Question

Which one of the following statements is correct? Electric field due to static charges is:

• A. conservative and field lines do not form closed loops
• B. non-conservative and field lines form closed loops
• C. non-conservative and field lines do not form closed loops
• D. conservative and field lines form closed loops

Hint:

Electric fields due to static charges are conservative and the lines do not form closed loops.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The electric field generated by static charges possesses two key characteristics: it is conservative, and its field lines do not form closed loops.

A conservative field is defined by the property that the work done by the field on a test charge is independent of the path traversed, relying solely on the initial and final positions. This principle dictates that the work performed along any closed path in a conservative field is zero. Mathematically, this is expressed as:

\(∮C E · dl = 0\)

In this equation, ∮_C represents integration over a closed path, and E denotes the electric field. Consequently, the electric field produced by static charges is conservative.

Furthermore, electric field lines originating from static charges initiate at positive charges and terminate at negative charges, thereby precluding the formation of closed loops. This behavior distinguishes electric fields from magnetic fields, whose lines do form closed loops. Hence, the assertion that the electric field is conservative and its field lines do not form closed loops is accurate.