Can a massive particle follow a straight path in a non-uniform electric field?

[shakeel]

is this possible for a masive particle to take retilinier path in a non uniform electric field

 

[lpfr]

Yes. Easiest solution: take a neutral particle as an atom or a neutron, but there are others, even with charged particles.

 

[shakeel]

so simple. thanks. but is this possible with charge particle?

 

[lpfr]

You can tell I cheating, but yes, if you take as trajectory a straight line of field. This is the case for the electric field around a charged sphere. Or a little less true for a point placed at high potential. This is how the "atom microscope" works.

 

[arunma]

This depends a bit on what sort of nonuniform electric field you're talking about. If the field has a non-zero curl, then most likely not. But as Lpfr said, the charged sphere electric field allows rectilinear motion, as do many others.

 

[Mr.IITIAN007]

Ya I agree with Arunma.