FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics

12. Electrostatics
INTRODUCTION
 The physics that deals with charges at rest is called electrostatics and that which deals with moving
charges is called electrodynamics.
 An electric force is the force, which holds the positive and negative charges that make up atoms,
molecules and bodies.
Charge & Its Relationship with Friction
 Bodies get charge due to friction.
 During rubbing process, free or atomic electrons gain more energy than work function and get
detached thus producing positive charge.
 Similar charges repel each other while opposite charges attract each other.
 Excess of electrons create negative charge while their deficiency produces positive charge in an
object.
 SI unit of charge is coulomb. It is defined as:
“If force between two equal and opposite charges placed in a vacuum 1m apart is 9x10 9N then each
of them bear 1C charge.”
OR
“If 1A current flows in 1 s then charge will be IC.”
OR
“ Charge of 6.25x1018 electrons is 1coulomb.”
 Charge is a conserved quantity as well as quantized.
(i) Charge per unit area (Q/A) is called surface charge density.
(ii) Charge per unit volume (Q/V) is called volume charge density.
(iii) Charge per unit length (Q/L) of straight conductor is called linear charge density.
 When charged particle is subjected to electric field, then its acceleration is qE/m.
 When charge is given to hollow sphere, it resides on outer surface only but not on inner surface.

Electrification
(Process by which we can
charge a body)

Induction Conduction
(Charge trans fer without phys ical (Requires a physical contact fo r charge
contact.) trans fer)

Electrical Forces
 Electrical forces are repulsive and attractive in nature depending upon likeness or unlikeness of the
charges respectively.
 Interaction of field explains force.
 Origin of electric force is provided by quantum electrodynamics.
 Coulomb used an apparatus known as torsional balance for experimental measurement of electrical
force operating between two point charges.

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
Coulomb’s Law

Coulomb found that electrical force between two point charges is-
(i) Directly proportional to product of magnitude of the charges.
(ii) Inversely proportional to square of distance between them
(iii) Act along line joining them.
Mathematically,
Fe = k q1 q2/r2
Where k = 9 x 109 N-m2/C2 Two bodies having charge, very small
In vacuum, and using S.I units. in size as compared with the distance
k = 1/40 between them acts as point charges.
Where 0 is permittivity of free space.
o = 8.85 x 10-12 C2/N-m2
 F 12 =- F 21 Shows that electrical forces form an action-reaction pair.
 Coulomb’s law obeys inverse square law.
 When charges are placed in medium other than air,
then force reduces by a factor r known as
relative permittivity of medium.
1
F    F
 r 
F
F   
 r 
F
 In terms of electrical force, r can be given as; r   
 F 

  r  med
o
It means that relative permittivity is ratio between electrical force between two point charges, when
placed in air or vacuum to the electric force between them when placed in medium other than vacuum.
 r, the relative permittivity is unit less quantity.

ELECTRIC FIELD

Electric field is a vector quantity.

 It is intrinsic property of “charge” to have electric field around it.
 Two theories has been put forward to explain electric field -
(i) Action at a distance (Newton’s view)
(ii) Field theory (Faraday’s view)
 Action-at-distance has been rejected experimentally while field theory is a convincing view.
 For infinite extent, field is uniform all over.
For finite extent, field is non-uniform at ends. (Fringing Field)

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
ELECTRIC INTENSITY
 Electric intensity is given as; E = F/qo
Where qo is a test charge. It is defined as the force per unit positive charge.
q
 In vector form E = k 2 r for a point charge.
r
 SI unit of E is N/C and V/m
ELECTRIC LINES OF FORCE
Definition
The path followed by a tiny positive charge in an electric field is called line of force.
Electric lines of force are imaginary lines starting from positive charge and ending on negative
charge.
Some of important properties are given below; 1

1
E
2
(i) Originate from positive charge. E2

(ii) End on negative charge.

