ELECTROSTATICS…………..

(STUDY OF CHARGE AT REST IS CALLED ELECTROSTATIC )

Electric charge (Q) it is a scalar quantity. It is of two kinds. Benjamin Franklin suggested the names positive and negative.
a) A + ne- = A-ne Excess of electron makes negative ions.
b) B = B+ne + ne- Deficiency of electron makes positive ions.
c) Unit of Q: coulomb (MKS) , Stat coulomb (CGS) Dimensions of Q: [ AT]

Basic Properties of Charges

(i) Charge cannot exist without mass though mass can exist without charge.(+ve) Charged => M decrease, : (–ve) charged = > M
increase
(ii) Quantization of charge: Charge on anybody is always an integral multiple of a fundamental unit of electric charge. This unit is
equal to the magnitude. Q=ne Where n is an integer ±1, ±2, ±3 ... and e = 1.60 × 10–19 C
(iii) Conservation of charge: In an isolated system the total charge (sum of positive and negative) remains constant. γ= e+ + e–

(iv) Charge is invariant: charge on a body does not charges whatever be its speed.

(v) Similar charges repel each other while dissimilar attract: True test of electrification is repulsion and not attraction as
attraction may also take place between a charged and an uncharged body and also between two similarly charged bodies .
Q.1 (1) Q1Q2 > 0 (2) Q1Q2 < 0 state whether there is attraction or repulsion in both cases.

Coulomb’s law
q1q2
F k k= 9 × 109 Nm2C–2
r2
Fvacuum
Fmedium
r

Permittivity: Permittivity is a measure of the ability of the medium surrounding electric charges to allow electric lines of force to
pass through it. = permittivity of free space (vacuum) = 8.85 × 10–12 C2/Nm2
0 Dimensions [ ] = M–1L–3T4A2
0

Relative Permittivity: r K
0
Electric field
The electric field at any point is equal in magnitude to the force experienced per unit (test) charge placed at that point, and is
directed along the direction of the force experienced.

F
E ⇒ q0 0 means test charge is very small. Electric field (intensity) is a vector quantity. Electric field due to a positive
q0
charge is always away from the charge and that due to a negative charge is always towards the charges.

F
Unit of [E] : newton/coulomb = volt/metre. Dimensions of E = MLT–3 A–1
q

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 1

Electric lines of force
[1] Electric lines of force usually start or diverge out form positive charge and end or converge on negative charge.

+ -

[3] Lines of force never cross each other because if they cross then intensity at that point will have two directions which is not
possible.
[4] The electric lines of force can never be closed loops, as line can never start and end on the same charge. If a line of force is a
closed curve, work done round a closed path will not be zero and electric field will not remain conservative.
[5]Field due to (a) equal & opposite charge (b) equal & same charges

+ +
+ -

Repulsion
Attraction Electric lines of force for a system
Electric lines of force for a dipole of two positve charge

[6] The number of lines of force per unit normal area at a point represents magnitude of electric filed intensity. The crowded lines
represent strong field while distant lines shows a weak field. The electric field vector E is tangent to the electric field line at each
point.
[7] Electric field inside any conductor is always zero i.e. electrostatic shielding.
[8] If the lines of force are equidistant straight lines the field is uniform and if lines of force are not equidistant or straight lines or
both, the field will be non-uniform. The first three represent non uniform field while last shows uniform field.
[9] Electric lines of force end or start normally on the surface of a conductor. If a line of force is not normal to the surface of a
conductor, electric intensity will have a component along the surface of the conductor and hence conductor will not remain
equipotential which is not possible as in electrostatics conductor is an equipotential surface.
[10]Electric field lines cannot have a sudden break because in that condition force will be absent.
Area vector
In electrostatic area is considered as area whose magnitude is the area of surface and direction is perpendicular to the surface

ELECTRIC FLUX [ Ǿ ]:Electric flux is the dot product of electric field and area vector. It is equal to the total no of electric field lines
passing normally to any surface. it is a scalar quantity.

E E. A EACos
N m2
E ML3T 3 A 1
UNIT OF ELECTRIC FLUX IS (i) (ii) V m
C
NOTE: For a closed body outward flux is taken as positive while inward flux is taken as negative.

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 2

Gauss’s law
Surface integral of electric field over a closed surface i.e. electric flux passing through that surface is equal to 1/ε0 times of total
charge enclosed by that closed surface.
q
E. dS
0

Electric field due to infinite charged wire [linear charge distribution]

First draw the cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius r and length l, passing through point P .Let linear charge density is λ then by
Gauss theorem.

