When gravitational, magnetic and any forces other than static electric forces are not present, electric field lines in the space surrounding a charge distribution show
A) the directions of the forces that exist in space at all times.
B) only the directions in which static charges would accelerate when at points on those lines
C) only the directions in which moving charges would accelerate when at points on those lines.
D) tangents to the directions in which either static or moving charges would accelerate when passing through points on those lines.
E) the paths static or moving charges would take.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Electric field lines represent the direction in which a positive test charge would accelerate if placed in the field, regardless of whether the charge is moving or static. This is because the electric field at a point in space defines the force per unit charge at that point, and the direction of this force (and thus acceleration) is tangent to the field lines at any given point.

When Gravitational, Magnetic and Any Forces Other Than Static Electric