Comment on the validity of the following statements.
The density of electric field lines in a certain region indicates:
(i) the direction of the electric field in that region
(ii) the strength of the electric field in that region
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Only (ii) is correct
(i) the direction of the electric field in that region — False. The tangent to the field line at a point, with the arrow on the line, gives the direction there. How closely the lines are packed says nothing about direction.
(ii) the strength of the electric field in that region — True. The lines crowd together where the field is strong and spread apart where it is weak. So their relative density shows the relative strength of the field.
NCERT (2026-27):
Electric Field Lines – “… An electric field line is, in general, a curve drawn in such a way that the tangent to it at each point is in the direction of the net field at that point.”
Electric Field Lines – “… Having drawn a certain set of field lines, the relative density (i.e., closeness) of the field lines at different points indicates the relative strength of electric field at those points.”