CHAPTER-1

Electrostatic Force and Field

1 mark questions:
1. Why do the electrostatic field lines not form closed loop?
2. Why do the electric field lines never cross?
3. Why must electrostatic field at the surface of a charge every point? Give reason.
4. Two point charges q1 and q2 are placed at a distance d apart as shown in the figure.
The electric field intensity is zero at the point P on the line joining them as shown.
Write two conclusions that you can draw from this.

5. Define dipole moment of an electric dipole. Is it a scalar quantity or a vector quantity?

6. Draw a plot showing the variation of electric field (E) with distance r due to a point
charge Q.
7. A proton is placed in a uniform electric field directed along the position X-axis. In
which direction will it tend to move?
8. In which orientation, a dipole placed in a uniform electric field is in-
(i) stable (ii) unstable equilibrium?
9. Two point charges having equal charges separated by lm distance experience a force
of 8 N. What will be the force experienced by them if they are held in water at the
same distance? (Given, Kwater = 80).
10. 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?

11. Point out right or wrong for the following statement. The mutual forces between two
charges do not get affected by the presence of other charges.
12. A dipole of dipole moment p is present in a uniform electric field E .Write the value
of the angle between p and E for which the torque experienced by the dipole, is
minimum.
13. Two small identical 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?
14. Consider two hollow concentric spheres S1 and S2 enclosing charges 2Q and 4Q
respectively,
(i) Find out the ratio of the electric flux through them,
(ii) How will the electric flux through the spheres S 1 change if a medium of dielectric
constant er is introduced in the space inside S1 in place of air? Deduce the necessary
expression.

Physics/XII Page 5
 15. 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?
16. A charge q is placed at the center of a cube of side L. What is the electric flux passing
through each face of the cube?
17. 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?

18. If the radius of the Gaussian surface enclosing a charge is halved, how does the
electric flux through the Gaussian surface change?

2 Marks Questions
19. An electric dipole of length 4 cm when placed with its axis making an angle of 60°
with a uniform electric field, experiences a torque of 4√3 Nm. Calculate the potential
energy of the dipole if it has charge ± 8 nC.
20. Two point charges q and – 2q are kept d distance apart, find the location of the point
relative to charge to q at which potential due to this system is zero.
21. An electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field E with its dipole moment p
parallel to the field. Find:
(i)the work done in turning the dipole till its dipole moment points in the direction
opposite to E.
(ii)the orientation of the dipole for which the torque acting on it becomes maximum.
22. A small metal sphere carrying a charge +Q is located at the centre of a spherical
cavity in a large uncharged metallic spherical shell. Write the charges on the inner and
outer surfaces of the shell. Write the expression for the electric field at the point P 1.

23. (i) Point charge (+Q) is kept in the vicinity of and uncharged conducting plate. Sketch
electric field lines between the charge and the plate.
(ii)Two infinitely large plane thin parallel sheets having surface charge densities σ1
and σ2 (σ1>σ2) are shown in the figures. Write the magnitude and directions of net
fields on the marked II and III.

Physics/XII Page 6
 24. Calculate the amount of work done in turning an electric dipole of dipole moment
3х10-8 Cm from its position of unstable equilibrium to the position of stable
equilibrium in a uniform electric field of intensity 103 N/C.
25. Pot a graph showing the variation of coulomb force F verses 1/r 2 , where r is the
distance between the two charges of each pair of charges (1µC, 2µC) and (1µC, -
3µC).Interpret the graphs obtained.
26. Two identical metallic spherical shells A and B having charges + 4Q and -10Q are
kept a certain distance apart. A third identical uncharged sphere C is first placed in
contact with sphere A and then with sphere B, then spheres A and B are brought in
contact and then separated. Find the charge on the spheres A and B.
27. A dipole with a dipole moment of magnitude p is in stable equilibrium in an
electrostatic field of magnitude E. Find the work done in rotating this dipole to its
position of unstable equilibrium.
28. A dipole is present in an electrostatic field of magnitude 10 6N/C. If the work done in
rotating it from its position of stable equilibrium to its position of unstable
equilibrium is 2×10-23J, then find the magnitude of the dipole moment of this dipole.
29. Deduce the expression for the electric field E due to a system of two charges q1 and
q2 with position vectors r1 and r2 at a point r with respect to common origin.
30. The sum of two point charges is 7 microC. They repel each other with a force of 1 N
when kept 30 cm apart in free space. Calculate the value of each charge.
31. Figure shows two large metal plates and P2 tightly held against each other and placed
between two equal and unlike point charges perpendicular to the line joining them.
(i)What will happen to the plates when they are released?
(ii)Draw the pattern of the electric field lines for the system.

