Electric Field Lines and right angles

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SUMMARY

Electric field lines intersect equipotential lines at right angles due to the nature of electric potential. Equipotential lines indicate points of equal potential, meaning no work is done when moving a charge along these lines. The electric field can be decomposed into components, with only the normal component contributing to work done, confirming that the electric field must be perpendicular to equipotential lines.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electric fields and potentials
  • Familiarity with the concept of work in physics
  • Knowledge of vector decomposition
  • Basic principles of electrostatics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the relationship between electric fields and equipotential surfaces
  • Explore the mathematical representation of electric fields using vector calculus
  • Learn about the implications of electric field lines in electrostatic applications
  • Investigate the concept of work done by electric fields in various scenarios
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Students of physics, educators explaining electrostatics, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of electric fields and potentials.

phy
Why are electric field lines always crossing equipotential lines at right angles? Can somebody please explain this to me? Thanks :smile:
 
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phy said:
Why are electric field lines always crossing equipotential lines at right angles? Can somebody please explain this to me? Thanks :smile:

Equipotential line or surface means that the potential is the same at every point. If two points are at the same potential then no work is done when a charge q is transferred from one point to the other. Take two points close to each other along the equipotential line, at a distance of ds, and decompose the electric field into components normal (En) and parallel (Es) to the line. The work done when the charge is transferred is simply q*Es*ds and this is zero, that is the electric field has only normal component to the equipotential line.

ehild
 
Didn't I answer this question already?? Please avoid duplicate posts of the same message.
 

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