JEE MAIN - Physics (2023 - 31st January Evening Shift - No. 9)

Considering a group of positive charges, which of the following statements is correct ?
Net potential of the system cannot be zero at a point but net electric field can be zero at that point
Net potential of the system at a point can be zero but net electric field can't be zero at that point.
Both the net potential and the net electric field cannot be zero at a point.
Both the net potential and the net field can be zero at a point.

Explanation

$V=\frac{\sum K Q_{i}}{r_{i}}$

Here, $Q_{i}$ and $r_{i}$ are positive.

$\therefore V > 0$

The correct statement is:

(A) Net potential of the system cannot be zero at a point but net electric field can be zero at that point.

Explanation:

In a group of positive charges, the net potential at a point is the sum of the potentials due to each individual charge. The potential due to a point charge is given by the Coulomb's law, which is non-zero except at the location of the charge itself. Therefore, the net potential due to a group of positive charges can never be zero at a point.

On the other hand, the net electric field at a point is the vector sum of the electric fields due to each individual charge. If the charges are arranged in such a way that their electric fields cancel out at a particular point, then the net electric field at that point can be zero, even though the charges are present. This can happen, for example, in a symmetrical arrangement of charges.

So, statement (A) is the correct statement.

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