Question

The electric field line in the X - Y plane is represented by $x^2+y=1$. A test charge $q_0$ is placed at a distance $x=1,y=1$. What will be the nature of the path followed by it?

• A. Circle
• B. Straight line
• C. Parabola
• D. Cannot be predicted

Answer 1

The correct option is D Cannot be predicted

We can only predict the direction and magnitude of force that the particle experiences at that point. In no way could we predict the path followed by the body, just because we have the electric field.
Field line just gives the tangent to the field at that point, not the path traced by the particles.