Equipotential surfaces at a great distance from a collection of charges whose total sum is not zero are approximately.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Spherical
Seen from a distance much larger than the size of the collection, the charges act like a single point charge equal to their total Q (which is not zero here). The potential then depends only on the distance r from the collection:
\( \displaystyle V \approx \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\,\frac{Q}{r} \)
V is constant wherever r is constant, so the equipotential surfaces are approximately spheres centred on the collection. Plane equipotentials belong to a uniform field, not to a localised group of charges.
NCERT Exemplar:
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance – …
