Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 1

CHAPTER 1
Electric Charges and Fields

SUMMARY Also, 1 = 9 109 N - m2 /C2

4pe 0 #

where, e 0 = permittivity of free space

1. ELECTRIC CHARGE = 8.85419 # 1012 C2 /N - m2
Charge is the property associated with matter due The force between two charges q1 and q 2 located at a
to which it produces and experiences electric and distance in a medium other than free space may be
magnetic effect. Benjamin Franklin introduced two expressed as
types of charges namely positive charge and negative qq
charge based on frictional electricity produced by F = 1 $ 122
4pe 0 r
rubbing two unlike objects like amber and wood.
In vector form, Fv = 1 $ q1 q2 rt
Properties of Electric Charge 4pe 0 rv 2
Electric charge have the following properties-
Electrostatic forces are conservatives forces.
1. Additivity of Charge : Charges are scalars and
they add up like real numbers. It means of a system 3. PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION OF ELECTROSTATIC
consists of n charges q1 , q2 , q3 , ....., qn then total FORCES
charge of the system will be q1 + q2 + q3 + ..... + qn
. This principle states that the net electric force
experienced by a given charge particle q 0 due to a
2. Quantisation of Charge : The total charge on system of charged particles is equal to the vector sum
a body is integral multiple of fundamental of all the forces exerted on it due to all the other
charge e , i.e., q = ! ne where, n is an integer
charged particles of the system.
(n = 1, 2, 3, .....).
3. Conservation of Charge : The total charge of an
isolated system is always conserved, i.e., charge
cannot be created or destroyed. It transfer from
one body to another body.
4. Like charge repel each other while unlike charge
attract each other.

2. COULOMB’S LAW
It states that the electrostatic force of attraction or
repulsion acting between two stationary point charges
is given by,

i.e., Fv0 = Fv01 + Fv02 + Fv03 + ..... + Fv0n

qq
F = 1 122
4pe 0 r Fv0 = 1 = q1 q03 rv01 + q2 q03 rv02 + .... + qn q03 rv0nG
4pe 0 rv01 rv02 rv0n
where, q1 and q2 are the stationary point charges and
r is the separation between them in air or vacuum. where, rv01 = rv0 - rv01
Page 2 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

Fv01 = Force on q0 due to q1 .

Similarly, rv0n = rv0 - rvn
Fv0n = Force on q0 due to qn
n
q qi
Hence, Fv0 = 0 =/ (rv - rvi)G
4pe 0 i = 1 rv0 - rvi 3 0
Electric field
IfFv is the force acting on infinitesimal positive test
v = Fv , electric
charge q 0 then electric field strength E
(c)
q0
field can be given as
v
Ev = lim F
q " 0 q0
0

4. ELECTRIC FIELD LINES

Electric field lines are a way of pictorially mapping the
electric field around a configuration of charge. These
lines start from positive charge and end on negative
charge. The tangent on these lines at any point gives
the direction of field at that point.
(d)
Electric field lines due to positive and negative charge
and their combinations are shown as below:
Electric Field Lines Due to Combination of Charge

5. ELECTRIC FLUX
The total number of electric field lines crossing (or
diverging) a surface normally is called electric flux.
Electric flux surface element TSv is
v v
Tf = E $ TS = ETS cos q
where, Ev is electric field strength.
Electric flux through entire closed surface is

(a) f = # Ev $ dSv
S

6. ELECTRIC DIPOLE
Two point charges of same magnitude and opposite
nature separated by a small distance altogether form
an electric dipole.
pv = q $ 2lv
It is a vector quantity, directed from - q and + q .

7. ELECTRIC FIELD DUE TO A SHORT DIPOLE

A point P on axis,
(b) E = 1 2p
4pe 0 r3
At a point Pl on equatorial plane,
Electric Field Lines Due to Positive and Negative
p
Charge El = - 1 3
4pe 0 r
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 3

Torque on an electric dipole placed in a uniform OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

electric field (E ) is given by,
t = p#E
1. The magnitude of the electric field due to a point
t = pE sin q charge object at a distance of 4.0 m is 9 N/C. From
the same charged object the electric field of magnitude
8. GAUSS’S THEOREM
16 N/C will be at a distance of
It states that the total electric flux through a closed (a) 1 m (b) 2 m
surface is equal to 1 times the net charge enclosed (c) 3 m (d) 6 m
e0
by the surface Ans : OD 2023

i.e., #S Ev = dSv = e10 / q 2. A point P lies at a distance x from the mid point of
an electric dipole on its axis. The electric potential at
Formulae for Electric Field Strength Calculated from
Point P is proportional to
Electric field due to infinitely long straight wire of
(a) 12 (b) 13
charge per unit length l at a distance r from the x x
wire is
(c) 14 (d) 1
E = 1 2l x x1/2
4pe 0 r Ans : Foreign 2021, SQP 2012
Electric field strength due to an infinite plane sheet of
charge per unit are s is 3. Ampere-hour is unit of
(a) Power (b) Charge
E = s ,
2e 0 (c) Energy (d) Potential difference
independent of distance of a point from the sheet. Ans : OD 2020
Electric field strength due to a uniformly charged
thin spherical shell or conducting sphere of radius R 4. When a body is connected to the earth, then electrons
having total charge q , at a distance r form centre is from the earth, flow into the body. It means that the
body is
1. At external point Eext = 1 $ q (r > R)
4pe 0 r2 (a) unchanged (b) an insulator

1 q (c) positively charged (d) negatively charged

2. At surface point ES =
4pe 0 R2 Ans : Delhi 2021

3. At internal point E int = 0 . 5. When a body is charged, its mass-

(a) increase
(b) decrease
***********
(c) remains same
(d) may increase or decrease
Ans : Foreign 2018, Delhi 2010

6. 1 stat-coulomb = .......... coulomb.

(a) 3 # 10 9 (b) 3 # 10 - 9
(c) 1 # 10 9 (d) 1 # 10 - 9
3 3
Ans : Delhi 2005

7. The electrostatic field is

(a) conservative (b) non-conservative
(c) both (a) and (b) (d) none of these
Ans : SQP 2000
Page 4 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

Ans : Foreign 2009

14. Permittivity of free space is

(a) 9 # 109 mF-1 (b) 1.6 # 10-19 C
8. 1 coulomb charge = .......... esu. (c) 8.85 # 10-12 Fm-1 (d) 8.85 # 10-9 Fm-1
(a) 3 # 10 9 (b) 9 # 10 9
Ans : OD 2006
(c) 8.85 # 10 - 12 (d) none of these
15. Columbian force is
Ans : Delhi 2017
(a) central force (b) electric force
9. The specific charge of electron is (c) both a and b (d) none of these
(a) 1.8 # 10-11 C/kg (b) 1.8 # 10-19 C/kg
Ans : Delhi 2016
(c) 1.9 # 10-19 C/kg (d) none of these
16. The electric field at a distance 2 cm from the centre
Ans : OD 2017, SQP 2011
of a hollow spherical conducting shell of radius 4 cm
10. Two charged spheres separated by a distance d exert having a charge of 2 # 10-3 C on its surface, is
some force F on each other. If they are immersed in a (a) zero (b) 1.1 # 1010 V -m-1
liquid of dielectric constant 4, then what is the force (c) 4.5 # 10-10 V -m-1 (d) 4.5 # 10+10 V -m-1
exerted, if all other conditions are same?
Ans : SQP 2014
(a) 2F (b) 4F
17. Two point charges each equal to 2 mC are 0.5 m apart.
(c) F (d) F If both of them exist inside vacuum, then electrostatic
2 4
Ans : Foreign 2011, Comp 2006 force between them is
(a) 0.144 N (b) 0.288 N
11. Three point charges are placed at the corners of an (c) 1.44 N (d) 2.88 N
equilateral triangle. Assuming only electrostatic forces
Ans : SQP 2006
are acting, the system
(a) Can never be in equilibrium 18. Two point charge Q and - 2Q are placed at some
(b) Will be in equilibrium if charges rotate about the distance apart. If the electric field at the location of
centre of the triangle Q is E , then the electric field at the location of - 2Q
will be
(c) Will be in equilibrium if charges have same
magnitude but different signs (a) - E (b) - 3E
2 2
(d) Will be in equilibrium if charges have different (c) - E (d) - 2E
magnitudes and different signs
Ans : OD 2008, Delhi 2004
Ans : OD 2017, Comp 2011
19. The electric field at a point near an infinite thin sheet
12. Three charges, each equal to + q , are placed at the of charged conductor is
corners of an equilateral triangle. If the force between
(a) e 0 s (b) s
any two charges is F , then net force on either charge e0
will be
(c) s (d) 1 se 0
(a) 2F (b) 3F 2e 0 2
Ans : Delhi 2004
(c) 2F (d) 3F
Ans : SQP 2004
20. The electric field required to keep a water drop of
mass m just to remain suspended, when charged with
13. A charge q is placed at the centre of the line joining one electron, is
two equal point charges each equal to + Q . The system (a) m g (b) e m g
of three charges will be in equilibrium, if q is equal to mg
Q Q (c) (d) e m
(a) - (b) + e g
4 4
Ans : Foreign 2015
Q Q
(c) - (d) +
2 2
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 5