32. Two charges + Q and -Q are kept at points (-x2,0) and (x1, 0) respectively, in the XY-
plane. Find the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the origin (0,0).
33. Two point charges 4Q and Q are separated by 1 m in air. At what point on the line
joining of charges, is the electric field intensity zero?
34. Given a uniform electric held E =5 x 103 i N/C, find the flux of this held through a
square of 10 cm on a side whose plane is parallel to the YZ-plane. What would be the
flux through the same square if the plane makes an angle of 30° with the X-axis?
35. A sphere S1 of radius q enclosed a net charge Q. If there is another concentric sphere
S2 of radius r2(r2 > q) 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 S 2 in place of air?

36. A spherical conducting shell of inner radius R1 and outer radius R2 has a charge Q. A
charge q is placed at the center of the shell.
(i)What is the surface charge density on the (a) inner surface, (b) outer surface of the
shell?
(ii)Write the expression for the electric field at a point to x>R 2 from the centre of the
shell.
Physics/XII Page 7
 37. Define electric flux. Write its SI unit. A charge q is enclosed by a spherical surface of
radius.
38. Draw the shapes of the suitable Gaussian surfaces while applying Gauss’ law to
calculate the electric field due to
(i)a uniformly charged long straight wire.
(ii)a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet.

3 Marks Questions

39. Two point charges + q and -2q are placed at the vertices B and C of an equilateral
triangle ABC of side a as given in the figure. Obtain the expression for (i) the
magnitude and (ii) the direction of the resultant electric field at the vertex A due to
these two charges.

40. Define the term electric dipole moment. Is it a scalar or vector? Deduce an expression
for the electric field at a point on the equatorial plane of an electric dipole of length
2a.
41. Sketch the pattern of electric field lines due to
(i) a conducting sphere having negative charge on it.
(ii) an electric dipole.
42. A positive point charge (+ q) is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conduction plate.
Sketch electric field lines originated from the point on to the surface of the plate.
43. A hollow cylindrical box of length 1 m and area of cross-section 25 cm2 is placed in a
three-dimensional coordinate system along x-axis . The electric field in the region is
given by E= 50x i , where E is in NC -1 and x is in m. find net flux through the
cylinder and charge enclosed by the cylinder.

5 Marks Questions:
44. Deduce the expression for the torque acting on a dipole of dipole moment p in the
presence of a uniform electric field E.
45. An electric dipole moment p is held in a uniform electric field E.
(i)Prove that no translation force acts on the dipole.
(ii)Hence, prove that the torque acting on the dipole is given by pE sin 0 indicating
the direction along which it acts.
46. (i) Define electric flux. Write its SI unit.
(ii) A small metal sphere carrying charge + Q is located at the centre of a spherical
cavity inside a large uncharged metallic spherical shell as shown in the figure.Use
Gauss’ law to find the expressions for the electric field at points P l and P2.

(iii)Draw the pattern of electric field lines in this arrangement.

47. (i) State Gauss’ law. Use it to deduce the expression for the electric field due to a
uniformly charged thin spherical shell at points inside the shell and outside the shell.
(ii) Two identical metallic spheres A and B having charges +4q and – 10q are kept a
Physics/XII Page 8
 certain distance apart. A third identical uncharged sphere C is first placed in contact
with sphere A and then with sphere B. Then, spheres A and Bare brought in contact
and then separated. Find the charges on the spheres A and B.
48. Define electric flux. Write its SI unit, (ii) The electric field components due to a
charge inside the cube of side 0.1 m are shown below.

Where, α= 500 N/Cm and EY=0 , EZ=0. Calculate (a) the flux through the cube (b)
the charge inside the cube.
49. (i)Using Gauss’ law , derive an expression for electric field intensity charged thin
spherical shell of radius R and density σ C/m2. Draw the field lines when the
charge density of the sphere is (a) positive (b) negative.(ii) A uniformly charged
conducting sphere of 2.5 m in diameter has surface charge density of 100µC/m2.
Calculate(a)charge on the sphere and (b) total electric flux through the sphere.

