Which of the following is NOT true about electric field lines?

The correct answer is Option (2) → They intersect each other in space.

An electric field line is drawn so that its tangent at any point gives the direction of the field at that point.

Option (1) They emanate from a positive charge and terminate at a negative charge. — True about field lines. Field lines start from positive charges and end at negative charges. For a single charge, they may start or end at infinity.

Option (2) They intersect each other in space. — Not true. Two field lines can never cross. At a crossing point there would be two tangents, that is, two directions of the field. But the field at a point has only one direction (a unique direction).

Option (3) They are normal to the surface of a conductor in electrostatics. — True about field lines. In electrostatics, the charges on a conductor are at rest. So the field has no component along the surface. Any such component would drive the free charges along it. So the field lines meet the surface at right angles.

NCERT (2026-27):
Electric Field Lines – “… The field lines follow some important general properties: … (iii) Two field lines can never cross each other. (If they did, the field at the point of intersection will not have a unique direction, which is absurd.)”