E
r
r
qin (a) Fig.1 (b)
= E.ds=
o

qin
EdsCos EdsCos EdsCos
0

l l
EdsCos90 EdsCos0 EdsCos90 Eds
0 0

l l 1
E ds E.2 .rl E E
0 0 2 r 0 r
Electric field due to infinite non-conducting charged plane surface (surface charge distribution)
Draw a cylindrical Gaussian surface, such that point P lies on its one end and the other end lies on the other side of sheet. Let
surface charge density is σ then by Gauss theorem.
qin
= E.ds=
o

qin A
EdsCos EdsCos EdsCos EdsCos0 EdsCos0 EdsCos90
0 0
A A
⇒ 2 E ds ⇒ 2 E. A E (For non-conducting)
0 0
2 0

2 A
Notes: If sheet is conducting 2 EA E
0 0

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 3

Electric field due to a charged conducting sphere or conducting shell(SURFACE CHARGE DISTRIBUTION)
Given charge to any conducting sphere or shell reside on its outer surface and there is no charge inside the conductor.To find
electric field on a point P draw a Gaussian surface of radius r passing through point P.
Case (a): r > R
by Gauss theorem
qin
= E.ds=
o

⇒ qin
E.ds.cos
0

qin
⇒ E.ds.cos 0 as θ=0
0

⇒ q
E ds
0

⇒ q
E.4 r 2 as ds 4 r 2
0

⇒ 1 q
E
4 0 r2

Case (b): r =R ⇒ 1 q
E
4 0 R2

Case (c) r < R: E =0 as q=0 inside the Gaussian surface.

kQ
E=
R2
1
E
r2
E=0

r R O R r

1 q 1 q
Special note: (i) Eoutside (ii) Esurface (iii) Einside 0
4 0 r2 4 0 R2

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 4

Electric field due to conductor of any shape
Construct a Gaussian surface of a pilled shape of very small cross-sectional area.

Let surface charge density is σ c/m2 by Gauss theorem

qin
= E.ds=
o

⇒ qin
E.ds.cos
0

qin
⇒ E.ds.cos 0 as θ=0
0

A
⇒ EA ⇒ E
0 0
ELECTRIC DIPOLE & DIPOLE MOMENT:

d
+
q p -q

Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance is called an electric dipole.
The dipole moment is a vector quantity whose magnitude is equal to the product of magnitude of one charge and the distance
between the two charges. It is directed from negative charge to positive charge.
Unit of dipole moment (p) = coulomb × metre = C.m Dimensions of p = M0L1T1A1
p q 2l
ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO ELECTRIC DIPOLE

d
+
q p -q
(a) at midpoint of dipole:

kq kq
Electric field due to +charge E Electric field due to –charge E
l2 l2
So net electric field En = E+ + E-
2kq
r2

d PE
-q o + +q

(b) at the axial position of dipole :

kq kq
Electric field due to +charge E Electric field due to –charge E , as E+ > E-
(r l ) 2 (r l ) 2

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 5

 kq kq (r l ) 2 (r l ) 2
So net electric field En = E+ - E- kq
(r l ) 2 (r l ) 2 (r l ) 2 (r l ) 2

r 2 l 2 2rl r 2 l 2 2rl 4rl p 2r

kq kq k
(r 2 l 2 )2 (r l 2 )2
2
(r l 2 ) 2
2

k2 p 1
Enet 3
If .r l ⇒ ENet 3
r r

2p
EN k electric field and dipole moment both are in same direction.
r3
(c) at the equatorial position :

kq kq
Electric field due to +charge E 2 2
Electric field due to –charge E 2
(r l ) (r l2)
Resolving in to component, sin component cancel each other and cos component are added to each other.
Enet E Cos E Cos

2Cos 2l p
kq kq k
(r 2 l 2 ) (r 2 2
l ) (r 2 2
l ) (r 2
l 2 )3/ 2

kp
Enet as.r l
r3

p
EN k 3
electric field and dipole moment both are anti-parallel to each other.
r

Note: Eaxial =2 Eequatorial

Torqe on dipole placed in uniform external electric field:

(a) Positive charge +q experiences a force parallel to the electric field F qE

(b) Negative charge –q experiences a force in a direction opposite to that of the electric field F qE
(c) The total force on a dipole placed in an uniform electric field is zero Fnet qE qE 0
As Fn =0 there is no translatory motion but due to different line of action there is a torque.
Г =magnitude of either force x perpendicular distance
Eq.x2lSin

pESin p. x ENote : (a) θ =0 ⇒ Г =0 (Stable equilibrium) (b) θ =1800 , ⇒ Г =0 Unstable equilibrium

(c) θ =900 ⇒ Гmax =P E (d) if electric field is non-uniform then F1 ≠ F2 ⇒ there will be linear as well as rotational motion.

