Assertion and Reason on Electric Field Superposition – Rankers Physics

Electric Field: Practice Problem & Solution

Assertion (A): There is an isolated system of two charged conducting spheres A and B. The resultant electric field at point P is the sum of electric field at P due to charged sphere A only (that is, assuming sphere B and all its effects to be absent) and the electric field at P only due to sphere B (that is, assuming sphere A and all its effects to be absent). Reason (R): Superposition theorem for electric field due to point charges states that resultant electric field at a point due to point charges is the sum of electric field at that point due to individual charges.  
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution Explained:

To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Electric Field. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:

The electric field \(\vec{E}\) obeys the superposition principle. Assertion (A) accurately describes this principle for fields from multiple charge distributions. Reason (R) correctly states the superposition theorem. Hence, R correctly explains A.

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Similar Practice Questions

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