The diagram above shows the Electric field lines near an electric dipole at a fi
ID: 2280202 • Letter: T
Question
The diagram above shows the Electric field lines near an electric dipole at a fixed place. Charges are (+3, and -3)
A positive charge that has a small but non-zero mass is placed at the point A on one of the field lines. Three students have the following conversation:
Student A: Since the electric field lines show the direction of forces on positive charges, I think the charge will move exactly along the field line it is on until it hits the -3 charge
Student B: Since the electric field lines show the direction of forces on positive charges, I think the charge will immediately be forced tangentially off of the field line, moving straight along the dotted line I drew above.
Student C: You"re both wrong! Student A, you forgot about the mass. Student B, you were not paying any attention to all the field lines, just the one the charge started on.
Which student is right and why? Please explain your answer for points!
Explanation / Answer
Student C: You"re both wrong! Student A, you forgot about the mass. Student B, you were not paying any attention to all the field lines, just the one the charge started on.