21. The S.I. unit of electric field Ev is (d) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false.
(a) Cm -2
(b) NC-1 Ans : OD 2023

(c) Am (d) Vm-1 26. Assertion (A) : Two concentric charged shells are
Ans : OD 2009 given. The potential difference between the shells
depends on charge of inner shell.
22. Electric intensity due to an electric dipole varies with
distance r as E \ rn , where n is equal to
(a) 0 (b) - 1
(c) - 2 (d) - 3
Ans : SQP 2011

23. An electric dipole consists of a positive and negative

charge of 4 mC each placed at a distance of 5 mm. The Reason (R) : Potential due to charge of outer shell
dipole moment is remains same at every point inside the sphere.
(a) 2 # 10-8 C-m (b) 4 # 10-8 C-m (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion
(c) 6 # 10-8 C-m (d) 8 # 10-8 C-m
(A).
Ans : OD 2012, Delhi 2008
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
24. A charged ball B hangs from a silk thread S , which Reason (R) is NOT the correct explanation of
makes an angle q with a large charged conducting Assertion (A).
sheet P , as shown in the figure. The surface charge (c) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
density s of the sheet is proportional to
(d) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false.
Ans :

27. Assertion (A) : For a non-uniformly charged thin

circular ring with net charge is zero, the electric field
at any point on axis of the ring is zero.
Reason (R) : For a non-uniformly charged thin circular
ring with net charge zero, the electric potential at
each point on axis of the ring is zero.
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
(a) sin q (b) cos q Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion
(A).
(c) tan q (d) cot q
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
Ans : Foreign 2017
Reason (R) is NOT the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).

ASSERTION AND REASON (c) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false.
25. Assertion (A) : Work done in moving a charge around
a closed path in an electric field is always zero.
Reason (R) : Electrostatic force is a conservative force.
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and
Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion
(A). 28. Assertion (A) : The electrostatic force between the
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and plates of a charged isolated capacitor decreases when
Reason (R) is NOT the correct explanation of dielectric fills whole space between plates.
Assertion (A). Reason (R) : The electric field between the plates of a
charged isolated capacitance increases when dielectric
(c) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
fills whole space between plates.
Page 6 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and 38. Two metallic spheres of exactly equal masses are
Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion taken. One is given a positive charge q coulomb and
(A). the other an equal negative charge by friction. Art
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and their masses after charging equal?
Reason (R) is NOT the correct explanation of Ans : Foreign 2014
Assertion (A).
39. Define electric dipole moment. Is it a scalar or a vector
(c) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
quantity? What are its SI unit?
(d) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is also false. Ans : Comp 2020
Ans :
40. What is the electric flux through a cube of side 1 cm
which encloses an electric dipole?
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS Ans : Comp 2011

41. A thin straight infinitely long conducting wire having

29. Why must electrostatic field at the surface of a charged charge density l is enclosed by a cylindrical surface
conductor be perpendicular to every point on it? of radius r and length l , its axis coinciding with the
Ans : Delhi 2021
length of the wires. Find the expression for the electric
flux through the surface of the cylinder.
30. Draw lines of force of electric field due to a system of Ans : SQP 2011
two equal point charges.
Ans : Foreign 2019

31. Why must electrostatic field at the surface of a

charged conductor be normal to the surface at every
point? Give reason. 42. Atmosphere is not electrically neutral. Explain why?
Ans : SQP 2019
Ans : OD 2020, SQP 2009

32. Why should electrostatic field be zero inside a The atmosphere is continuously being charged by
conductor? thunderstorms and lightning bolts all over the globe.
Ans : OD 2015
This maintains an equilibrium with the discharge of
the atmosphere in ordinary weather conditions.
33. A proton is placed in a uniform electric field directed
along the position X-axis. In which direction will it 43. How rubbing of the two bodies produces electricity?
bend to move? Ans : Delhi 2016

Ans : Comp 2021, OD 2004

44. Figure shows the field lines on a positive charge is
34. A charge q is placed at the centre of a cube of side l. the work done by the field in moving a small positive
What is the electric flux passing through two opposite charge from Q to P positive or negative? Give reason.
faces of the cube?
Ans : Delhi 2016

35. State and explain the superposition principle for

electric fields?
Ans : Delhi 2007

36. A comb after passing through dry hair attracts small

pieces of paper. What happens if the hair is wet or if
it is a rainy day?
Ans : Comp 2021
Ans : SQP 2016

45. What are the limitations of Coulomb’s law ?

37. What is electrostatic shielding? Give one of its
practical applications. Ans : Comp 2014

Ans : OD 2014
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 7

46. What do you mean by additive nature of electric Electric Monopole Electric Dipole
charges?
1. It is due to charge Net charge is zero.
Ans : SQP 2011
where value is not
47. Figure shows the field lines due to a negative point zero.
charge. Give the sign of the potential energy difference
of a small negative charge between the point A and
2. E ? 12 E ? 13
r r
B.
3. Electric field is Electric field is not
spherically symmetric. spherically symmetric.

