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Question
Show that there can be no net charge in a region in which the electric field is uniform at all points.
Answer in Brief
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Solution
It is given that the electric field is uniform. If we consider a surface perpendicular to the electric field, we find that it is an equipotential surface. Hence, if a test charge is introduced on the surface, then work done will be zero in moving the test charge on it.
But if there is some net charge in this region, the test charge introduced on the surface will experience a force due to this charge. This force has a component parallel to the surface; thus, work has to be done in moving this test charge. Thus, the surface cannot be said to be equipotential. This implies that the net charge in the region with uniform electric field is zero.
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