ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1

Coulomb’s Law
1. State three properties of electric charge.
2. Briefly explain (a) charging by friction (b) charging by conduction & (c) charging by induction.
3. State Coulomb’s law of force between two electric charges and express the same in mathematical
form. Using the law define one coulomb.
4. What is the magnitude of the force a ± 25 mC charge exerts on a ± 2.5 mC charge 16 cm
away?
Ans-2.2 x 104 N
5. Two charged dust particles exert a force of 4.2 x 10–2 N on each other. What will be the force
if they are moved so they are only one-eighth as far apart?
Ans- 2.7 N
6. A person scuffing her feet on a wool rug on a dry day accumulates a net charge of –28mC. How many
excess electrons does she get, and by how much does her mass increase?
Ans- Excess electron-1.7 x 1014 and Excess mass-1.6 x 10-16 kg
7. What is the total charge of all the electrons in a 12-kg bar of gold? What is the net charge of the bar?
(Gold has 79 electrons per atom and an atomic mass of 197 u.)
Ans- -4.6 x 108 C
8. Two point charges are 10 cm apart in air and their combined charge is 9µC. If they repel each other
with a force of 18N, then calculate the magnitude of each charge.
(Ans: 5µC & 4µC)
9. Two point charges Q1 = 3 x 10-19 C and Q2 = 12 x10-19 C are separated by a distance of 4m. Find the
point on the line joining them at which the net electrostatic force is zero.
𝟒 𝟖
( Ans: 𝟑 𝒎 from Q1 and 𝟑 𝒎 from Q2)
10. Two point charges q1 and q2 at a separation r in vacuum exert a force F on each other. What should
be their separation in an oil of a relative permittivity (dielectric constant) 8 so that the force between
them remains F only?
𝑟
(Ans: 𝒓′ = 2√2 )
11. Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B of identical sizes with charges 2q and 3q respectively
repel with a force ‘F ‘when placed at a distance d. A third sphere C of the same size but uncharged is
brought in contact with A first and then in contact with B and finally placed in the middle of both.
What are the new forces on A, C and B?
𝟓 𝟒
(𝑨𝒏𝒔: 𝟑 𝑭, 𝟑 𝑭 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟑𝑭)

12. Plot a graph showing the variation of Coulomb force (F) versus 1/r 2, where r is the distance between
the two charges of each pair of charges: (3µC, 2µC) and (6µC, –3µC). Interpret the graphs obtained.

Ans- Interpretations:
a. Magnitude of slope is proportional to strength of the force.
b. Sign of the slope indicate the nature of the force. (positive slope indicate repulsion and
negative slope indicate attractive force.)
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1
F= kq1q2/𝒓𝟐 y = F, x = 1/r2 y = m x slope = kq1q2
13. A charge q is placed at the center of the line joining two equal charges Q. Show that the system of
three charges will be in equilibrium if q = -Q/4.
14. Find the magnitude and sign of charge to be placed at M so that the charge at A is in equilibrium.
ABC is an equilateral triangle of side L = 20cm.

𝟗√𝟑
( 𝑨𝒏𝒔: 𝑸 = + µ𝑪)
𝟒

15. Three identical charges Q each are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side a. Find the
magnitude and sign of charge to be placed at the centroid so that the charge at vertex remains at
equilibrium.
𝑸
Ans- (𝑸 = − )
√𝟑
16. Three charges +Q, -Q and +Q are placed at the vertices A, B & C of an equilateral triangle. Find the
net force on charge at each vertex.
𝒌𝑸𝟐 𝒌𝑸𝟐 𝒌𝑸𝟐
(𝑨𝒏𝒔: 𝑭𝑨 = 𝒂𝟐 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝑩, 𝑭𝑩 = √𝟑 𝒂𝟐 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝑪 & 𝑩𝑨, 𝑭𝑪 = 𝒂𝟐 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝑪, )
17. Two fixed point charges +e and − 4𝑒 are separated by a distance a. Where should a third charge Q
be placed for it to be in equilibrium? Where will be the new position if both were positive charges?
Ans: a from e and 2a from 4e. a/3 from e and 2a/3 from 4e
18. An equilateral triangle has charge q placed at each vertex. Calculate the net force experienced by a
charge Q placed at the centroid.
Ans- zero
19. Calculate the total electrostatic force on a charge of 1µC placed at P.