56. Give the physical significance of electric dipoles.

Ans : OD 2013

57. Write two basic properties of electric charge.

Ans : Delhi 2012

Ans : Foreign 2015

48. Why do the electrostatic field lines not form closed SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
loops?
Ans : Delhi 2017
58. Two charged conducting spheres of radii a and b are
49. Why do the electric field lines never cross each other? connected to each other by a wire. Find the ratio of
Ans : Comp 2009 the electric fields at their surfaces.
Ans : 2023
50. Two point charges q1 and q2 are placed at a distance
d apart as shown in the figure. The electric field 59. Equal positive charge q coulombs are suspended by
intensity is zero at the point P on the line joining two insulating strings of equal length. What would be
them as shown. Write two conclusions that you can the effect on the force when a plastic sheet is inserted
draw from this. between the two?
Ans : OD 2020

Ans : Delhi 2005

51. What is electric charge? Is it a scalar or vector

quantity? Name its SI unit. 60. Give the physical significance of electric field.
Ans : Foreign 2018
Ans : Comp 2021, 15

52. Sketch the electric field lines for two point charges q1 61. Distinguish between conductors and insulators. Give
and q2 for q1 = q2 and q1 > q2 separated by a distance examples.
d.
Ans : SQP 2017, Comp 2011
Ans : OD 2013
62. State the law of conservation of charge. Give two
53. Define electric dipole moment and write its SI unit. examples to illustrate it.
Ans : OD 2012
Ans : Foreign 2014

54. What do you mean by permittivity of a medium? 63. What is a continuous charge distribution? How can
Ans : OD 2008 we calculate the force on a point charge q due to a
continuous charge distribution?
55. Compare the electric fields due to a monopole (single
charge) and dipole. Ans : Delhi 2019

Ans : Delhi 2005, Comp 2010

Page 8 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

64. Compare the properties of electric charge and mass 74. Plot a graph showing the variation of Coulomb force
which are not similar. F , versus (1/r2), where r is the distance between the
two charges of each pair of charges (1mC, 2mC) and
65. What is the nature of electrostatic force between two (2mC, - 3mC). Interpret the graphs obtained.
point electric charges q1 and q2 if
Ans : Delhi 2014, OD 2004
1. q1 + q2 > 0 ?
2. q1 + q2 < 0 ? 75. Define electric field intensity in current carrying
Ans : SQP 2010, Delhi 2001 conductor and equipotential surface.
Ans : SQP 2013
66. Define dielectric strength and relative permittivity.
Ans : Foreign 2016 76. Two point charges q1 and q2 are located at points
^a, 0, 0h and ^0, b, 0h respectively. Find the electric field
67. Derive the expression for electric field intensity at a due to both these charges at the point ^0, 0, c h ?
point due to a point charge. Ans : OD 2012
Ans : OD 2014, SQP 2011
77. A metallic spherical shell has an inner radius R1 and
68. Show that charge always resides on the outer surface outer radius R2 . A charge Q is placed at the centre
of a conductor. of the spherical cavity. What will be surface charge
or density on
Show that net charge in the interior of a conductor 1. The inner surface
is zero. 2. The outer surface?
Ans : Comp 2007 Ans : Comp 2006

When a charge + Q is placed at the centre of spherical

78. 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 ^1mC, 2mC h and
69. Define uniform and non-uniform electric fields. How ^1mC - 3mC h . Interpret the graphs obtained.
are they represented geometrically? Ans : Delhi 2011, OD 2009

Ans : OD 2009, Foreign 2014

79. (a) An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve.
70. Derive an expression for the torque experienced by That is a field line cannot have sudden breaks.
electric dipole in external electric field. Why is it so?
Ans : Delhi 2010 (b) Explain why two field lines never cross each other
at any point.
71. An electric dipole is placed in a uniform electric field Ans : OD 2017, Comp 2005
E with its dipole moment p parallel to the field. Find:
1. The work done in turning the dipole till its dipole 80. A small metal sphere carrying a charge + Q is located
moment points in the direction opposite to E . at the centre of a spherical cavity in a large uncharged
2. The orientation of the dipole for which the torque metallic spherical shell. Write the charges on the inner
acting on it becomes maximum. and outer surfaces of the shell. Write the expression
Ans : Foreign 2017

