Which picture shows the electric field of two positive charges of equal magnitude?(1 point)

Responses
A. 2 dots with arrows curving away from the dots.
B. 2 dots wher 1 dot has arrows straight and pointing away from it the other dot has straight arrows pointing toward it.
C. 2 dots with 1 dot with arrows going out and conectingin the middle the other dot has arrows going in on one side and on the other side the arrows are curving and conecting in the middle wththe arrows on the left.
D. 2 dots with 1 dot having arrows going out and going around the other dot that has dots going iout aswell but the arrows connect to the other dot.

1 answer

To determine which picture accurately represents the electric field of two positive charges of equal magnitude, we need to consider how electric fields behave around positive charges.

  1. Positive Charges: Electric field lines for positive charges point away from the charge. This means that each charge would have lines extending outward from it.

  2. Two Equal Positive Charges: If you have two positive charges, the electric field lines will originate from each charge and point away from both. The lines will repulse each other due to the like charges.

With this understanding:

  • Option A: 2 dots with arrows curving away from the dots. (This could be accurate if the arrows are not curving towards each other.)

  • Option B: 1 dot has arrows straight and pointing away; the other dot has straight arrows pointing toward it. (Incorrect - a positive charge does not attract an electric field towards itself.)

  • Option C: 1 dot with arrows going out and connecting in the middle; the other dot has arrows going in on one side and on the other side the arrows are curving and connecting in the middle with the arrows on the left. (Incorrect - suggests attraction and direction toward the charge.)

  • Option D: 1 dot having arrows going out and going around the other dot that has arrows going out as well but the arrows connect to the other dot. (Incorrect - suggests interaction through connecting arrows indicating attraction, not that they are both positive.)

Based on this reasoning, the best option for representing the electric field of two positive charges of equal magnitude is:

A. 2 dots with arrows curving away from the dots.