Considering a group of positive charges, which of the following statements is correct?

Options

A. Net potential of the system cannot be zero at a point but net electric field can be zero at that point
B. Net potential of the system at a point can be zero but net electric field can't be zero at that point.
C. Both the net potential and the net electric field cannot be zero at a point.
D. Both the net potential and the net field can be zero at a point.

Answer

To determine which statement is correct regarding a group of positive charges, we need to analyze the properties of electric potential and electric field.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Electric Potential and Electric Field**:
- Electric potential (V) at a point in space due to a charge is a scalar quantity. It can be defined as the work done in bringing a unit positive charge from infinity to that point.
- The electric field (E) is a vector quantity that represents the force experienced by a unit positive charge placed in the field. It is defined as the gradient (or rate of change) of electric potential.

2. **Analyzing the Statements**:
- The first statement claims that the net potential of the system cannot be zero at a point, but the net electric field can be zero at that point.
- For a system of positive charges, the electric potential due to each charge is always positive. Therefore, at any point in space, the net potential due to a group of positive charges cannot be zero, as it is the sum of positive values.
- However, the electric field can indeed be zero at certain points. For example, if the charges are arranged symmetrically, there can be points where the electric fields due to different charges cancel each other out.

3. **Conclusion**:
- The first statement is correct: the net potential cannot be zero (since it is the sum of positive contributions), but the electric field can be zero at certain points due to cancellation.

### Final Answer:
- The correct statement is: **The net potential of the system cannot be zero at a point, but the net electric field can be zero at a point.**

---