Question

(a) Sketch the electric field lines near a point charge +q (b) Do the same for a point charge -3.00q.

Short answer

(a) The electric field lines for isolated positive point charge is radially outward from the charge. (b) The electric field lines for isolated negative point charge is radially inward to the charge.

Step-by-step solution

Electric field lines

All electric field lines originate from a positively charge and terminate on a negative charge. They are open curves. The number of electric field lines originating from or ending on a charge is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge.

(a) Electric field lines near the point charge +q

The electric field lines originate from positive charge body. The schematic representation of the electric field lines near a positive point charge +q is shown below:

Electric field lines near a point charge +q

(b) Electric field lines near the point charge -3.00q

The electric field lines terminate at the negatively charged body. Since, the magnitude of the negative charge is three times to that of positive charge. Hence, the electric field lines will three times denser.

The schematic representation of the electric field lines near a negative point charge -3.00q is shown below:

Electric field lines near a point charge -3.00q

The electric field lines for +q are radially outward and for -3.00q it is radially inward.