Explain why electric field lines of a static electric field never intersect each other.
Answer
Because at any point there can be only one unique electric field vector, so only one field line can pass through that point.
Step-by-step solution
- Recognise that the direction of a field line at a point is given by the electric field vector at that point.
- Understand that a physical field assigns a single vector value to each point in space.
- Conclude that two different field lines cannot occupy the same point; otherwise the field vector would be undefined there.
- Hence field lines never intersect in a static electric field.
Common mistake: Thinking field lines can cross due to different charges
Concept tested: Field line non‑intersection principle
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