According to Maxwell's equations, how do magnetic field lines differ from electric field lines in where they start and stop?
AMagnetic lines start and end on charges, electric lines form closed loops
BBoth magnetic and electric field lines always form closed loops
CMagnetic lines are continuous loops, electric lines start and end on charges
DBoth magnetic and electric field lines always start and end on charges
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Magnetic lines are continuous loops, electric lines start and end on charges
1. Electric field lines originate on positive charges and terminate on negative charges, so they have clear start and end points.
2. Magnetic field lines are continuous and have no beginning or end, because no magnetic monopoles are known to exist.
3. Putting these together, magnetic lines form closed loops while electric lines start and stop on charges.
4. An option that has both types forming loops ignores that electric lines terminate on charges.
5. An option that has both types starting and stopping on charges ignores the stated absence of magnetic monopoles.
6. Swapping which family does which is the trap the first option sets, so check the pairing carefully.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 15 "Light", section 15.1 The Electromagnetic Spectrum_
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