72. (i) Write down unit and dimension of permittivity of

free space.
(ii) A Gaussian surface contains three charges (- q)
, (+ 2q) and (- q). Evaluate net electric flux
through the surface.
Ans : OD 2018, Comp 2015

73. State Coulomb’s law. Define Coulomb’s dielectric

constant.
Ans : Foreign 2008
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 9

for the electric field at the point P1 . 82. Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and CD
each of dipole moment p are kept at an angle of
120c as shown in the figure. What is the resultant
dipole moment of this combination? If this system
is subjected to electric field ^E h directed along + X
"

direction. What will be the magnitude and direction

of the torque acting on this?

Ans : Foreign 2015

81. (a) A point charge ^+ Q h is kept in the vicinity of

uncharged conducting plate. Sketch electric field
lines between the charge and the plate.
(b) Two infinitely large plane thin parallel sheets
having surface charge densities s 1 and s 2
^s 1 2 s 2h are shown in the figure. Write the Ans : Delhi 2018, OD 2010
magnitudes and directions of the net fields in the
regions marked II and III.

83. Sketch the electric field lines for a uniformly charged

hollow cylinder shown in figure.

Ans : OD 2012, Comp 2015

84. An electric dipole is held in a uniform electric field.

(i) Show that the net force acting on it is zero.
(ii) The dipole is aligned parallel to the field.
Find the work done in rotating it through an angle
of 180c.
Ans : Delhi 2010

Ans : SQP 2014

Page 10 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS of this field?

Ans : OD 2019

perpendicular to AB : E1 sin q and E2 sin q being equal

85. What is an electric dipole? Drive an expression for and opposite cancel each other, while the components
the torque acting on an electric dipole, when held " "
in a uniform electric field. Hence, define the dipole of E1 and E2 parallel to AB : E1 cos q and E2 cos q,
moment. being in the same direction add up and give the
resultant electric field whose direction is parallel to
Ans : SQP 2013 $
BA .
86. (a) Using Gauss’s theorem prove that the electric Hence resultant electric field at p is
field at a point due to a uniformly charged infinite
plane sheet is independent of the distance from it. E = E1 cos q + E2 cos q
(b) How is the field directed if (i) the sheet is positively 1 q
But E1 = E2 =
charged, (ii) negatively charged? 4pe 0 ^r2 + l2h
Ans : Comp 2019, OD 2004 From the figure,

87. (i) Use Gauss’s law to obtain an expression for the 92. Using Gauss’s theorem to obtain the expression for the
electric field due to an infinitely long thin straight electric field intensity at a point due to an infinitely
wire with uniform linear charge density. long, thin, uniformly charged straight wire. Plot a
(ii) An Infinitely long positively charged straight graph showing the variation of electric field E with r .
wire has a linear charge density l . An electron Ans : OD 2013, Comp 2008
is revolving in a circle with a constant speed v
such that the wire passes through the centre 93. A charge is distributed uniformly over a ring of radius
and is perpendicular to the plane of the circle. a . Obtain an expression for the electric intensity E at
Find the kinetic energy of the electron in terms a point on the axis of the ring. Hence show that for
of magnitudes of the charge and linear charge points at large distances from the ring, it behaves like
density l on the wire. a point charge.
(iii) Draw a graph of kinetic energy as a function of Ans : Foreign 2018

linear charge density l .

94. Deduce Coulomb’s law from Gauss law.
Ans : OD 2023
Ans : OD 2017, SQP 2003

As shown in figure consider an isolated positive point

(i) State Gauss theorem.
(ii) Apply this to obtain the expression for the electric
field intensity at a point due to an infinitely long,
thin, uniformly charged straight wire.
88. (i) State and explain Superposition Principle.
Ans : Delhi 2009
(ii) Find an expression for the total force acting on
a given charge due to a number of other charges, 95. (i) Define electric dipole moment. Is it a scalar or a
when the source charges are point charges. vector?
Ans : Comp 2021, SQP 2005 (ii) Derive the expression for the electric field of a
dipole at a point on the equatorial plane of the
89. (i) Define electric intensity. dipole.
(ii) Derive an expression for electric intensity at a Ans : SQP 2013, Comp 2011
point situated on the axis of electric dipole.
Ans : Delhi 2020 96. Using Gauss’s law, prove that the electric field at a
point due to a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet
90. Define electric flux. State and prove Gauss theorem. is independent of the distance from it.
Ans : Foreign 2015, Delhi 2012 Ans : Foreign 2016

97. (i) Define electric flux. Write its SI unit.

