Electric field Distribution due to Different Charges

Some typical electric field due to different charges are given below:

(i) Isolated Charged Sphere : In an isolated positively charged sphere, the electric lines of force leaving the surface are radially outward i.e., they appear to proceed from the centre of the sphere.
           

(ii) A positive and a negative charge : The electric field distribution due to two equally and oppositely charged spheres is as shown in fig.. 
                              
The electric lines of force start from the positive charge and end on the negative charge, behaving as if they were bonds pulling the charge towards the other.

(iii) Two positive charges : Consider two positively charged spheres placed at some distance apart as shown in fig.
                     

The electric field distribution will be as shown. The electric lines of force start from both the charges and behave as if they were bonds pulling apart one charge from the other.

There will be some point on the line joining the two spheres where electric field intensity is zero i.e. if a unit positive charge is placed at the centre of line joining two spheres, it will experience no force. Such a point is called neutral point.

(iv) Charged parallel plates :Consider two metal plates equally and oppositely charged and held at some distance apart as shown in fig. Such an arrangement forms parallel plate capacitor.

           
The electric field distribution is uniform between the plates i.e.,electric lines of force are straight and parallel in this region. However, near the edges of the plates, the field distribution is non-uniform as the lines of force are not equally spaced.

Courtesy:chem.ox.ac.uk
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