(a) An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve. That is, a field line cannot have sudden breaks. Why not?
(b) Explain why two field lines never cross each other at any point?

Explanation

(a) An electrostatic field line either originates from a positive charge or terminates on a negative charge. A sudden break in an electric line of force means that the electric field intensity has suddenly dropped to zero from a finite value. But we know that electric field intensity gradually decreases to zero at
infinity. Basically, the end points of the electric lines must be at the location of the charge or infinity. Consider an example of a metallic object placed inside an electrostatic field. Due to induction the charge of the required polarity is induced on its surface so that the electric lines either terminate on its surface or they start from its surface.