91. Derive an expression for the electric field intensity at (ii) A small metal sphere carrying charge +Q is
a point on the equatorial line of an electric dipole of located at the centre of a spherical cavity inside
"
dipole moment p and length 2l . What is the direction a large uncharged metallic spherical shell as
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 11

shown in the figure. Use Gauss’s law to find the Ans : OD 2018, Comp 2006

expressions for the electric field at points P1 and

100. (i) An electric dipole of dipole moment p consists of
P2 .
point charges + q and - q separated by a distance
2a apart. Deduce the expression for the electric
field E due to the dipole at a distance x from the
centre of the dipole on the axial line in terms of the
dipole moment p . Hence, show that in the limit
2p
x 22 a, E =
^4pe 0 x h
3

(ii) Given the electric field in the region E = 2xi ,

find the net electric flux through the cube and the
charge enclosed by it.

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

arrangement.
Ans : Delhi 2019, SQP 2011

98. (i) Using Gauss Theorem show mathematically that

for any point outside the shell, the field due to a
uniformly charged spherical shell is same as the
entire charge on the shell a concentrated at the
centre.
(ii) Why do you expect the electric field inside the
Ans : OD 2015
shell to be zero according to this theorem?
or
Using Gauss’s law obtain the expression for the
electric field due to a uniformly charged thin
spherical shell of radius R at a point outside
the shell. Draw a graph showing the variation of
electric field with r , for r 2 R and r 1 R . 101. (i) Derive an expression for the electric field E due
to a dipole of length 2a at a point distance r from
Ans : Comp 2019
the centre of the dipole on the axial line.
99. The electric field components due to a charge inside (ii) Draw a graph of E versus r for r 22 a .
the cube of side 0.1 m are as shown : Ans : Delhi 2017, OD 2007

"
102. A uniform electric field E = Ex it N/C for x 2 0 and
"
E = - Ex it N/C for x 1 0 are given. A right circular
cylinder of length l cm and radius r cm has its centre
at the origin and its axis along the x -axis. Find out
the net outward flux. Using Gauss’s law write the
expression for the net charge within the cylinder.
Ans : SQP 2013

NUMERICAL QUESTIONS
Ex = ax , where a = 500 N/C-m
Ey = 0, Ez = 0
103. Consider two identical point charges located at points
Calculate (i) the flux through the cube and (ii) the
(0, 0) and ^a, 0h .
charge inside the cube.
(i) Is there a point on the line joining them at which
Page 12 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

the electric field is zero. distance 2.4 # 10-10 m ?

(ii) Is there a point on the line joining them at which Ans : Foreign 2013, OD 2005
the electric potential is zero?
Justify your answer for each case. 113. Two point charges having equal charges separated by
1 m distance experience a force of 8 N . What will be
Ans : Delhi 2023
the force experienced by them, if they are held in
104. Find the electric dipole moment electron and a proton water, at the same distance? (Given: K water = 80 )
which distance is 4.3 nm apart. Ans : Delhi 2018

Ans : Delhi 2015

105. An infinite line charge produces a field of 9 # 10 4 N/C 114. Two charges of + 25 # 10-9 C and - 25 # 10-9 C are
at a distance of 2 cm . Calculate the linear charge placed 6 m apart. Find the electric field at a point
density. 4 m from the centre of the electric dipole
Ans : SQP 2008
1. On axial line
2. On equatorial line.
106. What is the total charge of a system containing five Ans : OD 2019
charges + 1, + 2, - 3, + 4 and - 5 in some arbitrary
unit? 115. Two charges q1 and q2 of 0.1 mC and - 0.1 mC
Ans : Comp 2018, SQP 2009
c apart. What is the electric field
respectively are 10 A
at a point on the line joining them at a distance of
107. The dielectric constant of water is 80. What is its 10 cm from their mid-point?
permittivity? Ans : Comp 2006, SQP 2015
Ans : SQP 2013
116. A sphere of lead of mass 10 g has net charge
- 2.5 # 10-9 C .
(i) Find the number of excess electrons on the sphere.
(ii) How many excess electrons are per lead atom?
Atomic number of lead is 82 and its atomic mass
108. A metal sphere has a charge of - 6 mC . When 5 # 1012 is 207 g/mol .
electrons are removed from the sphere, what would be Ans : Foreign 2020
net charge on it?
117. Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B
Ans : Delhi 2015
each having charge of 6.5 # 10-7 C are separated
109. An infinite number of charges each equal to q are by a distance 50 cm. If they are placed in water of
placed along X-axis at x = 1, x = 2 , x = 4 , x = 8 and dielectric constant 80, then find the electrostatic force
so on. Find the electric field at the point x = 0 due to of repulsion between them.
this set up of charges. Ans : OD 2005, Comp 2014

