Question
The image shows the electric field lines around two charged particles.
2 balls separated vertically. Lines with arrowheads run from the top ball to the bottom ball, curving more and more outward and then inward as they occur further from the shortest line connecting the balls. Curved lines with arrowheads point to the bottom ball from below and from the top ball upward. Label 1 is at the top left of the whole diagram. Label 2 is at the top right somewhat closer to the top ball than 1. Label 4 is midway between the balls on the shortest line connecting them. Label 3 is several lines to the left of 4.
At which position would the electric force be greatest?
1
2
3
4
2 balls separated vertically. Lines with arrowheads run from the top ball to the bottom ball, curving more and more outward and then inward as they occur further from the shortest line connecting the balls. Curved lines with arrowheads point to the bottom ball from below and from the top ball upward. Label 1 is at the top left of the whole diagram. Label 2 is at the top right somewhat closer to the top ball than 1. Label 4 is midway between the balls on the shortest line connecting them. Label 3 is several lines to the left of 4.
At which position would the electric force be greatest?
1
2
3
4
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The electric field strength (and therefore the electric force experienced by a charge) decreases with distance from the source charge. The electric field lines indicate the direction and relative strength of the electric field in a region, with closer lines indicating a stronger field.
Given your descriptions of the positions:
- **Label 1** is at the top left, away from the charges.
- **Label 2** is at the top right, still away from the charges but closer to the top ball than Label 1.
- **Label 3** is left of the midpoint but still away from the charges.
- **Label 4** is exactly halfway between the two charges and on the shortest line connecting them.
Since electric field strength is greatest between the two charged particles (where the lines are more densely packed), the electric force would be greatest at **Label 4**, where the electric field due to both charges is strongest. Therefore, the position with the greatest electric force would be **Label 4**.
Given your descriptions of the positions:
- **Label 1** is at the top left, away from the charges.
- **Label 2** is at the top right, still away from the charges but closer to the top ball than Label 1.
- **Label 3** is left of the midpoint but still away from the charges.
- **Label 4** is exactly halfway between the two charges and on the shortest line connecting them.
Since electric field strength is greatest between the two charged particles (where the lines are more densely packed), the electric force would be greatest at **Label 4**, where the electric field due to both charges is strongest. Therefore, the position with the greatest electric force would be **Label 4**.