Electric Charges & Fields (MCQ)

Q.1. Charge is the property associated with matter due to which it produces and
experiences
(a) electric effects only (b) magnetic effects only
(c) both electric and magnetic effects (d) None of these
Q.2. Charge is
(a) transferable (b) associated with mass
(c) conserved (d) All of these
Q.3. A body is positively charged, it implies that
(a) there is only positive charge in the body.
(b) there is positive as well as negative charge in the body but the positive charge is
more than negative charge
(c) there is equal positive and negative charge in the body but the positive charge lies
in the outer regions
(d) negative charge is displaced from its position
Q.4. On rubbing, when one body gets positively charged and other negatively
charged, the electrons transferred from positively charged body to negatively
charged body are
(a) valence electrons only (b) electrons of inner shells
(c) both valence electrons and electrons of inner shell
(d) yet to be established
Q.5. Which of the following is the best insulator?
(a) Carbon (b) Paper
(c) Graphite (d) Ebonite
Q.6. If a body is negatively charged, then it has
(a) excess of electrons (b) excess of protons
(c) deficiency of electrons (d) deficiency of neutrons
Q.7. When a body is charged by induction, then the body
(a) becomes neutral (b) does not lose any charge
(c) loses whole of the charge on it (d) loses part of the charge on it
Q.8. On charging by conduction, mass of a body may
(a) increase (b) decreases
(c) increase or decrease (d) None of these
Physics/XII Page 9
 Q.9. Quantization of charge implies
(a) charge cannot be destroyed (b) charge exists on particles
(c) there is a minimum permissible charge on a particle
(d) charge, which is a fraction of a coulomb is not possible.
Q.10. If an object possesses an electric charge, it is said to be
electrified or … A … When it has no charge, it is said to
be … B … Here, A and B refer to
(a) charged, neutral (b) neutral, charged
(c) discharged, charged (d) active, reactive
Q.11. A positively charged rod is brought near an unchargedconductor. If the
rod is then suddenly withdrawn, the charge
left on the conductor will be
(a) positive (b) negative
(c) zero (d) cannot say
Q.12. Two spheres A and B of exactly same mass are given equal
positive and negative charges respectively. Their masses
after charging
(a) remains unaffected (b) mass of A > mass of B
(c) mass of A < mass of B (d) Nothing can be said
Q.13. When a comb rubbed with dry hair attracts pieces of paper.
This is because the
(a) comb polarizes the piece of paper
(b) comb induces a net dipole moment opposite to the direction of field
(c) electric field due to the comb is uniform
(d) comb induces a net dipole moment perpendicular to the direction of field
Q.14. When some charge is transferred to …A… it readily gets distributed over
the entire surface of … A… If some charge is put on … B…, it stays at the same
place. Here, A and B refer to
(a) insulator, conductor (b) conductor, insulator
(c) insulator, insulator (d) conductor, conductor
Q.15. Quantization of charge was experimentally demonstrated by
(a) Einstein’s photoelectric effect (b) Frank-Hertz experiment
(c) Davisson and Germer experiment (d) Millikan’s oil drop experiment
Q.16. In annihilation process, in which an electron and a positron transform into
two gamma rays, which property of electric charge is displayed?
(a) Additivity of charge (b) Quantisation of charge
(c) Conservation of charge (d) Attraction and repulsion
Q.17. The law, governing the force between electric charges is known as
(a) Ampere’s law (b) Ohm’s law
(c) Faraday’s law (d) Coulomb’s law
Q.18. The value of electric permittivity of free space is
(a) 9 × 109 NC2/m2 (b) 8.85 × 10–12 Nm2/C2 sec
–12 2 2
(c)8.85 × 10 C /Nm (d) 9 × 109 C2/Nm2
Q.19. Coulomb’s law is true for
(a) atomic distances (= 10–11 m) (b) nuclear distances (= 10–15 m)
(c) charged as well as uncharged particles (d) all the distances
Q.20. What happens when some charge is placed on a soap bubble?
(a) Its radius decreases (b) Its radius increases
(c) The bubble collapses (d) None of these