(iii) Do not intersect
(iv) Contract longitudinally.
(v) Repel transversely. 3

(vi) No electric line is present inside the conductor. 3 E

(vii) Tangent drawn to electric lines gives the direction of electric intensity
(viii) Electric field is stronger where the electric lines are closely packed
XEROGRAPHY (PHOTOCOPIER)
 “Xeros” means “dry”, “graphy” means, “writing”.
 The lamp transfers the image of document as bright and dark spots on drum (core of the Machine).
 Drum is an aluminum cylinder coated with selenium. Selenium is a LDR (Light dependent
resistor). It retains positive charge in dark.
 Positive charge document image is created on the drum.
 Toner is given negative charge and is sprayed over the drum.
 The image is then transferred on paper and is settled by the heated pressure rollers on the paper.
INKJECT PRINTERS
 It works on the thin stream of ink ejected from a nozzle at high speed.
 It passes through two electrical components. Charging electrode and deflection plates.
 Charging electrode gives a net charge to the stream controlled by instructions from computers.
 The uncharged drops pass without deflection through deflection plates and strike the paper while
charged drops are directed to gutter.
ELECTRIC FLUX
Electric flux is the number of electric lines of force passing perpendicular through certain area.
 Mathematically electric flux is defined as;
e = E . A = EA cos provided E is uniform on flat surface represented by A .
 It is a scalar quantity.
 max = EA when  = 0° (surface is  to E)
min = 0 when  = 90° (surface is || to
E)
 If no. of flux lines leaving a closed surface is greater than Electric flux depends upon charge and
no. of flux lines entering, then surface contains source or medium not on shape of the closed
positive charge. surface.
 If no. of flux lines leaving a closed surface is less than no. of
flux lines entering it, then surface contains sink or negative charge.

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
 If no. of flux lines entering is equal to no. of flux line leaving, then surface contain neither sink nor
source.
Flux through Closed Surface
 Flux through closed surface is;
e = Q/o
It shows that flux through closed surface is independent of location of charges enclosed by it and
shape of closed surface.
GAUSS’S LAW
 1 
“The flux through a closed surface is   times the total charge enclosed in it”.
 o 
 1 
total =   Q
 o 
Q  q1  q 2  ........  q n Any apparatus placed within a metal
 Gauss’s law is applicable only on closed surface. enclosure is shielded from electric
Gauss’s Law is applied to calculate electric intensity. For fields. Why?
this purpose an imaginary closed surfaced called Gaussian
surface is considered which must pass through the point at
which the electric intensity is to be evaluated.
Applications
(i) Electric intensity inside a hollow but uniformly charged sphere is zero. E = 0

(ii) Electric intensity due to infinite sheet of charge is given as; E  rˆ
2 o

(iii) Electric intensity between two equal but oppositely charged plates is given as. E  rˆ
o
ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL OR POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE
Electric potential difference between two points is defined as:
“Work done per unit positive charge in moving it against electric field with uniform velocity. i.e.
keeping the charge in electrostatic equilibrium.”
W
V  A B
qo
 It can be given in terms of potential energy as
U
V  WAB  U  electrostatic P.E
qo
 SI unit of potential difference is volt.
“If 1J of work is done on one coulomb charge between two points keeping the equilibrium, the
potential difference is 1V”
1V = 1J/1C

 Absolute electric potential at a distance ‘r’ from source is given as;

1 q
V(r) =
4πε o r
 Absolute potential at a point due to collection of point charges is given as;
1 n qi
V= 
4πε o i=1 ri
 ECG records the voltage between points on human skin generated by electrical process in the heart
while EEG records that by brain.
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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
EQUIPOTENTIAL SURFACES

Definition
The surface on which electric potential is same at each of its points is called equipotential surface.
Example
Surface of the charged hollow sphere containing point charge at its center
Characteristics of Equipotential Surfaces
(i) They do not intersect.
(ii) Potential difference between two points on equipotential surface is zero.
(iii) No work is done to move a point charge on an equipotential surface.
(iv) Work is done when point charge is moved from one equipotential surface to another.
ELECTRON VOLT
Definition
The amount of energy acquired or lost by an electron as it traverses a potential difference of one volt.
 1eV = 1.6x10-19J and 1J = 6.25x1018 eV
 It is the unit of energy specially used for atomic particles.
COMPARISON OF GRAVITATIONAL AND ELECTROSTATIC FORCES
Particulars Gravitational force Electrostatic force
1 q1q 2
Formula Fg = Gm1m2/r2 Fe =
4πε o r 2
Range Infinite infinite
1
Symbol of constant G k=
4πε o
Value of constant Very small Fairly large
Nature Always attractive Attractive or repulsive
Dependence Medium independent Medium dependent
Relative strength Weak: can be felt with massive object Strong at close range
MILLIKAN’S METHOD FOR ELECTRON’S CHARGE
 Atomizer sprays oil droplets
 The droplet between the two plates could be suspended in air if the gravitational force Fg = mg
acting downward on the droplet is equal to the electrical force Fe = qE acting upward. qE = mg
V mgd
and E ,  q
d V
 The terminal velocity is determined by timing the fall of the droplet over a measured distance.
Minimum quantum charge is of electron i.e. 1.6x10 -19C
CAPACITOR & CAPACITANCE
 Capacitor is a device used for storing electric charge and electrical energy.
 Charge stored by capacitor is given as; Q = CV
Where C is capacitance of capacitor
 Capacitance is defined as: Ability of a capacitor to store charge. OR
“The ratio of charge stored to the potential difference between plates of capacitor.”
Q
Mathematically, C
V

