A : The path traced by a positive charge is a field line.
R : A field line can intersect itself.

Options

A. If both Assertion & Reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (1).
B. If both Assertion & Reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (2).
C. If Assertion is true statement but Reason is false, then mark (3).
D. If both Assertion and Reason are false statements, then mark (4).

Answer

To solve the given assertion and reason question, we need to analyze both statements carefully.

### Step 1: Analyze the Assertion
The assertion states: "The path traced by a positive charge is a field line."

- **Understanding the Assertion**: Field lines represent the direction of the electric field. The correct definition states that the path traced by a **unit positive charge** placed in an electric field is what defines a field line. Therefore, the assertion is misleading because it does not specify "unit positive charge."

**Conclusion**: The assertion is **false**.

### Step 2: Analyze the Reason
The reason states: "A field line can intersect itself."

- **Understanding the Reason**: Field lines are drawn such that at any point in space, the electric field has a unique direction. If two field lines were to intersect, it would imply that at that point, the electric field has two different directions, which contradicts the fundamental property of electric fields. Therefore, field lines cannot intersect.

**Conclusion**: The reason is also **false**.

### Step 3: Determine the Relationship
Now that we have analyzed both the assertion and the reason, we can conclude:

- Both the assertion and the reason are false.

### Final Answer
Since both the assertion and the reason are false, the correct option is **4**: "If both assertion and reason are false statements."

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