ENTRY TEST LECTURE NOTES

PHYSICS
SESSION 2022
NMDCAT/NUMS
In these lecture notes you will find:

 Key points of the topics prescribed by PMC

 Short cuts/ problem solving technique
 MCQS (Practice + Past papers of Entry Tests)

COURSE INSTRUTOR: RAJA SHEHRYAR ALI

(1) LECTURER in PHYSICS,
PUNJAB COLLEGE, H-11 CAMPUS,
ISLAMABAD
(2) ENTRY TEST LECTURER
STEP by PGC,
ISLAMABAD CLUSTER.
CONTENTS OF LECTURE # 1 (According to STEP SOS)
Electrostatics
(1) Coulomb's Law
(2) Electric Field Strength
(3) Electric field lines
(4) Electric field intensity due to an infinite sheet of charge
(5) Electric field between two oppositely charged parallel plates
(6) Electric potential and potential gradient

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 LECTURE 01 [ELECTROSTATICS]
 ELECTROSTATICS: Branch of Physics in which stationary charges or charges at rest
are studied under the action of some electric force.

MCQ 1: Existence of any object is primarily due to:

A. Electric force B. Gravitational force C. Magnetic force D. Nuclear force

ELECTRIC CHARGE
 Physical property of matter that expresses extent to which the matter has more or fewer
electrons than protons.
 Charge is quantized. This means that electric charge comes in discrete amounts, and there is
a smallest possible amount of charge that an object can have.
 Charge is conserved. Charge can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred
from place to place, from one object to another. (rubbing, electrostatic induction)
 Types of charges: (i) positive (ii) negative
 The magnitude of the charge is independent of the type. Phrased another way, the smallest
possible positive charge is q = 1.6 x 10-19 C or negative charge is q = - 1.6 x 10-19 C. Negative
and positive signs means nature of charges otherwise both have same magnitude.
 Unit of charge is “coulomb”. It is a derived unit and not base unit.
 It is a scalar quantity.
 If more than one charges are present then the total charge can be calculated by:
Total charge = Q = ± ne
Where, “Q” is total charge, “n” shows no of charges, e shows charge on single smallest
charge (q = e =1.6 x 10-19 C).

MCQ 2: How many electron or protons will constitute one coulomb charge?
A. 6.25 x 1019 B. 6.25 x 1018 C. 1.6 x 10-19 D. 1.6 x 10-18

MCQ 3: When an object is rubbed with another object and gets positively charged, its
mass strictly speaking:
A. increases B. decreases C. remains same D. not sure

MCQ 4: Which one is the sure test of charge present on the body?
A. attraction B. repulsion C. both “A” and “B” D. none of these
Reason: Repulsion is said to be the sure test to find whether an object is charged or not because
attraction can occur between an uncharged body and a charged body due to electrostatic
induction of charges from the charged body to the uncharged body. But repulsion can take
place only between two charged bodies.

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 COULOMB’S LAW

 Statement: According to Coulomb’s law, the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged
bodies is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square
of the distance between them. It acts along the line joining the two charges considered to be point
charges.

𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
 Formula: Magnitude form  𝑭 =𝒌
𝒓𝟐
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐
Vector from  F=𝒌 𝒓̂
𝒓𝟐
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐 ⃑
𝒓
Another Vector from  F=𝒌 ⃑
𝒓 [Because 𝒓̂ = 𝒓]
𝒓𝟑
 Force is directly proportional to the product of charges  F α q1q2

MCQ 5: If the magnitude of either charge is doubled then the electrostatics force b/w two
charges will be:
A. halved B. twice C. quadrupled D. remain same

MCQ 6: If the magnitude of both charges is doubled then the electrostatics force b/w two
charges will be:
A. halved B. quadrupled C. twice D. remain same

 Force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance separating the two charges
 F α 1/r2 . Coulomb’s law follwos inverse sqaure law.
MCQ 7: If the distance between the two charges is doubled then the electrostatic force
b/w the two charges will be:
A. halved B. quartered C. quadrupled D. remain same

MCQ 8: If the distance between the two charges is doubled and the magnitude of charges
is doubled then the electrostatic force b/w the two charges will be:
A. halved B. quartered C. quadrupled D. remain same

 In the formula of Coulomb’s law: “k” is the Coulomb’s constant.

 It depends on (i) the medium b/w charges and (ii) the units in which ‘F’, ‘q’ and
‘r’ are measured.
𝟏
 Coulomb’s constant in vaccuum/free space: kvac = 𝟒𝝅𝝐 = 9 x 109 Nm2C-2
𝒐

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  Here “ϵo” is the permitivity of free space and its value is 8.85 x 10-11 C2 N-1m-2
𝟏
 Coulomb’s constant in vaccuum/free space: kmed = 𝟒𝝅𝝐 𝝐
𝒐 𝒓
Here “ϵr” is the realtive permitivity or di-electric constant
𝒌𝒗𝒂𝒄
 kmed =
𝝐𝒓
 Coulomb’s force is a mutual force (Newton’s 3rd law)
 F12 = - F21 (or vice versa)
 magnitude of force is same, direction is opposite, action and reation will be same
 Coulomb’s force acts always along line joining the two charges
 Sign conventions of Coulmb’s fores: (i) Fattraction is positive (i) Frepulsion is negative
 Graphical analysis of Coulomb’s law:

