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| Equipotential Surface |
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Any surface over which the potential is constant is called an equipotential surface. |
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In other words, the potential difference between any two points on an equipotential surface is zero. |
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For example, consider two points A and B on an equipotential surface as shown in figure.
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VB - VA = 0
VB = VA |
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It may be noted that an equipotential surface may be the surface of a material body or a surface drawn in an electric field.
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Some important properties of equipotential surfaces : |
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Work done in moving a charge over an equipotential surface is zero.
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The electric field is always perpendicular to an equipotential surface.
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The spacing between equipotential surfaces enables us to identify regions of strong and weak fields.
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Two equipotential surfaces can never intersect. If two equipotential surfaces could intersect, then at the point of intersection there would be two values of electric potential which is not possible.
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