Question

Electric lines of force about a positive point charge are

• A. radially outwards
• B. circular clockwise
• C. radially inwards
• D. parallel straight lines
• E. circular anticlockwise

Hint:

Positive charge → field lines go outward; negative → inward.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Electric field lines represent the direction of force experienced by a positive test charge.

Step 1: Nature of point charge field
For a point charge: \[ E = \frac{1}{4\pi \varepsilon_0} \frac{q}{r^2} \] Direction depends on sign of charge.

Step 2: For positive charge:
• Test charge experiences repulsion
• Hence field direction is away from the charge

Step 3: Geometry of field lines:
• Symmetrical in all directions
• Straight lines radiating outward

Step 4: Why other options are wrong:
• Circular → not electrostatic field (appears in magnetic field)
• Parallel → uniform field, not point charge
• Inward → corresponds to negative charge Final Conclusion: Field lines are radially outward.