Question

Choose the wrong statement about equipotential surfaces.

• A. It is a surface over which the potential is constant
• B. The electric field is parallel to the equipotential surface
• C. The electric field is perpendicular to the equipotential surface
• D. The electric field is in the direction of steepest decrease of potential
• E. They are concentric spheres for a point charge

Answer 1

The correct option is B The electric field is parallel to the equipotential surface

Equipotential lines are curved lines on a map which mark out lines of identicalaltitude. The altitude pertains to electric potential or voltage. Equipotential lines are always perpendicular to the electric field. The lines creates equipotential surfaces in a three dimensions. Movement along an equipotential surface needs no work since such movement is always perpendicular to the electric field. The figure below shows the equipotential surfaces in dashed lines and electric field lines in solid lines produced by a positive point charge. In this case, the equipotential surfaces are spheres are on the center of the charge.