Question

Which one of the following statements is correct?

Options

• The electric field due to static charges is conservative, and field lines do not form closed loops.

• The electric field due to static charges is conservative and field lines form closed loops.

• The electric field due to static charges is non-conservative and field lines do not form closed loops.

• The electric field due to static charges is non-conservative and field lines form closed loops.

Answer 1

The electric field due to static charges is conservative, and field lines do not form closed loops.

Explanation:

Electrostatic fields are conservative because the work done in moving a charge between two points is independent of the path taken. Mathematically, `vecv xx vec E = vec 0`, and field lines do not create closed loops as they emanate from positive charges and terminate at negative charges (or stretch to infinity).