Are electric field lines and lines of force same?

Properties of Electric Field Lines The field lines never intersect each other. Electric lines of force contract longitudinally. They expand laterally. The magnitude of charge and the number of field lines, both are proportional to each other.

Why electric field lines are also known as line of forces?

In the case of a magnetic field, since no isolated unit pole has ever been discovered, the field lines are called lines of force only in the sense that a small magnet is forced to align itself in the direction of these field lines. An electric charge traveling along a magnetic field line undergoes no magnetic force.

Do the electric field lines of force really exist?

No, they do not exist. Electric field lines are only imaginary. They are the paths along which an imaginary unit charge would move when free. Their number is infinite as paths (Electric field lines) can be infinite.

Why is it impossible for the lines of force of an electric field to cross one another?

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.

How electric lines of force differ from magnetic lines of force?

Answer. Electrical field lines induces on a positive charge and diminishes in a negative charge whereas a magnetic field line starts at the north pole and ends at the south pole. Electric field lines form a closed loop whereas magnetic field lines do not form a closed loop.

What is electric lines of force write the properties of electric lines of force?

Properties of electric lines of force 1) The electric lines of force start from a positive charge and ends on a negative charge. 2) The electric lines of force always enter or leave the charged surface normally. 3) Electric lines of force can never intersect each other.

Why are electric field lines not closed loops?

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.

Can electric field lines curve?

This means that the overlapping curved field lines will average out as a straight field line, through the middle of the point-charge pairs. The outermost edges of the electric field, on the other hand, will have nothing to interfere with, and remain curved.

Why electric field lines do not form closed loops?

What is the difference between electric field lines and magnetic field lines?

The electric field is defined by straight field lines. They do not form closed loops. Magnetic field lines form a closed loop starting from the north pole and terminating at the south pole outside the magnet.

What are the lines of force in electric field?

The electric field can be represented by drawing what is called the lines of force. They can be straight or curved. A line of force is a locus of all the points through which a free unit positive charge (test charge) will move when kept in the field. If the medium is other than air or vacuum, the lines of force are called lines of induction.

Can electric field lines cross each other?

In fact, electric fields originate at a positive charge and terminate at a negative charge. Also, field lines never cross each other. If they do, it implies that there are two directions for the electric field at that point.

Why do electric field lines always point away from a positive?

Electric field lines always point away from a positive charge and towards a negative point. In fact, electric fields originate at a positive charge and terminate at a negative charge. Also, field lines never cross each other. If they do, it implies that there are two directions for the electric field at that point.

What happens when the electric field is stronger?

When the field is stronger, the field lines are closer to each other. The number of field lines depends on the charge. The field lines should never crossover. Electric field and electric field line are tangent at the point where they pass through.