Electric fields are not always superposable

[ssj5harsh]

"Electric fields are not always superposable"

In my Physics textbook by Resnick, Halliday and Krane (Wiley publications), it is mentioned that (pg. 575),
" the principle of superposition of electric fields is not at all obvious and may fail in the case of very strong electric forces."
Can someone please elaborate on this point.

 

[marlon]

In my Physics textbook by Resnick, Halliday and Krane (Wiley publications), it is mentioned that (pg. 575),
" the principle of superposition of electric fields is not at all obvious and may fail in the case of very strong electric forces."
Can someone please elaborate on this point.

I don't really know what you are talking about. Could you provide some more info. I must have a different Resnick, Halliday and Krane version (i have got the 5th extended edition)


marlon

 

[ssj5harsh]

Thank you

I have the Resnick,Halliday and Krane. Fifth Edition (Eastern economy edition). The name is Fundamentals of Physics.(Vol 2)
The statement is given in chapter 25 and chapter 26.
The book does not provide any more information. After the statement, it simply states that the principle of superposition is valid for all situations described in the book.

I have also asked my teacher. He says it might be due to ionization of air in strong electric fields, but i don't find his explanation satisfactory (for, if it was such a simple reason, the text would mention it.)