why is the electric field always at right angles to the equipotential surface? Explain.

If the electric field is not normal to the equipotential surface, and then the work done in moving a charge from one point to the other will not be zero, which is a contradiction (change in potential = work done/charge. So for zero potential change there will be work done), thus the field is normal to equipotential surface.

why is the electric field always at right angles to the equipotential surface? Explain
Electric field line at Conductor