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Describe schematically the equipotential surfaces corresponding to (a) a constant electric field in the z-direction, (b) a field that uniformly increases in magnitude but remains in a constant (say, z) direction, (c) a single positive charge at the origin, and (d) a uniform grid consisting of long equally spaced parallel charged wires in a plane. |
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Answer» Solution :We know that an equipotential surface is always perpendicular to the direction of ELECTRIC field lines. Hence, (a) For a constant electric field in the z-direction, equipotential surfaces are planes parallel to x-y plane as shown in Figure. (b) For a filed in z-direaction increasing UNIFORMLY in magnitude, equipotential surfaces are planes parallel to x-y plane. However, planes differing by a fixed potential get closer as the electricfiled increases figure. (c) For a single positive cahrge at the origin, equipotential surfaces are concentric SPHERES with origin as their centre. For a UNIFORM grid consisting of long equally spaced parallel CHARGED wires in a plane,equipotential surface at large distances are planes parallel to the grid. However, very near the grid the equipotential surfaces have curved shapes due to edge effect. 
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