 Force b/w two charges in medium(insulator) is decreased as compared to free space

𝟏 𝒒 𝒒 𝟏
 Fmedium = 𝟒𝝅𝒆 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐 x 𝝐
𝒐 𝒓 𝒓
 Fmed > Fvac
𝑭𝒗𝒂𝒄
 Fmed =
𝝐𝒓
 Relative permitivity or di-electric constant (𝝐𝒓 )
 Rratio of Coulomb’s force in vaccuum to Coulomb’s force in medium
𝐹
 𝜖𝑟 = 𝐹 𝑣𝑎𝑐
𝑚𝑒𝑑
 𝜖𝑟 ≥ 1 for insulators (𝜖𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑖𝑟 =1.006, 𝜖𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑢𝑚 = 1)
 𝜖𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 for conductors(metals) .Permittivity is ability of a material to resist
the formation of electric field inside it and for metals electric field does not exist
inside the conductor. Therefore, permittivity of metal is infinitely larger than the
permittivity of free space hence the dielectric constant is infinite.
 𝜖𝑟 is a dimensionless and unit less quanitiy
 For a system in which more than two charges exert a force on a single charge, then the
combined effect of forces will be found by using the laws of vetor addition given as:
 Resulatant force = √𝑭𝟐𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐𝟐 + 𝟐𝑭𝟏 𝑭𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔Ө

MCQ 9: Charge “A” exerts 10 N force on charge “B”, charge “B” is double in magnitude
than that of “A”, the force exerted by charge ”B” on charge “A’ will be
A. 100 N B. 40 N C. 20 N D. 10 N

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 MCQ 10: Force b/w two charges is “F”. If a dielectric of 𝝐𝒓 is introduced b/w charges,
then the force becomes
A. F B. 2F C. 4F D. F/2

MCQ 11: If a charge q1 exerts a force “F” on charge q2. If a new charge q3 is brought
near, the force of q1 on q2 becomes:
A. remains same B. less than F C. greater than F D. zero

ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH/INTENSITY

 Region or space around a charge in which it exerts force on other charges is called electric field.
 Electric field lies around a charge till infinity. Infinity means the point where the influence of a
charge to exert force vanishes.
 Electric field intensity is the ability of a source charge to exert force on other charges.
 It is a vector quantity, direction is same as that of F.
 Formulas in vacuum/free space: Magnitude form: (1) E = F/qo (2) E = kq/r2 or E = 4𝜋𝜀
1
𝑜
𝑘𝑞
𝑟2
𝑘𝑞 1 𝑘𝑞
Vector form: (1) E = F/qo (2) E = 𝑟̂ (3) E = 𝑟
𝑟2 4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟 3
1 𝑘𝑞
In dielectric medium: E = 𝑟̂
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝜀𝑟 𝑟 2
𝐸
 Dielectric constant is terms of electric field intensity is given as: εr = 𝐸 𝑣𝑎𝑐
𝑚𝑒𝑑
 Electric field intensity like Coulomb’s law follows inverse square law.
 Graphical analysis:

Fig (1) More steeper Fig (2) Less steeper

ELECTRIC FIELD LINES

 Visual/imaginary representation of electric field lines
 Field lines originate from positive charge and terminates on negative charge
 Infinite 3D lines can be drawn around any point charge
 Number of field lines in directly proportional to electric field strength.

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 Representing field lines:
 Isolated positive (field lines radially outwards)
 Isolated negative charge (field lines radially inwards)

 Between two like charges

 Between two opposite charges field is the STRONGEST

 Oppositely charged plates (uniform in between and fringing at the edges)

 Concept of Zero field region/zero field point/neutral zone/field free region:.

 Case (1) For similar and equal charges: Zero field lies at the centre or mid-point
of the charges. Net field has a vector sum equal to zero.

 Case (2) For similar and unequal charges: Zero field lies in between the charges
and it will be near the smaller charge as shown in the figure. Let the point be at
“x” from the smaller charge.
𝒌𝒒𝟏 𝒌𝒒𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐 = (𝒙)𝟐 = 𝒒𝟏 𝒙 = 𝒒𝟐 (𝒓 − 𝒙)
Mathematically, | E1 |= | E2 | => (𝒓−𝒙)
Generally, 𝒒𝒍 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒒𝒔 (𝒓 − 𝒙)𝟐 where ql shows larger magnitude charge and qs
shows smaller magnitude charge.

 Case (3) For opposite and unequal charges(without considering the sign):
Zero field lies on the other side of the smaller charge.
Mathematically, 𝒒𝒍 𝒙𝟐 = 𝒒𝒔 (𝒓 + 𝒙)𝟐 where ql shows larger magnitude charge and
qs shows smaller magnitude charge.

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 Let the point be at “x” from the smaller charge.