Physics/XII Page 10
 Q.21. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, it
(a) gains electrons from silk. (b) gives electrons to silk.
(c) gains protons from silk. (d) gives protons to silk.
Q.22. In general, metallic ropes are suspended on the carriers taking
inflammable materials. The reason is
(a) to control the speed of the carrier.
(b) to keep the centre of gravity of the carrier nearer to the earth.
(c) to keep the body of the carrier in contact with the earth.
(d) none of these.
Q.23. Two charges q1 and q2 are placed in vacuum at a distance d and the force
acting between them is F. If a medium of dielectric constant 4 is introduced
around them, the force now will be
(a) F (b) F/2
(c) F/4 (d) 4F
14
Q.24. When 10 electrons are removed from a neutral metal sphere, the charge
on the sphere becomes ______ .
Q.25. Two similar spheres having +Q and -Q charges are kept at a certain
distance. F force acts between the two. If at the middle of two spheres, another
similar sphere having +Q charge is kept, then it experiences a force in magnitude
and direction as
(a) zero having no direction. (b) 8F towards +Q charge.
(c) 8F towards -Q charge. (d) 4F towards +Q charge.
Q.26. A charge Q is divided into two parts of q and Q – q. If the coulomb
repulsion between them when they are separated is to be maximum, the ratio of
Q/q should be
(a) 2:1 (b) 1/2
(c) 4:1 (d) 1/4
Q.27. Four equal charges q are placed at the four comers A, B, C, D of a square
of length a. The magnitude of the force on the charge at B will be

Q.28. Dielectric constant for metal ______ .

Q.29. Two charges of equal magnitudes kept at a distance r exert a force F on
each other. If the charges are halved and distance between them is doubled, then

Physics/XII Page 11
 the new force acting on each charge is

Q.30. The electric field inside a spherical shell of uniform surface charge density
is
(a) zero.
(b) constant, less than zero.
(c) directly proportional to the distance from the centre.
(d) none of the these
Q.31. A cylinder of radius R and length L is placed in a uniform electric field E
parallel to the cylinder axis. The total flux for the surface of the cylinder is given
by

Q.32. Electric field at a point varies as r° for

(a) an electric dipole (b) a point charge
(c) a plane infinite sheet of charge (d) a line charge of infinite length
Q.33. An electric charge q is placed at the centre of a cube of side a. The electric
flux on one of its faces will be

Q.34. Total electric flux coming out of a unit positive charge kept in air is

Q.35. The electric field intensity due to an infinite cylinder of radius R and
having charge q per unit length at a distance air r (r > R) from its axis is
(a) directly proportional to r². (b) directly proportional to r3.
(c) inversely proportional to r. (d) inversely proportional to r².
Q.36. A point charge q is placed at a distance a/2 directly above the centre of a
square of side a. The electric flux through the square is

Q.37. Which of the following graphs shows the

variation of electric field E due to a hollow
spherical conductor of radius R as a function of
distance from the centre of the sphere?

Physics/XII Page 12
 Q.38. The magnitude of electric field intensity E is such that, an electron placed
in it would experience an electrical force equal to its weight is given by
(a) mge (b) mg/e
(c) e/mg (d) e²g/m²
Q.39. In Fig. (i) two positive charges q2 and q3 fixed along the y-axis, exert a net
electric force in the +x direction on a charge q 1 fixed along the x-axis. If a
positive charge Q is added at (x, 0) in figure (ii), the force on q 1 is

(a) shall increase along the positive x-axis.

(b) shall decrease along the positive x-axis.
(c) shall point along the negative x-axis.
(d) shall increase but the direction changes because of the intersection of Q with q2
and q1
Q.40. Which of the following statement is correct? The electric field at a point is
(a) always continuous.
(b) continuous if there is a charge at that point.
(c) discontinuous only if there is a negative charge at that point.
(d) discontinuous if there is a charge at that point.
Q.41. A point charge +q is placed at a distance d from an isolated conducting
plane. The field at a point P on the other side of the plane is
(a) directed perpendicular to the plane and away from the plane.
(b) directed perpendicular to the plane but towards the plane.
(c) directed radially away from the point charge.
(d) directed radially towards the point charge.
Q.42. Gauss’s law will be invalid if
(a) there is magnetic monopole.
(b) the inverse square law is not exactly true.
(c) the velocity of light is not a universal constant.
(d) none of these.
Q.43. SI unit of permittivity of free space is
(a) Farad (b) Weber
2 -1 -2
(c) C N m (d) C2N-1 m-2
Q.44. A charge Q is placed at the centre of the line joining two point charges +q
and +q as shown in the figure. The ratio of charges Q and q is

(a) 4 (b) 1/4

(c) -4 (d) -1/4
Q.45. The force per unit charge is known as
(a) electric flux (b) electric field
(c) electric potential (d) electric current

Physics/XII Page 13
 Q.46. Electric field lines provide information about
(a) field strength (b) direction
(c) nature of charge (d) all of these
Q.47. Which of the following figures represent the electric field lines due to a
single negative charge?

