Question

Did you observe two electric field lines crossing each other? Is this possible according to the theory? Explain in detail.

Answer 1

No, the two electric field lines will never cross each other. It is not possible according to the theory because the theory states that there is only one tangential direction to the electric field line at a point.

Step-by-step explanation:

• No, the electric field lines will never cross each other at any point because the theory states that there should be only one direction of the electric field lines at each point.

• Hence when the electric field lines intersect at that point there are more than one tangents possible (actually two) so the theory is violated.

• The electric field line radially emerge outwards form a positive charge source and come radially in towards a negative charge source.

When the field lines of two unlike charges come near to each other then they merge together to yield a single direction, they do not intersect.

In contrast to that when the field lines from two like charges come near to each other then they get repelled away which again has only one tangential direction on each point of the electric field lines.

Answer 2

No, No

Step-by-step explanation:

The origin of the electric field lines is from the positive charge and these lines of forces terminates at the negative charges thereby travelling in a single direction only.

If these lines of forces intersect each other then the direction of the electric field is given by drawing the tangents at the intersection point of these lines. This gives two directions of the electric field which is not possible.

This is the reason that electric field lines do not cross each other.