Chapter 15 - Electric Charge, Forces, and Fields - Learning Path Questions and Exercises - Conceptual Questions - Page 555: 14

The electric field line depicts the path taken by a positive charge when left in the electric field. If two electric field lines cross each other, there will be two tangents on the same point and thus, there will be 2 directions in which positive charge can move at the same time which is impossible. So, electric field lines can never cross.

The electric field line depicts the path taken by a positive charge when left in the electric field. If two electric field lines cross each other, there will be two tangents on the same point and thus, there will be 2 directions in which positive charge can move at the same time which is impossible. So, electric field lines can never cross.