line of force can be defined as a straight or curved path, with the tangent at each given location indicating the direction of the strength of the electric field at that point.

Lines of force have the freedom to move in an electric field or by gravitational force. Michael Friday, an English scientist, first proposed the concept of lines of force in the 1830s. Magnetic and electric lines of force, as well as their properties, will be discussed here.

Electric lines of force meaning

We know that a single charge will experience a force when placed in the electric field of another charged particle.

Electric lines of force are the hypothetical lines that originate from the point charge in the direction of the electric force. Electric field lines are another name for electric force lines.

Hence, an electric line of force is a straight or curved path that gives the direction of electric field intensity at any place when you draw a tangent to it.

Electric lines of force depict the field of a positive electric charge in space. These are made up of a series of straight lines radiating uniformly in all directions from the origin of the charge. A second positive charge will travel radially away from the first in the field.

Direction of electric lines of force

The electric lines of force for positive charge migrate out from the charge’s centre. In the case of a negative charge, however, the electric lines of force flow towards the charge’s centre.

When two opposite charges are brought close together, they are drawn by the attractive force between them.

When two opposite charges are positioned close together, the positive charge moves in the direction of the electric lines of force and enters the negative charge’s electric field. Because the electric lines of force for positive and negative charges are in the same direction, the positive charge is dragged towards the negative charge. As a result, the two opposing charges are drawn together.

When two positive charges are positioned close together, they repel each other because of the repulsive force that exists between them.

When these two positive charges are positioned close together, they will both attempt to migrate in the direction of electric lines of force.

Imagine the positive charge to be on the left and the negative charge to be on the right. The positive charge on the left side will try to travel towards the positive charge on the right side, but the electric lines of force of the positive charge on the right side will resist this movement. Similarly, the positive charge on the right side will encounter an opposing force from the positive charge on the left side. As a result, both charges will suffer a repellent force from one another.

Electric field line properties

• Field lines never cross one another
• There is a longitudinal contraction of electric lines of force
• The amount of charge and the number of field lines are proportional
• The positive charge is the starting point for the field lines, while the negative charge is the termination point
• For field lines that begin or end at infinity, a single charge must be used
• Each electric line of force is only an idea; it does not exist in the physical world
• The total number of lines of force that emerge from a charged body is equal to the body’s Coulomb charge
• Every electric line of force starts with a positive charge and ends with a negative charge
• The direction of the electric field lines at any point on an electric line of force is indicated by a tangent drawn at that point in the field
• Each electric force line emerges normally from the charged body’s surface
• Only longitudinally do electric lines of force contract
• Electric lines of force can grow laterally

• The electric lines of force resist each other in the same direction
• In opposite directions, electric lines of force attract one another
• Inside the conductor, no lines of force can exist
• When two opposite charges are positioned close together, the length of the electric lines of force between them shortens
• When two like charges are brought closer together, the length of the electric lines of force between them increases

Conclusion

The electric field lines or electric lines of force are the trajectories of the electric force. Whenever an object with a charge moves through electromagnetic forces, it will follow these paths. The direction that the force is applied on determines which way the field line will be drawn (remember that like charges repel and opposites attract).Every electric line of force starts with a positive charge and ends with a negative charge. The electric lines of force resist each other in the same direction but In opposite directions, electric lines of force attract one another . There are no lines of force inside the conductor.