NEETPhysicsElectrostatics
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The electric potential and the electric field intensity at the centre of a square having four fixed point charges at their vertices as shown in figure are zero. Reason (R) : If electric potential at a point is zero then the magnitude of electric field at that point must be zero. In the light of the
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
- C(A) is true but (R) is false.
- D(A) is false but (R) is true.
Correct answer
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is true. The electric potential is a scalar quantity, and at the center of the square, the potential due to the two positive charges cancels out the potential due to the two negative charges because they are equidistant from the center. (V= k(+q) r + k(-q) r + k(+q) r + k(-q) r =0 ) The electric field is a vector quantity. The electric field vectors from the two positive charges point away from them, towards the center, and the vectors from the two negative charges point towards them, away from the ce