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Identify the INCORRECT statement about electrostatic field lines.

1. Electric field lines never cross each other.
2. A positive charge experiences a force along the direction of the electric field line.
3. Electric field lines always begin on negative charges and terminate on positive charges.
4. Field lines that are crowded together represent a stronger field, and lines that are spread apart represent a weaker field.

Correct answer: Electric field lines always begin on negative charges and terminate on positive charges.

Solution

Electric field lines originate from positive charges and terminate on negative charges, so the statement claiming they start on negative and end on positive is wrong. The other three statements are all correct: lines never intersect, a positive test charge is pushed along the local field direction, and line density indicates field strength.

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