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 6

Work to rotate dipole in electric field
At any angle α torque experiences by dipole is pESin
The work done to rotate by small angle dα is given by dw d
2

Total work done from initial position θ1 to final position θ2, W pESin .d
1

W pE Cos 2 pE Cos 2 Cos 1

1

pE Cos 1 Cos 2

if 1 0, 2

W pE 1 Cos
Potential energy of dipole in electric field U pECos U p.E at θ =90 0 → U=0 [Reference point ]
Electric potential difference
Potential difference between two points f (final) and i (initial) is defined as equal to the amount of work done (by external agent)
in moving a unit positive charge from point i (initial) to f (final).
Wi f
Vf Vi
q

W = qΔV where ΔV = V f – V i .

Electrical potential
Electric potential and potential energy are defined only for conservative fields.
Potential at any point A is equal to the amount of work done (by external agent against electric field) in bringing a unit positive
charge from infinity to that point.
W A
VA
q0
Unit of potential (V) = J/C or volt , the electric potential is a scalar quantity. [V] = ML2T–3A–1.
Electric potential due to a point charge
W A
VA
q0
qq0
At any point whose distance from o is x then electric force on test charge Felectric k
x2
qq0
Fexternal Felectric k
x2
qq0 qq0
Work done by electric field to move q0 by small distance dx, dw Felectric .dx.Cos k dx.cos1800 k dx.
x2 x2
r r
qq 1 1 1 qq0 q
Total work done W k 20 dx kqq0 kqq0 k So potential at point A, VA k
x x r r r
Properties of electric field and potential.
(a) Electric force is conservative in nature i.e. work done by electric force does not depend on the path followed but only depend
on its initial & final position .

⇒W1 =W2 =W3

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 7

(b) In any cyclic process ,the work is zero.
WA-B =Δ V.q0 =( VB – VA )q0
WB-A = (VB – VA)
WA-B-A = WA-B + WB-A = [ VB – VA + VB – VA] =O
Electric field due to dipole
(a)at mid point .
d
+
q p -q q ( q)
Vmid point = V+ + V- k k 0
l l
q ( q) r l r l 2l p
(b) at axial position . Vaxial V V k k kq 2 2
kq 2 2 k for.r l
r l r l r l r l r2
q ( q)
(c) at equatorial position Vequatorial V V k k 0
2 2
r l r2 l2
P1
P3

q+
1 p cos d 0 P2
V . 2
4 r -q -
(d) at any point 0

Equipotential surfaces

It is the locus (path) of all such points which are at same potential.
A surface on which the potential is constant is called an equipotential surface. (A curve on which the potential is constant is called
equipotential curve)
(a) q>0 (b) q < 0

E
q

V1
V2
(a) V1 > V2
(c) a charged conducting sphere (d) uniform electric field

E
+
+ +
+ Q ++ E
+
V1
V2
V1 V2 V3
V3
(b) V1 > V2 > V 3 (c) V1 > V2 > V3

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 8

(e) dipole

+ V1
V=0
V2
-

(d)

Properties of equipotential sueface

(a) When a charge is moved on an equipotential surfaces, work done is zero. W =Δ V.q0 = 0 , as ΔV = 0
(b)two equipotential surfaces never intersect each other , otherwise two values of potential will exist which is impossible.
(c) Electric field lines are always perpendicular to the equipotential surfaces. (d) Potential decreases as we move in the direction
of electric field.

Relation b/w electric field and potential

Suppose that a positive test charge q0 moves through a displacement ds from one equipotential surface to the adjacent surface.
Then work done
W = F.S Cosθ = q0 E .dr cos0 ……………………(1)
Also W = - dV.q0 …………………….(2) as potential decreases

dV
- dV.q0 = q0 E .dr ⇒E = - dv/dr ⇒ E .
dr
Electric potential energy: The electric potential energy of a system of fixed point charges is equal to the work that must be done by
an external agent to assemble the system, bringing each charge in from an infinite distance.
U is a scalar quantity. Dimension of [U] = ML 2T–2 Unit of [U] = joule
(a) for two charges
kq1q2
U
r

(b) for three charges

U = U 12 + U 23 + U 13

kq1q2 kq 2 q3 kq1q3
r12 r23 r13

Capacitance
Capacitance is the ability to store the charge on any conductor. The capacitance C of a capacitor is the ratio of the magnitude of the
charge on either conductor to the magnitude of the potential difference between them: It is a scalar quantity.
. q α v ⇒q = C V ⇒C =q/V
1 2 4 2
(a) unit of capacitance is farad. Dimensions of the capacitance are M L T A

(c)
1 F 10 6 F 1nF 10 9 F 1 F 1pF 10 12
F

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 9

CAPACITANCE OF SPHERICAL CONDUCTOR:
When a charge Q is given to a spherical conductor of radius R, then The potential of the surface of the spherical conductor will
Q
V
4 0 R
Electrical capacitance of spherical conductor in M.K.S. system will be
Q Q
C 4 0 R
V Q/4 0 R
Capacitor
It is a device which is used to store the energy in the form of electric field .
Principle: to increase the capacitance, we bring a neutral object near the charged object then due to induction opposite charge
Appear which decreases the potential difference. so capacitance of the device increases.