 Case (4) For opposite and equal charges: Zero field lies on the other side of both
the charges but at infinity.
 Case (4) For isolated charges: Zero field lies at infinity.
Mathematically as, E = kq/r2 => for E = 0 put r = ∞ => kq/∞2 => kq/(1/0)2
=>E = =0 x kq/(1)2 => E = 0

Electric field intensity of : (1) Hollow sphere (2) Infinite sheet of charge (3) oppositely charged plate

𝝈 𝝈
E=0 E = 𝟐𝜺 E=𝜺
𝒐 𝒐

 Relation between electric field intensity of infinite sheet of charge and oppositely
charged plates is given as : Einfinite = ½ Eopposite OR Eopposite = 2 Einfinite
 Here “σ” is the surface charge density defined as “charge per unit area”. It’s units
are coulomb/metre-square (Cm-2) .

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE

 Electric potential is the amount of work done on a unit charge while moving between two points
say between point “A’ and “B” within the electric field maintaining the equilibrium.
 Mathematically, ∆V = WAB/qo= ∆U/qo  Scalar  Units: volt (V) 1 J/C = 1 V
 In EEG activity of brain is studied by the electric signals, while in ECG activity
of heart is studied.
 In terms of Absolute potential or Electric potential, it is the potential of a point
in a field with respect to infinity OR it is the amount of work done on a unit charge
from a point at infinity to a point within the electric field maintaining the
electrostatic equilibrium is called electric potential or absolute potential.
Mathematically, V = W/qo= U/qo , Scalar  Units: volt (V) 1 J/C = 1 V

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 Electric field as potential gradient: Electric field is the negative of potential gradient with
respect to distance For its calculations field is assumed to be uniform. Gradient means change,
here it refers to change of potential with respect to distance
 Mathematically, E = - ∆V/∆r  Units: V/m , N/C
 Here negative sign shows that electric field is towards the decreasing potential
 Electric potential due to a point charge:  Mathematically, V = kq/r

 The potential at infinity is chosen to be zero

 V for a point charge decreases with distance
 Thus V for a point charge is greater for the charge having greater magnitude
 Electric potential V is a scalar and has no direction
 To find the voltage due to a combination of point charges, add the individual
voltages as numbers, this is consistent with the fact that V is closely associated
with energy. For calculation charges will be considered with their sign.
Mathematically, Vnet (potential at a point)= V1 + V2 + … Vn
𝑉𝑣𝑎𝑐
 Dielectric constant is terms of electric field intensity is given as: εr =
𝑉𝑚𝑒𝑑
 Graphically, relation b/w V and r is:

 If electric potential is constant then the electric field MAY OR MAY NOT BE ZERO.
 For a region having constant potential “E” is zero. Mathematically,
V = constant => ∆V = 0 => E = -∆V/∆r => E = 0/∆r = 0
 For equipotential surfaces “E” may not be zero. It may not be zero for
equipotential surfaces, the potential is constant for specific points. As, shown in
the figure below consider a charge placed at the centre, there are concentric lines
around this charge. The points A and B are at same potential, similarly C and D
are at same potential, but the potentials of A, B and C,D are not same, so there
exists a difference in potential and thus E will not be zero in this case.

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 If electric potential at mid-point is to be calculated b/w two equal but opposite charges then
then the potential at that point will be the sum of potential of two charges and it will be zero,
potential difference will not be zero and the electric field at that point will not be zero, as E
is strongest at the mid-point
 For a hollow charged sphere

 Inside/outside the sphere: Electric field intensity inside a hollow sphere is zero
=> Einsid`e = 0 (because ∆V = 0 or q = 0)
Electric potential inside or outside will be the same
 Voutside = Vinside (because ∆V = Voutside - Vinside = 0 )

 Electric potential energy (U): As, V = W/q = U/q => U = qV

=> U = qkq1/r = kqq1/r
Where q1 the source charge of which the potential is considered and q is the test charge

SUMMARY
COULOMB’S ELECTRIC ELECTRIC ELECTRIC
LAW FIELD POTENITAL POTENITAL
INTENSITY ENERGY
𝒒𝟏 𝒒𝟐 𝒌𝒒
F=k E = 𝒓𝟐 V = kq/r U = kqq1/r
𝒓𝟐
1 1 1 1
F 𝛼 𝑟2 E 𝛼 𝑟2 V𝛼𝑟 U𝛼𝑟

MCQ 12: If electric field between oppositely charged plates is “- 50 V/m ”, then potential
gradient is:
A. – 50 V/m B. 50 V/m C. - 100 N/C D. 100 N/C

MCQ 13: Electric potential due to a proton at 1 metre is:

A. 1.44 x 10-9 V B. 1.44 x 109 V C. 1.44 x 10-10 V D. 1.44 x 1010 V

MCQ 14: Electric field and electric potential due to a point charge are “E” and “V”. If
at some other point electric field is “E/4”, then electric potential at that point is:
A. V B. V/2 C. V/4 D. V/8

*There is no excuse for not trying …*

*A winner never stops trying …*

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