Why don't electric lines of force cross?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter dumbboy340
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electric Force Lines
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
4 replies · 1K views
dumbboy340
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Is it true that electric lines of force never cross?If yes,then Why?What Physics say about it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
dumbboy340 said:
Is it true that electric lines of force never cross?If yes,then Why?What Physics say about it?
The lines (which are merely visual aids) represent the direction of the electric field at a point. If lines crossed, then the field would be pointing in multiple directions at once--which cannot happen.
 
It's important to remember that the field lines don't really exist. The field is continuous throughout space, so you simply cannot have two lines cross because it would mean that there is a discontinuity in the field, which is not physically realizable. IE it can't happen.
 
Thanks!i got that!