Question

Identify the correct statements:
[A.] Electrostatic field lines form closed loops.
[B.] The electric field lines point radially outward when charge is greater than zero.
[C.] The Gauss’s Law is valid only for inverse-square force.
[D.] The work done in moving a charged particle in a static electric field around a closed path is zero.
[E.] The motion of a particle under Coulomb’s force must take place in a plane.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B, C, D Only
• B. A, C, E Only
• C. B, C, D, E Only
• D. A, B, D, E Only

Hint:

Electrostatic fields are conservative and non-rotational—remember this to quickly judge work and field-line questions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To identify the correct statements regarding electrostatic fields and related concepts, let's analyze each statement one by one:

1. Statement A: "Electrostatic field lines form closed loops."
   • This statement is incorrect. Electrostatic field lines originate from positive charges and end at negative charges. They never form closed loops in static electric fields. Closed loops could imply a non-conservative field, which is not the case for electrostatics.
2. Statement B: "The electric field lines point radially outward when charge is greater than zero."
   • This statement is correct. For a positive point charge, the electric field lines radiate outward. This is a standard property of electric fields generated by positive charges.
3. Statement C: "The Gauss’s Law is valid only for inverse-square force."
   • This statement is correct. Gauss's Law is particularly applicable to forces that follow an inverse-square law, like the gravitational and electrostatic forces, where field strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.
4. Statement D: "The work done in moving a charged particle in a static electric field around a closed path is zero."
   • This statement is correct. Electrostatic fields are conservative, meaning that the work done on a charged particle moving around a closed path is zero.
5. Statement E: "The motion of a particle under Coulomb’s force must take place in a plane."
   • This statement is correct. In electrostatics, a charged particle moving under Coulomb's force, considering only one other point charge, describes elliptical orbits in a plane, much like celestial bodies under gravitational forces.

Based on the analysis above, the correct statements are B, C, D, and E. Thus, the correct answer is:

B, C, D, E Only