Q.48. The SI unit of electric flux is

(a) N C-1 m-2 (b) N C m-2
-2 2
(c) N C m (d) N C-1 m2
Q.49. The unit of electric dipole moment is
(a) newton (b) coulomb
(c) farad (d) debye
Q.50. Consider a region inside which, there are various types of charges but the
total charge is zero. At points outside the region
(a) the electric field is necessarily zero.
(b) the electric field is due to the dipole moment of the charge distribution only.
(c) the dominant electric field is inversely proportional to r3, for large r (distance from
origin).
(d) the work done to move a charged particle along a closed path, away from the
region will not be zero.
Q.51. The surface considered for Gauss’s law is called
(a) Closed surface (b) Spherical surface
(c) Gaussian surface (d) Plane surface
Q.52. The total flux through the faces of the cube with side of length a if a charge
q is placed at corner A of the cube is

Q.53. Which of the following statements is not true about Gauss’s law?
(a) Gauss’s law is true for any closed surface.
(b) The term q on the right side of Gauss’s law includes the sum of all charges
enclosed by the surface.
(c) Gauss’s law is not much useful in calculating electrostatic field when the system
has some symmetry.
(d) Gauss’s law is based on the inverse square dependence on distance contained in
the coulomb’s law
Physics/XII Page 14
 Q.54. Four charges are arranged at the comers of a square ABCD, as shown. The
force on the charge kept at the center O is

(a) zero (b) along the diagonal AC

(c) along the diagonal BD (d) perpendicular to side AB
Q.55. Calculate the flux through the cuboid shown in the figure for E = E0 y j :-

(a) E0abc (b) E0abd

(c) E0abcd (d) Zero
Q.56. An electron is rotating around an infinite positive linear charge in a circle
of radius 0.1 m, if the linear charge density is 1 μC/m, then the velocity of
electron in m/s will be
(a) 0.562 × 107 (b) 0.562 x 106
7
(c) 562 x 10 (d) 0.0562 x 107
Q.57. The force between two small charged spheres having charges of 1 × 10 –7 C
and 2 ×10–7 C placed 20 cm apart in air is
(a) 4.5 × 10–2 N (b) 4.5 × 10–3 N
–2
(c) 5.4 × 10 N (d) 5.4 × 10–3 N
Q.58. Two insulated charged metallic sphere P and Q have their centers
separated by a distance of 60 cm. The radii of P and Q are negligible compared
to the distance of separation. The mutual force of electrostatic repulsion if the
charge on each is 3.2 × 10–7 C is
(a) 5.2 × 10–4 N (b) 2.5 × 10–3 N
(c) 1.5 × 10–3N (d) 3.5 × 10–4 N
Q.59. An electric dipole is placed at an angle of 30° with an electric field of
intensity 2 × 105 NC–1, It experiences a torque of 4 Nm. Calculate the charge on
the dipole if the dipole length is 2 cm.
(a) 8 Mc (b) 4 mC
(c) 3 Μc (d) 2 mC
–17
Q.60. If the dipole of moment 2.57 × 10 cm is placed into an electric field of
magnitude 3.0 × 104 N/C such that the fields lines are aligned at 30° with the line
joining P to the dipole, what torque acts on the dipole?
(a) 7.7 × 10–13 Nm (b) 3.855 × 10–13 Nm
–15
(c) 3.855 × 10 Nm (d) 7.7 × 10–15 Nm

Physics/XII Page 15
 Chapter 1: Electrostatic Charges and Fields
ASSERTION AND REASON BASED QUESTIONS
Directions: These questions consist of two statements, each printed as Assertion and
Reason. While answering these questions, you are required to choose any one of the
following four responses.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and the Reason is a correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not a correct explanation of
the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is correct, Reason is incorrect
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are correct.

