Question

Consider what would happen if electric field lines could cross each other. What would it mean if two electric field lines were to cross?

a) A test charge placed at the intersection of two electric field lines would be torn apart and travel in two different directions.

b) A test charge placed at the intersection of two electric field lines would experience a force in two different directions.

c) A positive test charge placed at the intersection of two electric field lines would follow one of the lines and a negative test charge would follow the other line.

Answer 1

d) The electric field at the intersection point would be infinitely large.

e) The electric field at the intersection point would be zero.

Answer 2

An electric field line show the direction in which the electric force would act on a positive point charge, as in this diagram:

Answer 3

The net electric force on a charge is a unique vector quantity. There can't be two different net electric forces acting on a charge, because by definition, the net electric force acting on a charge is the sum of all the electric forces acting on that object.

Now, that being the case, if two electric lines crossed each other, that would mean the net electric force would have two values. You can now deduce which of your options is correct, even if it is impossible.