Ans : Foreign 2016

118. The opposite corners of a square carry Q charge each
110. Calculate the amount of work done in turning an and the other two opposite corners of the same square
electric dipole of dipole moment 3 # 10-8 cm from carry q charge each. If the resultant force on q is zero,
its position of unstable equilibrium to the position how are Q and q related?
of stable equilibrium in a uniform electric field of Ans : SQP 2010
intensity 103 N/C.
119. In the given figure, if net force on Q is zero then find
Ans : Delhi 2010

111. A charge q = 1 mC is placed at point (1 m, 2 m, 4 m).

Find the electric field at point P (0 m, - 4 m, 3 m).
Ans : OD 2011

112. What is the electric dipole moment of an electric dipole

made up of two opposite charges having magnitude
+ 3.2 # 10-19 C and - 3.2 # 10-19 C separates by a
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 13

Q
the value of .
q

(i) Find the electric flux through the shell.

(ii) State the law used.
Ans : (iii) Find the force on the charges at the centre C of
120. A particle of mass 10-3 kg and charge 5 mC enters into the shell and at the point A.
a uniform electric field of 2 # 105 NC-1 , moving with Ans : Foreign 2016

a velocity of 20 ms-1 in a direction opposite to that of

the field. Calculate the distance it would travel before 126. (i) Can two equipotential surfaces intersect each
coming to rest. other? Give reasons.
Ans : Foreign 2012, OD 2002
(ii) Two charges - q and + q are located at points
A ^0, 0, - a h and B ^0, 0, + a h respectively. How
121. An electric dipole of length 4 cm when placed with its much work is done in moving a test charge from
point P ^7, 0, 0h to Q ^- 3, 0, 0h ?
axis making an angle of 60c with a uniform electric
field, experiences a torque of 4 3 Nm. Calculate the Ans : Comp 2007, Foreign 2010

potential energy of the dipole if it has charge ! 8 nC.

Ans : OD 2014

122. Two point charge A and B of charge + 4 mC and

- 1 mC are placed in air at a distance 1 m apart. What
is the distance of the point from the charge B on the 127. Two charges of ! 1000 mC are separated by 2 mm .
line joining the charges, where the resultant electric The dipole so formed is held at an angle of 30c with a
field is zero. uniform electric field of 8 # 105 N-C-1 . Find out the
Ans : Delhi 2001, OD 2012 value of torque acting on the dipole?
Ans : OD 2009
123. An electric dipole as held in a uniform electric field.
(i) Show that the net force acting on it is zero. 128. Electric charge is uniformly distributed along a long
(ii) The dipole is aligned parallel to the field. Find straight wire of radius 1 mm. The charge per cm
the work done in rotating it through the angle of length of the wire is Q coulomb. A cylindrical surface
180c. of radius 50 cm and length 1 m symmetrically encloses
Ans : Delhi 2018
the wire as shown in the figure. Find out the total

124. An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges

each of 10-4 C separated by 0.5 cm. If dipole is placed
in an external uniform field of 106 N-C-1 , how much
work is done in rotating the dipole through 180c,
(starting from the position q = 0c)?
Ans : Delhi 2019

125. A thin metallic spherical shell of radium R carries a

charge Q on its surface. A point charge Q2 is placed
at the centres C and other charge + 2Q is placed
outside the shell at A at a distance X from the centre
as shown in the figure.
Page 14 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

electric flux passing through the cylindrical surface? tiny sparks. She became frightened and called Ramesh.
Being a science student he explained the appropriate
reason behind it with appropriate figure and than her
aunt calmed down.

Transfer of charge
Due to a charge ,there a electric field is produce
around a sphere.
(a) A hollow conducting sphere of radius 8 cm is
given a charge of 16 mC . What is the electric field
at the centre of the sphere?
Ans : Comp 2009 (b) A hollow conducting sphere of radius 8 cm is
given a charge of 16 mC . What is the electric field
129. A regular hexagon of side 10 cm has charge 5 mC at
on the outer surface of the sphere?
each of its vertices. What is the resultant potential at
Ans :
the centre of the hexagon?
Ans : Delhi 2017 134. While travelling back to his residence in the car, Dr.
Pathak was caught up in a thunderstorm. It became
130. A square of side 1 m , has four charges of
very dark. He stopped driving the car and waited for
+ 2 # 10-9 C, + 1 # 10-9 C, - 2 # 10-9 C and
thunderstorm to stop. Suddenly he noticed a child
- 3 # 10-9 C respectively at its corners. What is the walking alone on the road. He asked the boy to come
resultant potential at the centre of the square?
inside the car till the thunderstorm stopped. Dr.
Ans : OD 2012, Delhi 2005 Pathak dropped the boy at his residence. The boy
insisted that Dr. Pathak should meet his parents. The
parents expressed their gratitude to Dr. Pathak for
his concern for safety of the child.

