can not pass through the conductor. This denotes that the electric field within the conductor is zero.
6. The field lines exert the lateral pressure on each other. It is the lateral pressure which accounts for the repulsion between two like charges
Wherever the field lines are
(a) Far apart, the field is weak, is the case when the field is non-uniform.
(b) Parallel and equally spaced, when the field is uniform.

Note: Electric Field lines are a way of visualizing electric fields. For the field lines to either start or end at infinity, a single charge should be used. The direction of the above force can be represented by the imaginary lines. These imaginary lines are known as electric lines of Force.