Parallel plate capacitor

Electric field between the plate is almost uniform except edge where field is non-uniform as shown.
‘A’ = Area of each plate

‘d’ =separation between the plate.

q q
Electric field in air gap between the plate E0 , as,
2 0 2 0 0 A 0 A
E0 qd q
V C
Now potential difference between the plates , d A 0 V
0 A
C
d

NOTES: C0 = ε0 A/d air b/w plate

Cm = Kε0 A/d dielectric b/w plate
Cm = KC0

Series combination of capacitors: Parallel combination of capacitor :

In series combination In parallel combination
(a) charge remain same on each capacitor. (a) Charge is divided across each capacitor
(b) p.d. is divided across each capacitor. (b) p.d. remain same.
Q Q1 Q 2 Q3 ...
⇒ V = V1 + V2 + V3
For each capacitor, For each capacitor,
Q Q Q
V1 , V2 , V3
C1 C2 C3
Q1 C1V , Q2 C2V , Q3 C3V
1 1 1 1 Ceq C1 C2 C3
Ceq C1 C2 C3

C1C2
For , two, capacitor Ceq Q1 : Q2 C1 : C2
C1 C2
1 1
: Q1 : Q2 :
C1 C2
NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 10
Energy stored in a charged capacitor
During charging of a capacitor battery has to do some work, which is stored in the form of electric field between the plates of
capacitor.
Let at any instant charge is q the
q
⇒V
C
So work done to put additional dq charge
q q
dw V.dq= 0 = dq
C C
W Q Q
q 1 1 Q2
dw dq W qdq W U
0 0
C C0 C 2
1 Q2 1 C 2V 2 1
U ⇒ U CV 2
2 C 2 C 2
total.energy
Energy.density
1 QV 2 1 volume
U = 2 QV 1 0A 2 2
2 V (E d ) 1
U 2 d
u E2
Ad Ad 2 0

Energy loss and distribution of charge

(a)

C1 , q1 ,V1 C2 , q2 ,V2
q1 C1V1 q2 C2V2
1 2 1
U1 CV U2 C V2
2 1 1 2 2 2
UI = U1 + U2
Let V1 > V2
When both are connected then at equilibrium, potential will be same
(q1 q2 )
V
Common potential :
C1 C2
C1V1 C2V2
C1 C2
The charge on the conductors after joining them will be
C1 C1V1 C 2 V2 C 2 C1V1 C 2 V2 C1C 2
Q1' C1V Q '2 C2V Q V1 V2
C1 C 2 C1 C 2 C1 C 2
The ratio of the amounts of charge after redistribution.
Q1' C1
Q '2 C2

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 11

Energy loss due to redistribution of charge.
U U initial U final
1 C1C 2 2
V1 V2
2 C1 C 2

which is always positive. there is loss of energy. This loss of energy is due to transformation of electrical energy into heat in the
connecting wire and in electrical discharge.
Dielectric: Dielectric is an insulator which can pass electric field but does not allow the charge.
(a) Behavior of dielectric in electric field

E0
Einduced
K
Enet E0 Einduced
induced
K 0 0 0
K 1
induced
K
K 1
Qinduced Q
K
(b) Behavior of conductor in electric field.

in conductor Enet =0 as Eind = E0

Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor with dielectric slab of thickness ‘t’

q q
Electric field in air gap E0 , as,
2 0 2 0 0 A 0 A
E0
Electric field in dielectric slab, E0
K A 0K

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 12

 q t q A
P.d. between plates V E0 (d t ) E.t (d t ) C C 0
A 0 k V t
(d t )
k
Case: (1) If dielectric is filled in whole space d = t ⇒Cm = K C0
(2) If conducting material is filled in whole space i.e. K = ∞ ⇒ C = ∞
(3) if conducting slab of thickness ‘t’ is present b/w plate ⇒ C = ε0 A/(d – t)
(4) If several slabs of dielectrics of different thicknesses are placed between the plates, then
t t1 t2 t3

A
r r1 r2 r3

0 A
t1 t2 t3
.....
r1 r2 r3 (a) (b)
Energy stored in capacitors connected in series/parallel
(A) In series (B) in parallel

1 1 1 1
Ceq C1 C2 C3 Ceq C1 C2 C3
1 q2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2
US q UP q Ceq q Ceq C1 C2 C3
2 Ceq 2 C1 C2 C3 2 2
1 2 1 2 1 2
1 q2 1 q2 1 q2 q C1 q C2 q C3
2 2 2
2 C1 2 C2 2 C3 U P U1 U 2 U 3
U S U1 U 2 U 3
Effect of dielectric
A parallel-plate capacitor CO is charged with a battery to a charge Q0 , The battery is then removed, and a slab of material that has
a dielectric constant K is inserted between the plates, Find the (a)capacitance(b)charge(c)electric field (d)p.d.(e)energy stored in
the capacitor before and after the dielectric is inserted.