Q.1. Assertion: Electron move away from a region of lower potential to a region of
higher potential.
Reason: An electron has a negative charge.
Q.2. Assertion : A metallic shield in form of a hollow shell may be built to block an
electric field.
Reason : In a hollow spherical shield, the electric field inside it is zero at every point.
Q.3. Assertion : Electric lines of force never cross each other.
Reason : Electric field at a point superimpose to give one resultant electric field.
Q.4. Assertion : The Coulomb force is the dominating force in the universe.
Reason : The Coulomb force is weaker than the gravitational force.
Q.5. Assertion : In a cavity within a conductor, the electric field is zero.
Reason : Charges in a conductor reside only at its surface.
Q.6. Assertion : When bodies are charged through friction, there is a transfer of
electric charge from one body to another, but no creation or destruction of charge.
Reason : This follows from conservation of electric charges.
Q.7. Assertion : The tyres of aircraft are slightly conducting.
Reason : If a conductor is connected to ground, the extra charge induced on
conductor will flow to ground.
Q.8. Assertion : Some charge is put at the centre of a conducting sphere. It will move
to the surface of the sphere.
Reason : Conducting sphere has no free electrons at the centre.
Q.9. Assertion : Coulomb force and gravitational force follow the same inverse-
square law.
Reason : Both laws are same in all aspects.
Q.10. Assertion : The coulomb force is the dominating force in the universe.
Reason : The coulomb force is weaker than the gravitational force.
Q.11. Assertion : If there exists coulomb attraction between two bodies, both of them
may not be charged.
Reason : In coulomb attraction two bodies are oppositely charged.
Q.12. Assertion : A deuteron and an alpha-particle are placed in an electric field. If
F1 and F2 be the forces acting on them and a1 and a2 be their accelerations
respectively then, a1 = a2.
Reason : Forces will be same in electric field.
Q.13. Assertion : The property that the force with which two charges attract or repel
each other are not affected by the presence of a third charge.
Reason : Force on any charge due to a number of other charge is the vector sum of all
the forces on that charge due to other charges, taken one at a time.

Physics/XII Page 16
 Q.14. Assertion : A metallic shield in form of a hollow shell may be built to block an
electric field.
Reason : In a hollow spherical shield, the electric field inside it is zero at every point.
Q.15. Assertion : A point charge is brought in an electric field, the field at a nearby
point will increase or decrease, depending on the nature of charge.
Reason : The electric field is independent of the nature of charge.
Q.16. Assertion : Consider two identical charges placed distance 2d apart, along x-
axis.

The equilibrium of a positive test charge placed at the point O midway between them
is stable for displacements along the x-axis.
Reason: Force on test charge is zero.
Q.17. Assertion : When a conductor is placed in an external electrostatic field, the net
electric field inside the conductor becomes zero after a small instant of time.
Reason : It is not possible to set up an electric field inside a conductor.
Q.18. Assertion: A uniformly charged disc has a pin hole at its centre. The electric
field at the center of the disc is zero.
Reason : Disc can be supposed to be made up of many rings. Also electric field at the
centre of uniformly charged ring is zero.
Q.19. Assertion : Electric lines of field cross each other.
Reason : Electric field at a point superimpose to give one resultant electric field.
Q.20. Assertion : On bringing a positively charged rod near the uncharged conductor,
the conductor gets attracted towards the rod.
Reason : The electric field lines of the charged rod are perpendicular to the surface of
conductor.
Q.21. Assertion : Four point charges q1, q2, q3 and q4 are as shown in figure. The
flux over the shown Gaussian surface depends only on charges q1 and q2.

Reason : Electric field at all points on Gaussian surface depends only on charges q1
and q2.
Q.22. Assertion : On disturbing an electric dipole in stable equilibrium in an electric
field, it returns back to its stable equilibrium orientation.
Reason : A restoring torque acts on the dipole on being disturbed from its stable
equilibrium.

