Determining the direction of electric field lines

[asilvester635]

In general, the field lines points away from the positive charge and toward the negative charge. The answer is letter E, but the second part of the answer says, "the magnitude of q1 is less than the magnitude of q2". Is that because q1 is negative and q2 is positive?

 

[Dale]

the magnitude of q1 is less than the magnitude of q2". Is that because q1 is negative and q2 is positive?

No. The word “magnitude” means “absolute value”, so the sign of the charge is irrelevant.

Besides the direction of the field lines, what else do you notice about them that is different between the two charges?

 

[asilvester635]

No. The word “magnitude” means “absolute value”, so the sign of the charge is irrelevant.

Besides the direction of the field lines, what else do you notice about them that is different between the two charges?

The electric field lines are longer for q1, and the magnitude is proportional to the distance. So the bigger the distance, the smaller the magnitude, as is the case with this sketch?

 

[Dale]

Several of the field lines from q2 go off the page to infinity, so those are the longest field lines. But that isn’t the distance of interest with field lines.

The E field is proportional to the distance between neighboring field lines, not the distance along a single field line. So look at the distance between field lines immediately surrounding each charge. What do you notice?

 

[Let'sthink]

I do not follow your question. Still assume, q1 negative and q2 positive and their magnitudes are equal then what do you expect.what features the field lines should have. one is the direction of field lines what another feature is there about these lines. Try to draw or imagine lines for different cases from from |q1| = 0 to
|q1| = |q2|.

 

[ZapperZ]

The electric field lines are longer for q1, and the magnitude is proportional to the distance. So the bigger the distance, the smaller the magnitude, as is the case with this sketch?

Why don't you look at this applet?

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/charges-and-fields/latest/charges-and-fields_en.html

First use one positive and one negative charge. Then try pilling on more of one charge, and then repeat by using the other charge. Figure out for yourself which scenario resembles that you were given in the figure.

Zz.