(1) Battery is removed. (2) Battery is connected.

(a) C =KC0 (increases) (a) C =KC0 (increases)

(b) Q = Q0 (as battery has been removed) (b) V = V0 (Battery remain connected)
(c) E = E0/K (decreased) (c) q = CV =KC0V0 =Kq0 (increases)

(d) V = Ed = E0 d/K =V0/K (Decreased) (d) E = V/d =V0/d = E0 (same)

(e) U = CV2 = KC0 [V0/K]2 = U0/K (Decreased) (e) U = CV2 = KC0 (V0 )2 =K U0 (Increases)

ELECTROSTATICS…………………..(BOARD QUESTION)

Q.1 A 500 mC charge is at the centre of a square of side 10 cm. Find the work done in moving a charge of 10 mC between two
diagonally opposite points on the square. ANS: ZERO

Q.2 (a) Derive an expression for the torque experienced by an electric dipole kept in a uniformly electric field.
(b) Calculate the work done to dissociate the system of three charges placed on the vertices of a triangle as shown.
Here q =1.6 x10- 10 C. Ans: W U 2 3 10 8 J

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 13

Q.3 Three identical capacitors C1 , C2 and C3 of capacitance 6 mF each are connected to a 12 V battery as shown.
Find: (i) charge on each capacitor (ii) equivalent capacitance of the network (iii) energy stored in the network of capacitors. Ans
(i) 3, 36 ,72μC (ii) 9μf(iii) 6 . 48 x 10-4 J

Q4. The equivalent capacitance of the combination between A and B in the given figure is 4 mF.

(i) Calculate capacitance of the capacitor C.(ii) Calculate charge on each capacitor if a 12 V battery is connected across terminals A
and B. (iii) What will be the potential drop across each capacitor? Ans: (i)5μf(ii)48μc(iii)2.4,9.6 V

Q.5 Two parallel plate condition X and Y, have the same area of plates and same separation between them. X has air between the
plates while Y contains a dielectric medium of εr = 4.
(i) Calculate capacitance of each capacitor if equivalent capacitance of the combination is 4 μF.
(ii) Calculate the potential difference between the plates of X and Y.
(iii) What is the ratio of electrostatic energy stored in X and Y?

Ans: (i) 20μf (ii)9.6, 2.4V (III) 4:1

Q.6 A positive point charge (+q) is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conducting plate. Sketch electric field lines originating from
the point on to the surface of the plate. Derive the expression for the electric field at the surface of a charged conductor.

Q.7 A parallel plate capacitor is charged by a battery. After some time the battery is disconnected and a dielectric slab of dielectric
constant K is inserted between the plates. How would (i) the capacitance, (ii) the electric field between the plates and (iii) the
energy stored in the capacitor, be affected? Justify your answer.

Q.8 Why is it necessary that the field lines from a point charge placed in the vicinity of a conductor must be normal to the surface of
the conductor at every point? Ans: Surface of a conductor is an equipotential surface and field lines are always directed from
higher to lower potential

Q.9 Figure shows a sheet of aluminum foil of negligible thickness placed between the plates of a capacitor. How will its capacitance
be affected if: (i) the foil is electrically insulated? (ii) the foil is connected to the upper plate with a conducting wire? Ans: (i) No
effect on capacitance if foil is electrically neutral. (ii) If foil is connected to upper plate with a conducting wire, the effective
separation between plates becomes half, so capacitance is doubled.

Q.10. Three points A, B and C lie in a uniform electric field (E) of 5 x 103 NC-1 as shown in the figure. Find the potential difference
between A and C. Ans: 200 V

NAVEEN PHYSICS CLASSES…… 8791405306 Page 14

Q.11 A 800 pF capacitor is charged by a 100 V battery. After some time the battery is disconnected. The capacitor is then connected
to another 800 pF capacitor. What is the electrostatic energy stored? Ans: 2x10-6 J

Q.12 Figure shows three point charges, +2q, -q and +3q. Two charges +2q and -q are enclosed within a surface ‘S’. What is the
electric flux due to this configuration through the surface ‘S’?

Q.13 (a) Depict the equipotential surfaces for a system of two identical positive point charges placed a distance ‘d’ apart.
(b) Deduce the expression for the potential energy of a system of two point charges q1 and q2 brought from infinity to the points r1
and r2 respectively in the presence of external electric field E.

Q.14 A parallel plate capacitor, each with plate area A and separation d, is charged to a potential difference V. The battery used to
charge it remains connected. A dielectric slab of thickness d and dielectric constant k is now placed between the plates. What
change, if any, will take place in: (i) charge on plates? (ii) Electric field intensity between the plates? (iii) Capacitance of the
capacitor? Justify your answer in each case.

