Physics Technology Update (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32190-308-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-308-2

Chapter 20 - Electric Potential and Electric Potential Energy - Conceptual Questions - Page 716: 7

Answer

Please see the work below.

Work Step by Step

We know that if the electric field were not perpendicular to an equipotential, then the field would do work on a charge. This would imply that the potential energy of the charge would change and the surface would be no longer be equipotential, in contradiction to its name.
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