For an electric dipole, the electric field lines . . .
A) Either start on the negative charge and go off infinitely or arrive from infinity and terminate on the positive charge.
B) Either start on the positive charge and go off infinitely or arrive from infinity and terminate on the negative charge.
C) All start on the negative charge and terminate on the positive charge.
D) All start on the positive charge and terminate on the negative charge.
D
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B) Either start on the positive charge and go off infinitely or arrive from infinity and terminate on the negative charge.
The correct answer is B) Either start on the positive charge and go off infinitely or arrive from infinity and terminate on the negative charge.
To understand why this is the correct answer, we can start by visualizing an electric dipole. An electric dipole consists of two point charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign, typically referred to as the positive charge (+q) and the negative charge (-q). These charges are separated by a distance d, forming a dipole.
The electric field lines around a dipole can be determined by considering the direction of the electric field created by each charge individually. The electric field lines are imaginary lines that represent the direction of the electric field at each point in space.
Considering the positive charge, the electric field lines will radiate outward from the charge, as the positive charge acts as the source of the electric field. So, some electric field lines will start on the positive charge and extend infinitely outward.
On the other hand, for the negative charge, the electric field lines will terminate on it, since it acts as the sink for the electric field. So, some electric field lines will arrive from infinity and terminate on the negative charge.
This means that the electric field lines for an electric dipole will either start on the positive charge and go off infinitely or arrive from infinity and terminate on the negative charge, as stated in option B.