Q15. A parallel plate capacitor is charged to a potential difference V by a d.c. source. The capacitor is then disconnected from the
source. If the distance between the plates is doubled, state with reason how the following will change: (i) electric field between the
plates. (ii) capacitance, an(iii) energy stored in the capacitor.

Q.16 A spherical conducting shell of inner radius r1 and outer radius r2 has a charge ‘Q’. A charge ‘q’ is placed at the centre of the
shell. (a) What is the surface charge density on the (i) inner surface, (ii) outer surface of the shell? (b) Write the expression for the

electric field at a point x >r2 from the centre of the shell. Ans: , ,

Q.17 A charge QmC is placed at the centre of a cube. What is the electric flux coming out from any one surface?

Q18. A metallic sphere is placed in a uniform electric field as shown in the figure. Which path is followed by electric field lines and
why?

Q.19 (a) Plot a graph comparing the variation of potential ‘V’ and electric field ‘E’ due to a point charge ‘Q’ as a function of distance
‘R’ from the point charge. (b) Find the ratio of the potential differences that must be applied across the parallel and the series
combination of two identical capacitors so that the energy stored, in the two cases, becomes the same. Ans:1:2

Q.20 (a) How is the electric field due to a charged parallel plate capacitor affected when a dielectric slab is inserted between the
plates fully occupying the intervening region? (b) A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area as the plates of a
parallel plate capacitor but has thickness d/2, where d is the separation between the plates. Find the

expression for the capacitance when the slab is inserted between the plates. Ans:

Q.21 Find the ratio of the poetntial differences that must be applied acros the parallel and the series combination of two capacitors
C1 and C2 with their capacitances in the ratio 1: 2 so that the energy stored, in the two cases, becomes the same.
Ans: 2:9

Q22. A point charge Q is placed at point O as shown in the figure. Is the potential difference VA – VB positive, negative, or zero, if Q
is (i) positive (ii) negative? Ans: positive, negative

Q23. Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept at an angle of 120° as shown in the figure.
What is the resultant dipole moment of this combination? If this system is subjected to electric field E directed along + X direction,
what will be the magnitude and direction of the torque acting on this? Ans: p, PE/2

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Q24. Figure shows two identical capacitors, C1 and C2, each of 1 mF capacitance connected to a battery of 6 V. Initially switch ‘S’ is
closed. After sometimes ‘S’ is left open and dielectric slabs of dielectric constant K = 3 are inserted to fill completely the space
between the plates of the two capacitors. How will the (i) charge and (ii) potential difference between the plates of the capacitors
be affected after the slabs are inserted? Ans: 18 μC, 6 μC, 2V.

Q25. Plot a graph showing the variation of coulomb force (F) versus 1/r2, where r is the distance between the two charges of each
pair of charges: (1 C, 2 C) and (2 C – 3 C). Interpret the graphs obtained.

Q.26 Net capacitance of three identical capacitors in series is 1 μF. What will be their net capacitance if connected in parallel? Find
the ratio of energy stored in the two configurations if they are both connected to the same source. Ans: 1:9

Q27. Two heating elements of resistance R1 and R2 when operated at a constant supply of voltage, V, consume powers P1 and P2
respectively. Deduce the expressions for the power of their combination when they are, in turn, connected in (i) series and (ii)
parallel across the same voltage supply.

Q.28 Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B if identical size have charges qA and qB respectively. A third sphere C of the
same size but uncharged is brought in contact with the first and then in contact with the second and finally removed from both.
What are the new charges on A and B?

Q.29 Calculate the amount of work done in rotating a dipole, of dipole moment 3 10 8 cm, from its position of stable equilibrium to the
position of unstable equilibrium, in a uniform electric field of intensity 104 N/C.

Q.30 Two identical parallel plate (air) capacitors C1 and C2 have capacitances C each. The between their plates is now filled with
dielectrics as shown. If the two capacitors still have equal capacitance, obtain the relation between dielectric constants K, K1 and
K2 . Ans: (K1+K2 )/2

Q31. You are given an air filled parallel plate capacitor C1. The space between its plates is now filled with slabs of dielectric
constants K1 and K2 as shown in C2 . Find the capacitances of the capacitor C2 if area of the plates is A distance between the plates

is d. Ans:
Q32. You are given an air filled parallel plate capacitor C1. The space between its plates is now filled with slabs of dielectric
constants K1 and K2 as shown in C2 . Find the capacitances of the capacitor C2 if area of the plates is A and distance between the

plates is d. Ans:
Q.33 . Draw a plot showing the variation of (i) electric field (E) and (ii) electric potential (V) with distance r due to a point charge Q.

