Is it correct to say that a positive test charge released from rest will move along electric field lines if those lines are straight What if the lines are curved?

Yes, if the field lines are straight. If they are curved, then a particle with charge and mass will have a momentum (velocity) that is not aligned with the acceleration (force).

What happens to the electric field at a test charge when the distance between?

What happens to the electric field at a test charge when the distance between the source charge and the test charge is doubled? The electric field strength is reduced to one fourth its original value.

What is the force on a test charge in an electric field?

The electric field strength is defined as the amount of force per unit of charge on the test charge. The electric field strength (E) is defined as the amount of force exerted upon a test charge per unit of charge on the test charge (q). That is, E = F / q.

Why do the electrostatic field lines not form Closed 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.

What happens to the strength of an electric field when the charge on the test charge is halved?

What happens to the strength of an electric field when the charge on the test charge is halved? Nothing. Because the force on the test charge would also be halved, the ratio F/q’ and the electric field would remain the same.

What happens to the strength of an electric field when the charge on the test charge is doubled?

Doubling the charge (Q) will double the electric field strength. The electric field force (F) would be doubled by the doubling of the charge. But the electric field strength (E) is the force per charge – twice the force on twice the charge yields the same electric field strength.

What is a point charge in physics?

A point charge is a hypothetical charge located at a single point in space. While an electron can for many purposes be considered a point charge, its size can be characterized by length scale known as the electron radius.

Why do the electric field lines not form closed loops Class 12?

Complete step by step answer Since electric field lines originate and terminate on charges of opposite polarity, electric field lines can never form closed loops as to form a closed loop, the electric field lines must originate and end at the same charge.

Will a small test charge travel along the line of force?

A small test charge is released at rest at a point in an electrostatic field configuration. Will it travel along the line of force? If a small test charge is released at rest at a point in an electrostatic field configuaration, then it will travel along the field lines passing through the point, only if the field lines are straight.

What happens when a charge is released in an electrostatic field?

If a small test charge is released at rest at a point in an electrostatic field configuration, then it will travel along the field lines passing through the point, only if the field lines are straight. This is because the field lines give the direction of acceleration and not of velocity.

Is the electrostatic force between two charges a central force?

The electrostatic force between two charges is a central force. Why? How is the Coulomb force between two charges affected by the presence of a third charge? How does the force between two point charges change, if the dielectric constant of the medium in which they are kept, increases?

What do the field lines represent in an electric test?

The field lines represent the direction of the force on the test charge at any point. One released, the test charge would accelerate in the direction of the electric field (field line) at that point. If it is a uniform field (straight field lines) then it would move along a field line and continue to accelerate.