(Ans: 3.73 x 10-3N along Y axis

20. Two identical insulated charged copper spheres A and B have their centers separated by a distance
of 50 cm. What is the mutual force of electrostatic repulsion if the charge on each is 6.5 × 10 -7 C? The
radii of A and B are negligible compared to the distance of separation.
(b) What is the force of repulsion if each sphere is charged double the above amount, and the
distance between them is halved?
(c). A third sphere of the same size but uncharged is brought in contact with the first, then brought in
contact with the second, and finally removed from both. What is the new force of repulsion between
A and B?
Ans: 1.5 x 10-2 N, 0.24N, 5.73 x 10-3N)
21. Calculate the electrostatic force between 2 alpha particles separated by 3.2 x 10-15 m.
Ans-90N
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1
Electric Field
22. Define electric field intensity at a point. What is its SI unit? Is it a vector or scalar?
23. Why the test charge used for defining electric field intensity is taken as positive and very small
tending to zero
24. Deduce an expression for Electric filed intensity due to a point charge.
25. Give the direction of electric field intensity due to a point (i) positive charge (Q > 0) and (ii) negative
charge (Q < 0).
26. Define an electric field line and list properties of electric filed lines.
27. Draw electric field lines due to (i) point positive charge (ii) point negative charge (iii) two equal
positive charges (iv) two equal negative charges (v) two charges equal in magnitude opposite sign
(electric dipole) (vi) uniform electric field. (vii) A positive charge (+Q) is held near a conducting plate.
28. Give reason for the following statements related to properties of electric field lines:
a. Two electric field lines never intersect.
b. Electrostatic field lines has to be normal to the surface of a charged conductor.
c. Electrostatic filed lines are absent inside a charged conductor.
d. Electric filed lines are continuous without breaks in electric field region.
e. Electric field lines cannot form closed loops.
29. Define electric field intensity in terms of electric field lines.
1
30. Plot a graph showing variation of (i) E with r (ii) E with 𝑟2
31. Find the magnitude & direction of electric field that would balance the weight of (a) electron, (b)
proton and (c) an alpha particle.
Ans: (a) 5.7 x 10-11N/C, vertically downwards (b) 1.04 x 10-7N/C vertically upwards, (c) 2.08 x 10-7
V/m vertically upwards.
32. Define electric dipole. What is its SI unit? Give the direction of electric dipole moment.
33. Derive an expression for Electric field intensity along the axial line of an electric dipole. What is the
direction of the axial field?
34. Deduce an expression for Electric filed intensity due to an electric dipole along equatorial line of an
electric dipole. What is the direction of equatorial field?
35. Write the relation between axial field and equatorial field of a short electric dipole in (i) magnitude
and (ii) direction
36. A downward electric force of 6.4 N is exerted on a – 7.3 mC charge. Find the magnitude and
direction of the electric field at the position of this charge.
Ans- 8.8 x 105 N/C up
37. Determine the magnitude of the acceleration experi- enced by an electron in an electric field of 756
N􏰑C. How does the direction of the acceleration depend on the direction of the field at that point?
Ans- 1.33 x 1014 m/s2, direction is opposite to field.
38. An electron is released from rest in a uniform electric field and accelerates to the north at a rate of
105 m/s2. Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field.
Ans- 5.97 x 10-10 N/C south
39. Two point charges, Q1 = –32 mC and Q2 = ±45 mC, are separated by a distance of 12 cm. The electric
field at the point P is zero. How far from Q1 is P?

Ans- 65 cm
40. You are given two unknown point charges, Q1 and Q2 . At a point on the line joining them, one-third
of the way from Q1 to Q2 , the electric field is zero. What is the ratio Q1/Q2?
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1

Ans- 1/4
41. An electron (mass m = 9.11 * 10–31 kg) is accelerated in the uniform field E AE = 1.45 * 104 N/C.
between two thin parallel charged plates. The separation of the plates is 1.60 cm. The electron is
accelerated from rest near the negative plate and passes through a tiny hole in the positive plate,
With what speed does it leave the hole? (b) Show that the gravitational force can be ignored.

Ans- v=9.03 x 106 m/s, a/g= 2.6 x 1014 m/s2

42. Derive an expression for torque experienced by an electric dipole in uniform electric field. State the
direction of torque. List two pairs of perpendicular quantities in the expression for torque.
43. Draw orientation of electric dipole and with field lines, so that dipole experiences (i) maximum
torque (ii) minimum torque (iii) half the maximum torque.
44. Obtain an expression for electric field intensity at the center of an electric dipole.
45. Find the amount of work done in moving a charge q over a closed rectangular loop abcd.

