Question

The electric field due to a continuous charge distribution is derived by extending which fundamental principle?

Options

• The Principle of Virtual Work

• The Principle of Conservation of Energy

• The Principle of Superposition

• The Principle of Least Action

Answer 1

The electric field due to a continuous charge distribution is derived by extending the Principle of Superposition. Since a continuous distribution consists of infinitely many small charge elements dq, the net field is the vector sum (integral) of fields due to all infinitesimal elements.