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Question

Describe schematically the equipotential surfaces corresponding to(a) a constant electric field in the z-direction,(b) a field that uniformly increases in magnitude but remains in aconstant (say, z) direction,

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Solution

(a)

As the constant electric field is in z-direction therefore, the potential, in a direction perpendicular to the z-direction always remain constant.

Thus, the planes that are parallel to the x-y plane will be the equipotential surfaces.

(b)

In a direction perpendicular to the electric field, the potential remains constant irrespective of the magnitude of the field.

Thus, Thus, the planes that are parallel to the x-y plane will be the equipotential surfaces.

(c)

For a single positive charge that is located at the origin, the equipotential surfaces will be the concentric spheres and the centers of the spheres will be at the origin.

(d)

If a uniform grid consisting of long equally spaced parallel charged wires in a plane then the equipotential surface will be a periodically varying shape near the given grid and this varying shape will be gradually reached the shape of planes parallel to the grid at a larger distance.


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