Q34. . State Gauss’s law in electrostatic. A cube with each side ‘a’ is kept in an electric field given by , (as is shown in the
figure) where C is a positive dimensional constant. Find out (i) the electric flux through the cube, and (ii) the net charge inside the
cube. Ans (a3 C)

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Q.35 A capacitor of 200pF is charged by a 300V battery. The battery is then disconnected and the charged capacitor is connected to
another uncharged capacitor of 100 pF. Calculate the difference between the final energy stored in the combined system and the
initial energy stored in the single capacitor. Ans(3X 10-6 J)

Q.36 Two charges of magnitudes – 2Q and + Q are located at points (a, 0) and (4a, 0) respectively. What is the electric flux due to
these charges through a sphere of radius ‘3a’ with its centre at the origin? Ans: -2Q/ε0

Q37. A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area as that of the plates of a parallel plate capacitor but has the
thickness d/2, where d is the separation between the plates. Find out the expression for its capacitance when the slab is inserted
between the plates of the capacitor. Ans: 2ε0AK/d(K+1)

Q38.Two charges of magnitudes – 3Q and + 2Q are located at points (a, 0) and (4a, 0) respectively. What is the electric flux due to
these charges through a sphere of radius ‘5a’ with its centre at the origin? Ans: -Q/ε0

Q39. Two charges of magnitudes + 4Q and – Q are located at points (a, 0) and (– 3a, 0) respectively. What is the electric flux due to
these charges through a sphere of radius ‘2a’ with its centre at the origin? Ans: 4Q/ε0

Q.40 Three concentric metallic shells A, B and C of radii a, b and c (a < b < c) have surface charge densities , and
respectively as shown in the figure. If shells A and C are at the same potential, then obtain the relation between the radii a,
b and c.

ANS: , ,

a+b=c

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ELECTROSTATICS…………………….

Q.1 How can you charge a metal sphere positively without touching it?

Q.2 If 109 electrons move out of a body to another body every second, how much time is required to get a total charge of 1 C on the
other body? Ans: 198 years.

Q.3 How much positive and negative charge is there in a cup of water? (250 g). Ans: 1.34 × 107 C.

Q.4 A charged metallic sphere A is suspended by a nylon thread. Another charged metallic sphere B held by an insulating handle is
brought close to A such that the distance between their centers is 10 cm, Spheres A and B are touched by uncharged spheres C and
D respectively, C and D are then removed and B is brought closer to A to a distance of 5.0 cm between their centers, What is the
expected repulsion of A on the basis of Coulomb’s law? Spheres A and C and spheres B and D have identical sizes. Ans: same.

Q.5Consider three charges q1, q2, q3 each equal to q at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side l. What is the force on a charge
Q (with the same sign as q) placed at the centroid of the triangle? Ans: zero.

Q.6 Consider the charges q, q, and –q placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle, What is the force on each charge?

Q.7 An electron falls through a distance of 1.5 cm in a uniform electric field of magnitude 2.0 × 104 N C–1 . The direction of the field
is reversed keeping its magnitude unchanged and a proton falls through the same distance. Compute the time of fall in each case.
-7
Contrast the situation with that of ‘free fall under gravity’. Ans: te = 2.9 × 10–9s tp=1. 3 10 s

Q.8 Two point charges q1 and q2, of magnitude +10-8 C and –10-8 C, respectively, are placed 0.1 m apart. Calculate the electric fields
at points A, B and C shown in Fig.

5 5
Ans: 7.2 × 104 N C–1 , 3.6 × 104 N C–1 , 4 × 103 N C–1, 9 × 103 N C–1 Ans: a 2 ( 2 1) 800(0.1) 2 ( 2 1) 1.05 Nm 2c 1

Q.9 The electric field components in Fig. are Ex = αx1/2, Ey = Ez = 0, in which α= 800 N/C m1/2. Calculate (a) the flux through the
cube, and (b) the charge within the cube. Assume that a = 0.1 m.

Q.10An electric field is uniform, and in the positive x direction for positive x, and uniform with the same magnitude but in the
negative x direction for negative x. It is given that E = 200 ˆi N/C for x > 0 and E = –200 ˆi N/C for x < 0. A right circular cylinder of
length 20 cm and radius 5 cm has its centre at the origin and its axis along the x-axis so that one face is at x = +10 cm and the other

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is at x = –10 cm . (a) What is the net outward flux through each flat face? (b) What is the flux through the side of the cylinder? (c)
What is the net outward flux through the cylinder? (d) What is the net charge inside the cylinder? Ans: 3.14 N m2 C–1

Q.11 An early model for an atom considered it to have a positively charged point nucleus of charge Ze, surrounded by a uniform
density of negative charge up to a radius R. The atom as a whole is neutral. For this model, what is the electric field at a distance
Ze 1 r
r from the nucleus? Ans: (i) E (r ) (ii) zero
4 0 r2 R3
Q.12 (a) Explain the meaning of the statement ‘electric charge of a body is quantised’.
(b) Why can one ignore quantisation of electric charge when dealing with macroscopic i.e., large scale charges?

