Electric Field Lines Shape for Pair of Charges

Description:

To know the line of charges and its shape when there are two separate bodies of charge −

Case 1

Take a pair of two dissimilar charges ( one positive and another negative) as shown in figure.

We know that, the electric field lines will start from the positive charge and terminate at negative charge making a smooth curve.

Note −

• Electric field lines should be radial at the surface of both positive  and negative charged body.

The distance between the lines at the center of two charge system is more as electric field lines repel each other at the center. This distance keeps on increasing with each consecutive lines.

Note − Electric field is maximum at the center when there is a pair of dissimilar charges.

Case 2

Take a pair of two positive charges.

Here, the electric field lines will be radially out from both the positive charges.

Electric field lines cannot cross each other at the center so they repel each other. So the electric field lines bend at the center and becomes  parallel to each other as shown in figure.

As there is no electric field lines at the center of two similar charges, so electric field at the center is zero.

Note − There is no existence of electric field at the middle of two similar charges.