Question Details

Statement-1: Work done by electrostatic force is zero if a charge is moving along an equipotential surface.

Statement-2: Equipotential surfaces are perpendicular to electric field.

Options

A

Statement-1 is true, statement-2 is false

B

Statement-1 is false, statement-2 is true

C

Both statements are false

D

Both statements are true

Correct Answer :

Both statements are true

Solution :

The correct option is: Both statements are true.

Let us analyze both statements step-by-step to understand the underlying physical concepts:

1. Understanding Statement-1:
The work done W by an electrostatic force in moving a charge q from a point A to a point B is given by the relation:
W=-qΔV=-q(VB-VA)
where VA and VB are the electrostatic potentials at points A and B, respectively. By definition, an equipotential surface is a surface where the electric potential is the same at every point. Therefore, for any two points A and B on this surface:
VA=VBVB-VA=0
Substituting this into the work formula gives:
W=-q(0)=0
Thus, the work done by the electrostatic force when moving a charge along an equipotential surface is indeed zero. Statement-1 is true.

2. Understanding Statement-2:
The relation between the electric field E and the electric potential V is given in differential form by:
dV=-E·dr
where dr represents a small displacement vector along the surface. For displacement along an equipotential surface, the potential does not change, meaning:
dV=0
Substituting this back into the relation:
E·dr=0
The dot product of two non-zero vectors is zero when the vectors are perpendicular to each other. Since dr lies along the equipotential surface, the electric field vector E must be perpendicular to the surface at every point. Thus, equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to the electric field. Statement-2 is true.

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