Physics/XII Page 17
 Q.23. Assertion : On going away from a point charge or a small electric dipole,
electric field decreases at the same rate in both the cases.
Reason : Electric field is inversely proportional to square of distance from the charge
or an electric dipole.
Q.24. Assertion : The electric flux of the electric field ∮E.dA is zero. The electric
field is zero everywhere on the surface.
Reason : The charge inside the surface is zero.
Q.25. Assertion : On moving a distance two times the initial distance away from an
infinitely long straight uniformly charged wire the electric field reduces to one third
of the initial value.
Reason : The electric field is inversely proportional to the distance from an infinitely
long straight uniformly charged wire.
Q.26. Assertion (A): No two electric lines of force can intersect each other.
Reason (R) : Tangent at any point of electric line of force gives the direction of
electric field.
Q.27. Assertion (A): Electric force acting on a proton and an electron, moving in a
uniform electric field is same, whereas acceleration of electron is 1836 times that of a
proton.
Reason (R): Electron is lighter than proton.
Q.28. Assertion (A): As force is a vector quantity, hence electric field intensity is
also a vector quantity
Reason (R): The unit of electric field intensity is newton per coulomb.
Q.29. Assertion (A) : Sharper is the curvature of spot on a charged body lesser will
be the surface charge density at that point
Reason (R): Electric field is non-zero inside a charged conductor.
Q.30. Assertion (A): The surface densities of two spherical conductors of different
radii are equal. Then the
electric field intensities near their surface are also equal.
Reason (R) : Surface density is equal to charge per unit area.
Q.31. Assertion (A): Three equal charges are situated on a circle of radius r such that
they form on equilateral
triangle, then the electric field intensity at the center is zero.
Reason (R): The force on unit positive charge at the center, due to the three equal
charges is represented
by the three sides of a triangle taken in the same order. Therefore, electric field
intensity at centre is zero.
Q.32. Assertion (A): The electric lines of forces diverge from a positive charge and
converge at a negative charge.
Reason (A): A charged particle free to move in an electric field always moves along
an electric line of force.
Q.33. Assertion (A): Charging is due to transfer of electrons.
Reason (R): Mass of a body decreases slightly when it is negatively charged.
Q.34. Assertion (A): Range of Coulomb force is infinite.
Reason (R): Coulomb force acts between two charged particles.
Q.35. Assertion (A): A small metal ball is suspended in a uniform electric field with
an insulated thread. If high energy X-ray beam falls on the ball, the ball will be
deflected in the electric field.
Reason (R): X-rays emits photoelectron and metal becomes negatively charged.
Q.36. Assertion (A): If a point charge be rotated in a circle around a charge, the work
done will be zero.
Reason (R): Work done is equal to dot product of force and distance

Physics/XII Page 18
 CHAPTER: ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Case Study Questions:
Q1. Electric field strength is proportional to the density of lines of force i.e., electric
field strength at a point is proportional to the number of lines of force cutting a unit
area element placed normal to the field at that point. As illustrated in given figure, the
electric field at P is stronger than at Q.

(i) Electric lines of force about a positive point charge are

(a) radially outwards
(b) circular clockwise
(c) radially inwards
(d) parallel straight lines
(ii) Which of the following is false for electric lines of force?
(a) They always start from positive charge and terminate on negative charges.
(b) They are always perpendicular to the surface of a charged conductor.
(c) They always form closed loops.
(d) They are parallel and equally spaced in a region of uniform electric field.
(iii) Which one of the following patterns of electric line of force is not possible in
field due to stationary charges?

(iv) Electric field lines are curved

(a) in the field of a single positive or negative charge
(b) in the field of two equal and opposite charges.
(c) in the field of two like charges.
(d) both (b) and (c)
(v) The figure below shows the electric field lines due to two positive charges.
The magnitudes EA, EB and EC of the electric fields at point A, B and C
respectively are related as

(a) EA>EB>EC (c) EA=EB>EC

(b) EB>EA>EC (d) EA>EB=EC

Q2. Smallest charge that can exist in nature is the charge of an electron. During
friction it is only the transfer of electron which makes the body charged. Hence net
charge on anybody is an integral multiple of charge of an electron (1.6 x 10-19 C) i.e.,
q=±ne where r= 1, 2, 3, 4 ….Hence nobody can have a charge represented as 1.8e,

Physics/XII Page 19
 2.7e, 2e/5, etc. Recently, it has been discovered that elementary particles such as
protons or neutrons are elemental units called quarks.
(i) Which of the following properties is not satisfied by an electric charge?
(a) Total charge conservation. (c) Two types of charge.
(b) Quantization of charge. (d) Circular line of force.
(ii) Which one of the following charges is possible?
(a) 5.8 x 10-18 C (c) 4.5 x 10-19 C
-18
(b) 3.2 x 10 C (d) 8.6 x 10-19 C
(iii) If a charge on a body is 1 nC, then how many electrons are present on the
body?
(a) 6.25 x 1027 (c) 6.25 X 1028
(b) 1.6 x 1019 (d) 6.25 X 109
9
(iv) If a body gives out 10 electrons every second, how much time is required to
get a total charge of 1 from it?
(a) 190.19 years (c) 198.19 years
(b) 150.12 years (d) 188.21 years
(v) A polythene piece rubbed with wool is found to have a negative charge of 3.2
x 10-7C. Calculate the number of electrons transferred.
(a) 2 x 1012 (c) 2 x 1014
12
(b) 3 x 10 (d) 3 x 1014

Q3. When electric dipole is placed in uniform electric field, its two charges
experience equal and opposite forces, which cancel each other and hence net force on
electric dipole in uniform electric field is zero. However these forces are not collinear,
so they give rise to some torque on the dipole. Since net force on electric dipole in
uniform electric field is zero, so no work is done in moving the electric dipole in
uniform electric field. However some work is done in rotating the dipole against the
torque acting on it.

