Solved: Because electric field lines and equipotential | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics

Chapter 23 Problem 11DQ

Question

Problem 11DQ

Because electric field lines and equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular, two equipotential surfaces can never cross; if they did, the direction of \(\vec{E}\) would be ambiguous at the crossing points. Yet two equipotential surfaces appear to cross at the center of Fig. 23.23c. Explain why there is no ambiguity about the direction of \(\vec{E}\) in this particular case.

Solution

Solution 11DQ

Step 1 of 2:

Field lines and equipotential surfaces are always mutually perpendicular. In general, field lines are curves, and equipotentials are curved surfaces. For the special case of a uniform field, in which the field lines are straight, parallel, and equally spaced, the equipotentials are parallel planes perpendicular to the field lines

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Title Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics 13 
Author Hugh D. Young; Roger A. Freedman; A. Lewis Ford
ISBN 9780321696861

Solved: Because electric field lines and equipotential

Chapter 23 textbook questions

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