Question

Why do equipotential lines get further apart?

Answer 1

Equipotential lines:

• Equipotential lines depict equipotential surfaces in two dimensions.
• Electric field lines are always perpendicular to equipotential surfaces.
• Equipotential surfaces are conductors in static equilibrium.
• Topographic maps can be viewed as displaying gravitational equipotential lines.

Equipotential lines get further apart because:

• A circle drawn around a point charge is an equipotential surface.
• On this surface, the potential will stay the same.
• Because the potential diminishes with increasing distance from the charge, the equipotential surface becomes wider apart.
• The potential is greatest near the charge and drops as we travel away from it.