(i) The dipole moment of a dipole in a uniform external field Ē is B. Then the
torque τ acting on the dipole is
(a) τ=p x E (c) τ = 2(p + Ē)
(b) τ = P. Ē (d) τ = (P + E)
(ii) An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges, each of magnitude 1.0 μC
separated by a distance of 2.0 cm. The dipole is placed in an external field of
105 NC-1. The maximum torque on the dipole is
(a) 0.2 x 10-3 Nm (c) 2 x 10-3 Nm
-3
(b) 1x 10 Nm (d) 4x 10-3 Nm
(iii) Torque on a dipole in uniform electric field is minimum when θ is equal to
(a) 0° (c) 180°
(b) 90° (d) Both (a) and (c)
(iv) When an electric dipole is held at an angle in a uniform electric field, the net
force F and torque τ on the dipole are
(a) F= 0, τ = 0 (c) F=0, τ ≠ 0
(b) F≠0, τ≠0 (d) F≠0, τ=0

Physics/XII Page 20
 (v) An electric dipole of moment p is placed in an electric field of intensity E. The
dipole acquires a position such that the axis of the dipole makes an angle with the
direction of the field. Assuming that potential energy of the dipole to be zero
when 0 = 90°, the torque and the potential energy of the dipole will respectively
be
(a) pEsinθ, -pEcosθ (c) pEsinθ, 2pEcosθ
(b) pEsinθ, -2pEcosθ (d) pEcosθ, – pEsinθ
Q4. Read the following source and answer the following questions:
Electric charge is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force
when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of charges positive and
negative charges. Also, like charges repel each other whereas unlike charges attract
each other.

1. Charge on a body which carries 200 excess electrons is:

(i) -3.2 ×× 10-18 C (iii)-3.2 ×× 10-17 C
18
(ii) 3.2 ×× 10 C (iv) 3.2 ×× 10 -17 C
2. Charge on a body which carries 10 excess electrons is:
(i) -1.6 ×× 10-18 C (iii)2.6 ×× 10-18 C
(ii) 1.6 ×× 10 -18 C (iv) 1.6 ×× 10-21 C
3. Mass of electron is:
(i) 9.1 ×× 10-31 kg (iii)1.6 ×× 10-19 kg
(ii) 9.1 ×× 10-31 g (iv) 1.6 ×× 10-19 g
4. A body is positively charged, it implies that:
(i) there is only a positive charge in the body
(ii) there is positive as well as negative charge in the body but the positive charge
is more than negative charge
(iii)there is equally positive and negative charge in the body but the positive
charge lies in the outer regions
(iv) the negative charge is displaced from its position

5. On rubbing, when one body gets positively charged and other negatively
charged, the electrons transferred from positively charged body to negatively
charged body are:
(i) valence electrons only
(ii) electrons of inner shells
(iii)both valence electrons and electrons of the inner shell.
(iv) none of the above

Q5. Faraday cage

A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure made of a conducting material.
The fields within a conductor cancel out with any external fields, so the electric
field within the enclosure is zero. These Faraday cages act as big hollow

Physics/XII Page 21
 conductors you can put things in to shield them from electrical fields. Any
electrical shocks the cage receives, pass harmlessly around the outside of the cage.

1. Which of the following material can be used to make a Faraday cage?

a)Plastic c) Copper
b)Glass d)Wood
2. Example of a real-world Faraday cage is
a) car c) lightning rod
b) plastic box d) metal rod
3. What is the electrical force inside a Faraday cage when it is struck by
lightning?
a) The same as the lightning c) Zero
b) Half that of the lightning d) A quarter of the lightning
4. An isolated point charge +q is placed inside the Faraday cage. Its surface must
have charge equal to
a) Zero c) –q
b) +q d) +2q
5. A point charge of 2C is placed at centre of Faraday cage in the shape of cube
with surface of 9 cm edge. The number of electric field lines passing through the
cube normally will be
a) 1.9105 Nm2 /C entering the surface
b) 1.9105 Nm2 /C leaving the surface
c) 2.0105 Nm2 /C leaving the surface
d) 2.0105 Nm2 /C entering the surface

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