46. Charges of magnitude q, Q, q & Q are placed at the vertices of a square of side L so that similar
charges are on opposite corners. Find the relation between q & Q so that Q is in equilibrium.
Ans- Q=2√2q
47. Derive an expression for work done to rotate an electric dipole in uniform electric field.
48. Draw the orientation of electric dipole with respect to uniform electric field for (a) stable equilibrium
(b) unstable equilibrium.
49. Calculate the work done to rotate electric dipole from the position of stable equilibrium to unstable
equilibrium.
Ans- 2pE
50. Find the work done in rotating an electric dipole, of dipole moment 3 x 10-4Cm, from the position of
stable equilibrium to unstable equilibrium in a uniform electric field of 104N/C.
Ans-6J
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1
Gauss’s Theorem
51. Define electric flux. Is it a vector or scalar? Give its unit.
52. State Gauss’s theorem and prove the same for a point charge using an imaginary spherical surface
with the charge at the center of the sphere.
53. An electric dipole of dipole moment 2 x 10-5 Cm is placed inside a spherical surface of radius 1m.
What is the net electric flux coming out of the sphere? How the net flux change when the radius of
the surface is doubled?
Ans-zero, no change in flux
54. A charge 8.85µC is placed at the centre of a cube of side 5 cm. What is the total electric flux passing
through one face of the cube?
𝟏
Ans-ɸ=𝟔106 Vm
55. Charges 2Q and –Q are placed at points (a,0,0) and (4a,0,0). Find the ratio of electric flux due to
these charges through two concentric spheres of radii 2a and 8a centered at the origin.
Ans- ratio = 2: 1
56. A hollow cylindrical box of length 1 m and area of cross-section 25 cm2 is placed in a three
dimensional coordinate system as shown in the figure. The electric field in the region is given by E
=A𝑥 ̂𝑖 where A =50 where all quantities in SI units. Find
(i) Net flux through the cylinder
(ii) Charge enclosed by the cylinder.
Ans: ɸ = 0.125Vm, Q = 1.1 x pC
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1

Higher Order Thinking

47 The electric force on an electron kept in a uniform electric field is F. What will be the magnitude and
direction of the (i) electric force (ii) acceleration on a proton placed at the same point, in the same
field? Mass of proton is 1836 times the mass of the electron.
Ans: (i) magnitude is same as F, direction opposite to that on electron (parallel to E)
𝒂𝒆
(ii) 𝒂𝒑 = 𝟏𝟖𝟑𝟔 in magnitude and direction opposite is to that on electron (parallel to E)
48 Two electrically charged conductors having charges of different magnitude but with same size, when
placed at a distance d from each other, experience a force of (a) attraction F
(b) repulsion F. These two conductors are put in contact and again separated to the same distance.
With reason explain the nature of the new force between them. Is the strength of the force greater
or less than F?
Ans: (a) New F is less than F, if difference in charge is very small and greater than F if difference
charge is very large (b) New F is greater than F. Nature of force is repulsive in both cases
49 Two identical metal spheres, having unequal, opposite charges are placed 0.09m apart in air. After
bringing them in contact with each other, they are again placed at the same distance apart. Now the
force of repulsion between them is 0.025N. Calculate the final charge on each sphere.
Ans: 0.15µC
50 A charge q is placed at the centre of the line joining two equal charges Q. show that the system of
𝑄
three charges will be in equilibrium if 𝑞 = − 4
51 Is the force acting between two point charges q1 and q2 kept at some distance apart in air, attractive
or repulsive when, (i) q1q2 > 0 (ii) q1 q2 < 0
Ans: (i) repulsive, like charges. (ii) attractive, unlike charges
52 The force of repulsion between two identical and similarly charged bodies is F. If a third identical
uncharged body is placed at the midpoint of line joining after touching A. calculate the force
experienced by A, B and C.
Ans: 1.5F, F and 2.5F.

53 Three charges +Q, -Q and +Q are placed at the vertices A, B & C of an

equilateral triangle. Find the net force on charge at each vertex.
𝟗√𝟑 𝑸 𝒌𝑸𝟐
𝑨𝒏𝒔: 𝑸 = + µ𝑪, 𝒃. 𝑸 = − , 𝒄. 𝑭𝑨 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝑩, 𝑭𝑩 =
𝟒 √𝟑 𝒂𝟐
𝒌𝑸𝟐 𝒌𝑸𝟐
√𝟑 𝒂𝟐
𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝑪 & 𝑩𝑨, 𝑭𝑪 = 𝒂𝟐
𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝑪,

54 Use Gauss’s theorem to derive an expression for electric field due to an isolated positive charge

55 A uniformly charged conducting sphere of 2.5m in diameter has a surface charged density of
100µC/m2. Calculate the (a) charge on the sphere, (b) total electric flux coming out from the sphere.
Ans: 1.96mC, 2.2 x 108Vm
56 a. A small sphere carrying charge +Q is located at the center of a
spherical cavity in a large uncharged metal sphere as shown in the
figure. Use Gauss’s theorem to find the electric field intensity at
points P1 and P2.
b. Charges of magnitude q, Q, q & Q are placed at the vertices of a
square of side L so that similar charges are on opposite corners.
Find the relation between q & Q so that Q is in equilibrium.
𝟏 𝑸
Ans:𝒂. 𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝜺 𝒓𝟐 , 𝑬 = 𝟎 , 𝒃. 𝑸 = −𝟐√𝟐 𝒒

