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प्रश्न
The top of the atmosphere is at about 400 kV with respect to the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth, the field is about 100 Vm−1. Why then do we not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open? (Assume the house to be a steel cage so there is no field inside!)
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उत्तर
We do not get an electric shock as we step out of our house because the original equipotential surfaces of open-air change, keeping our body and the ground at the same potential.
संबंधित प्रश्न
Two charges 2 μC and −2 µC are placed at points A and B 6 cm apart.
- Identify an equipotential surface of the system.
- What is the direction of the electric field at every point on this surface?
The discharging current in the atmosphere due to the small conductivity of air is known to be 1800 A on an average over the globe. Why then does the atmosphere not discharge itself completely in due course and become electrically neutral? In other words, what keeps the atmosphere charged?
Draw equipotential surfaces:
(1) in the case of a single point charge and
(2) in a constant electric field in Z-direction. Why are the equipotential surfaces about a single charge not equidistant?
(3) Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface? Give reason
What is the geometrical shape of equipotential surfaces due to a single isolated charge?
Why is there no work done in moving a charge from one point to another on an equipotential surface?
Depict the equipotential surfaces for a system of two identical positive point charges placed a distance(d) apart?
Two identical point charges, q each, are kept 2m apart in the air. A third point charge Q of unknown magnitude and sign is placed on the line joining the charges such that the system remains in equilibrium. Find the position and nature of Q.
Depict the equipotential surface due to
(i) an electric dipole,
(ii) two identical positive charges separated by a distance.
Statement - 1: For practical purpose, the earth is used as a reference at zero potential in electrical circuits.
Statement - 2: The electrical potential of a sphere of radius R with charge Q uniformly distributed on the surface is given by `Q/(4piepsilon_0R)`.
S1 and S2 are the two imaginary surfaces enclosing the charges +q and -q as shown. The electric flux through S1 and S2 are respectively ______.

The diagrams below show regions of equipotentials.
(i)![]() |
(ii)![]() |
(iii)![]() |
(iv)![]() |
A positive charge is moved from A to B in each diagram.
- The potential at all the points on an equipotential surface is same.
- Equipotential surfaces never intersect each other.
- Work done in moving a charge from one point to other on an equipotential surface is zero.
Consider a uniform electric field in the ẑ direction. The potential is a constant ______.
- in all space.
- for any x for a given z.
- for any y for a given z.
- on the x-y plane for a given z.
Equipotential surfaces ______.
- are closer in regions of large electric fields compared to regions of lower electric fields.
- will be more crowded near sharp edges of a conductor.
- will be more crowded near regions of large charge densities.
- will always be equally spaced.
The work done to move a charge along an equipotential from A to B ______.
- cannot be defined as `- int_A^B E.dl`
- must be defined as `- int_A^B E.dl`
- is zero.
- can have a non-zero value.
Prove that a closed equipotential surface with no charge within itself must enclose an equipotential volume.




