Question

20% Part (a) Use an "E Field Sensor" and move it along either equipotential. What can you say about the E field along an equipotential?
a. Varies in magnitude and direction, parallel to the equipotential.
b. Constant magnitude, but varying direction, perpendicular to the equipotential.
c. Varies in magnitude and direction, perpendicular to the equipotential.
d. Constant direction, but varying magnitude, perpendicular to the equipotential.
e. Constant direction, but varying magnitude, parallel to the equipotential.
f. Constant magnitude, but varying direction, parallel to the equipotential.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. Constant magnitude, but varying direction, perpendicular to the equipotential.

Explanation:

As we know that the relation between electric field and electric potential is given as

$\Delta E = -\frac{dV}{dr}$

here if we say that potential is constant because electric field sensor is moving along equi-potential line.

Then we will say

V = constant

so we have

$\Delta E = 0$

so electric field will remain constant always in magnitude and always remains perpendicular to the surface

so we have

b. Constant magnitude, but varying direction, perpendicular to the equipotential.