57 An infinitely long positively charged straight wire has a linear charge density λ coulomb/meter. An
electron is revolving around the wire with the wire as center with a constant velocity in a circular
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1
plane perpendicular to the wire. (i) Deduce the expressions for kinetic energy of electron around the
wire. (ii) Plot a graph of the kinetic energy of electron as function of charge density λ.
𝒆𝝀
Ans: 𝑲𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝜺 . 𝑲𝑬 𝜶 𝝀
58 A charge Q is placed at the centre of a cube of side a. What is the total electric flux passing through
one face of the cube?
𝑸
Ans: ɸ𝟏 = 𝟔𝜺
59 Charges 2Q and – 𝑄 are placed at points (a,0,0) and (4a,0,0). Find the ratio of electric flux due to
these charges through two concentric spheres of radii 2a and 8a centered at the origin.
Ans-ratio = 2: 1)
60 a. A solid non conducting sphere of radius R has a total charge Q with uniform volume charge
density 𝜌. Derive expressions for electric field intensity at any point (i) r < R, (ii) r = R and r >
R.
b. An early model of an atom has a positively charged point nucleus of charge +Ze, surrounded
by a uniform volume charge density (𝜌) of negative charges. If the atom has a radius R and is
electrically neutral, derive expressions for electric field intensity at any point (i) r < R, (ii) r = R
and r > R.
𝑸𝒓 𝝆𝒓 𝝆𝑹 𝑸 𝑸 𝝆𝑹𝟑
Ans: a (i) 𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝑹𝟑 = 𝟑𝜺 , (𝒊𝒊)𝑬 = = 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝑹𝟐 , (𝒊𝒊𝒊) 𝑬 = = 𝟑𝜺𝒓𝟐 radially outwards in all cases
𝟑𝜺 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒓𝟐
𝒁𝒆 𝑹𝟑 −𝒓𝟑
b (i) 𝑬 = 𝟒𝝅𝜺𝒓𝟐 ( ) 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔. (ii) & (iii) E =0.
𝑹𝟑
61 Find the work done in rotating an electric dipole, of dipolemoment 3 x 10-8Cm, from the position of
stable equilibriunm to unstable equilibrium in a uniform electric field of 104N/C.
Ans: 0.6mJ
62 A sphere has a charge of 8.85 x 10-12 C placed inside it. Calculate the net electric flux coming out of
the sphere. How would the flux change if the radius of the sphere is doubled? Justify.
Ans: 1Vm, No change
63 A cube with each side ‘a’ is kept in an electric field given by E = A𝑥 𝑖̂ (as
is shown in the figure) where A is a positive constant. Find out (i) the
electric flux through the cube, and (ii) the net charge inside the cube.
What would be your answer if the electric field remains in the same
direction but is uniform throughout?
Ans: ɸ = 𝑨𝒂𝟑 , 𝒒 = 𝜺𝑨𝒂𝟑

64 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; Resultant dipole moment = p, 600 with +ve Y axis and 300 +ve X axis. Torque =PE/2,
perpendicular and in to the plane of the paper

65 Given a uniform electric field E = 4 x 10-4 𝑖̂ N/C. Find the flux of this field through a square of 5cm on
a side whose plane is parallel to the Y-Z plane. What would be the flux through the same square if
the plane makes a 300 angle with the x-axis?
Ans: 1µVm, 0.5µVm
66 A sphere S1 of radius r1 encloses a net charge Q. If there is another concentric
sphere S2 of radius r2 (r2 > r1) enclosing charge 2Q, find the ratio of the electric
flux through S1 and S2. How will the electric flux through sphere S1 change if a
medium of dielectric constant K is introduced in the space inside S2 in place of
air?
ELECTROSTATICS CLASS-12 CHAPTER-1
ɸ
Ans: Ratio = 1:3, ɸ′ = 𝑲
67 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
Ans: ɸ = 𝜺

68 An electric dipole of length 1cm is placed with its axis making an angle of 600with uniform electric
field E, experiences a torque of 6√3 Nm. Calculate the potential energy of the dipole if it has charge
±2nC.
Ans: -6J
69 Give the condition in terms of magnitude and sign of two electric charges to produce zero net Force
at a point (i) outside them (ii) between them but not at the center & (iii) at the center of them.
i. Magnitudes are different, unlike charges
ii. Magnitudes are different, like charges
iii. Same magnitude and like charges