131. Two spherical conductors of radii 4 cm and 5 cm are

charged to the same potential. If s 1 and s 2 be the
respective values of the surface density of charge on
both the conductors, What is the ratio of s 1 ?
s2
Ans : Foreign 2016, OD 2009

132. Two pith balls of mass 0.2 gm each are suspended

by two nylon strings of length 50 cm each. They are
charged with charge of equal magnitude and same
Answer the following questions based on the above
nature. If they come to rest after repulsion at a
information :
distance of 4 cm, then find the charge on each ball.
(a) Why is it safer to sit inside a car during a
Ans : Comp 2020
thunderstorm?
(b) Can charge be stored in a body?
(c) An electric field map is graphically expressed as
CASE BASED QUESTIONS shown in the figure. There are 4 indicated locations
(A, B, C, and D) along one of the field lines. If a
negative test charge is released at location B and
133. Ramesh’s aunt was housewife, she had a little free to move, in which way will it move toward?
knowledge of science. In a dark room when she pulled
over a woollen sweater, she heard little crackles with
Chap 1 Electric Charges and Fields Page 15

charge of an electron?
(c) How was the mass of an electron determined?
(d) Does an electron have mass?
(e) What was the conclusion of Millikan’s oil drop
experiment?
Ans :

136. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the rod acquires
one kind of charge and the silk acquires the second
kind of charge. This is true for any pair of objects
that are rubbed to be electrified. Now if the electrified
glass rod is brought in contact with silk, with which
it was rubbed, they no longer attract each other.
They also do not attractor repel other light objects
as they did on being electrified. Thus, the charges
acquired after rubbing are lost when the charged
bodies are brought in contact. What can you conclude
from these observations? It just tells us that unlike
Ans :
charges acquired by the objects neutralise or nullify
each other’s effect. Therefore, the charges were named
as positive and negative by the American scientist
Benjamin Franklin. We know that when we add a
positive number to a negative number of the same
magnitude, the sum is zero. This might have been
135. In 1909, Robert Millikan and Harvey Fletcher the philosophy in naming the charges as positive and
conducted the oil drop experiment to determine the negative. By convention, the charge on glass rod or
charge of an electron. They suspended tiny, charged cat’s fur is called positive and that on plastic rod
droplets of oil between two metal electrodes by or silk is termed negative. If an object possesses an
balancing downward gravitational force with upward electric charge, it is said to be electrified or charged.
drag and electric forces. The density of the oil was When it has no charge it is said to be electrically
known, so Millikan and Fletcher could determine the neutral.
droplets’ masses from their observed radii (since from
the radii they could calculate the volume and thus, the
mass). Using the known electric field and the values
of gravity and mass, Millikan and Fletcher determined
the charge on oil droplets in mechanical equilibrium.
By repeating the experiment, they confirmed that
the charges were all multiples of some fundamental
value. They calculated this value to be 1.5924 × 10−19
Coulombs (C), which is within 1% of the currently
accepted value of 1.602 × 10−19 C. They proposed that
this was the charge of a single electron.

(a) What was determined from Millikan’s oil drop

experiment?
(a) When you charge a balloon by rubbing it on
(b) What is the currently accepted value of electric
Page 16 Electric Charges and Fields Chap 1

your hair this is an example of what method of

charging?
(b) Which particle in an atom can you physically
manipulate?
(c) If a negatively charged rod touches a conductor,
the conductor will be charged by what method?
Ans :

137. For electrostatics, the concept of electric field is

convenient, but not really necessary. Electric field
is an elegant way of characterizing the electrical
environment of a system of charges. Electric field at a
point in the space around a system of charges tells you
the force a unit positive test charge would experience
if placed at that point (without disturbing the
system). Electric field is a characteristic of the system
of charges and is independent of the test charge that
you place at a point to determine the field. The term
field in physics generally refers to a quantity that is
defined at every point in space and may vary from
point to point. Electric field is a vector field, since
force is a vector quantity.
(a) What do you mean by electric field ?
(b) What is the SI unit of electric field ?
Ans :
(a) The force per unit charge is known as electric field
(b) N/C

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