Q.13 Four point charges qA = 2 μC, qB = –5 μC, qC = 2 μC, and qD = –5 μC are located at the corners of a square ABCD of side 10 cm.
What is the force on a charge of 1 μC placed at the centre of the square? Ans: Zero N

Q.14 (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?

Q.15 Two point charges qA = 3 μC and qB = –3 μC are located 20 cm apart in vacuum.

(a) What is the electric field at the midpoint O of the line AB joining the two charges?
(b) If a negative test charge of magnitude 1.5 × 10–9 C is placed at this point, what is the force experienced by the test charge?
Ans: (a) 5.4 × 106 N C–1 along OB (b) 8.1 × 10–3 N along OA

Q.16 A system has two charges qA = 2.5 × 10–7 C and qB = –2.5 × 10–7 C located at points A: (0, 0, –15 cm) and B: (0,0, +15 cm),
respectively. What are the total charge and electric dipole moment of the system? Ans: Total charge is zero. Dipole moment = 7.5 ×
10–8 C m along z-axis.

Q.17 An electric dipole with dipole moment 4 × 10-9 C m is aligned at 30° with the direction of a uniform electric field of magnitude
5 × 104 NC–1. Calculate the magnitude of the torque acting on the dipole. Ans: 10–4 N m

Q.18 Figure shows tracks of three charged particles in a uniform electrostatic field. Give the signs of the three charges. Which
particle has the highest charge to mass ratio?

Ans: Charges 1 and 2 are negative, charge 3 is positive. Particle 3 has the highest
charge to mass ratio.

Q.19 Consider a uniform electric field E = 3 × 103 î N/C. (a) What is the flux of this field through a square of 10 cm on a side whose
plane is parallel to the yz plane? (b) What is the flux through the same square if the normal to its plane makes a 60° angle with the
x-axis? Ans: (a) 30 Nm2/C, (b) 15 Nm2/C.

Q.20 A point charge +10 μC is a distance 5 cm directly above the centre of a square of side 10 cm, as shown in Fig. What is the
magnitude of the electric flux through the square?

Ans: 2.2 × 105 N m2/C

Q.21 A point charge of 2.0 μC is at the centre of a cubic Gaussian surface 9.0 cm on edge. What is the net electric flux through the
surface? Ans: 1.9 × 105 N m2/C

Q.22 A point charge causes an electric flux of –1.0 × 103 Nm2/C to pass through a spherical Gaussian surface of 10.0 cm radius
centred on the charge. (a) If the radius of the Gaussian surface were doubled, how much flux would pass through the surface? (b)
What is the value of the point charge? Ans: (a) –103 N m2/C; (b) –8.8 nC

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Q.23 A uniformly charged conducting sphere of 2.4 m diameter has a surface charge density of 80.0 μC/m2. (a) Find the charge on
the sphere. (b) What is the total electric flux leaving the surface of the sphere? Ans: (a) 1.45 × 10–3 C (b) 1.6 × 108 Nm2/C

Q.24 Two large, thin metal plates are parallel and close to each other. On their inner faces, the plates have surface charge densities
of opposite signs and of magnitude 17.0 × 10–22 C/m2. What is E: (a) in the outer region of the first plate, (b) in the outer region of
the second plate, and (c) between the plates? Ans: (a) Zero, (b) Zero, (c) 1.9 N/C.

Q.25 An oil drop of 12 excess electrons is held stationary under a constant electric field of 2.55 × 10 4 NC–1 in Millikan’s oil drop
experiment. The density of the oil is 1.26 g cm–3. Estimate the radius of the drop. ANS: 9.81 × 10–4 mm.

Q.26 Which among the curves shown in Fig cannot possibly represent electrostatic field lines?

Q.27 In a certain region of space, electric field is along the z-direction throughout. The magnitude of electric field is, however, not
constant but increases uniformly along the positive z-direction, at the rate of 105 NC–1 per metre. What are the force and torque
experienced by a system having a total dipole moment equal to 10–7 Cm in the negative z-direction ?

Q.28 (a) A conductor A with a cavity as shown in Fig is given a charge Q. Show that the entire charge must appear on the outer
surface of the conductor. (b) Another conductor B with charge q is inserted into the cavity keeping B insulated from A. Show that
the total charge on the outside surface of A is Q + q . (c) A sensitive instrument is to be shielded from the strong electrostatic fields
in its environment. Suggest a possible way.

Q.29 An infinite line charge produces a field of 9 × 104 N/C at a distance of 2 cm. Calculate the linear charge density. ANS: 10 μC/m

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