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
 SI unit of capacitance is farad.
 1 farad is defined as;
The capacitance of a capacitor is one farad if a charge of one coulomb, given to one of the plates
of a parallel plate capacitor, produces a potential difference of one volt
1C
between them. 1F =
1V
 Capacitance does not depend upon charge and voltage of battery.
 Area under Q-V graph give energy stored by capacitor.
 Slope of Q-V graph equal to capacitance of capacitor.
 Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor with air between its plates is given as;
A
Cvac = εo
d
The above expression shows that:
 As we increase the area of plate the capacitance will increase.
 Decreasing the distance between plates will increase the capacitance.
 Introducing a dielectric between the plates will increase the capacitance of the capacitor.
 Capacitance of an isolated charge sphere of radius R is C  4o R .
 Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with dielectric between its plate is given as;
A
Cmed   r o   r Cvac so Cmed > Cvac
d
Dielectric Co-Efficient or Dielectric Constant
Definition
The ratio of the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with an insulating substance as medium
between the plates to its capacitance with vacuum (or air) as medium between them.
C
ε r = med
C vac
 Charging of capacitor is due to electrostatic induction phenomenon.
 Old name of capacitor is condenser.

Types of Capacitor

(i) Parallel plate capacitor

(ii) Spherical capacitor
(iii) Miniature capacitor
(iv) Tubular capacitor
(v) Paper capacitor
(vi) Electrolytic capacitor
(vii) Variable capacitor

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
COMBINATIONS OF CAPACITORS
SERIES GROUPING PARALLEL GROUPING
 Capacitors are said to be connected in series  The capacitors are said to be connected in
between two points when we can proceed from parallel between any two points if we
one point to the other only through one path. proceed from one point to the other along
OR different paths. OR
 In series grouping charge on each capacitor  In parallel grouping potential difference across
remains same and equals to the main charge each capacitor remains same and equal to the
supplied by the battery but potential difference applied potential difference while charge on
across them may or may not be same. them may or may not be same.
 Charge on each capacitor remains same and  Potential difference across each capacitor
voltage divide across each capacitor remains same and charge divide across each
V = V1 +V2 + V3 capacitor Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3

 Equivalent capacitance
Ceq  C1  C2  C3
  C11  C21  C31 
1 1 1 1 1
   or
Ceq C1 C2 C3 Ceq
 In series combination potential difference and  In parallel combination charge and energy
energy distribution is in the reverse ratio of distributes in the ratio of capacitance
1 1 i.e. Q  C and P.E  C
capacitance, i.e., V  and P.E 
C C
 If two capacitors having capacitance C1 and C2  If two capacitors having capacitance C1 and
are connected in series then C2 are connected in series then
C1C2 Ceq  C1  C2
Ceq 
C1  C2
 If n identical capacitors each having  If n identical capacitors are connected in
capacitances C are connected in series with parallel Ceq = nC
supplied voltage V then equivalent capacitance
C
Ceq 
n

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
ELECTRIC POLARIZATION
Polarization is a phenomenon of appearance of opposite charges on surface of a material subjected to
electric field.
 Polarization charges are called induced charges
 Dipole is a set of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance ‘r.’

 Some substance are polar i.e. they have permanent dipoles e.g. in NaCl, the end with Na ion is
positive while that with Cl ion is negative.
 Some substances are non-polar i.e. they do not have permanent dipoles e.g. plastic. They become
polarized temporarily when subjected to external field.
 Polar molecules experience torque when subjected to uniform electric field but zero net force. In non-
uniform electric field it also experiences net force in addition to torque.
DIELECTRICS
 Dielectrics are non-polar insulators.
 Polarized dielectrics produce electric field opposite to the applied electric field.
 Molecular view of a polarized dielectric (in case of capacitors) is shown below;

; k = r
It shows that a static equilibrium exists within the dielectric.
Effect of Dielectrics on Various Electrical Quantities
F = F / r (decreases)
E = E / r (decreases) Value of εr for all dielectrics is greater
than 1 except for air
V = V / r (decreases)
C = C r (increases)
Q =Q (same)
Effect of Polarization on Capacitance
 The electric polarization of dielectric increases the capacitance.
 The electrons in the dielectric (insulator) remain bounded to their respective atoms. They are just
displaced from their normal positions.
 The molecules of the dielectric under the action of electric field become diploes and dielectric is
polarized.
 As E = б/Єo, so electric field between capacitor plates decreases due to polarization of dielectric.
 Decrease in E decreases the potential difference because V = Ed.
 As a result capacitance increases

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
ENERGY STORED IN A CAPACITOR
 Charge on the plate of capacitor possesses electrical potential energy because of the work done to
deposit the charge on the plates.
1
 P.E = qV
2
2
1 2 1q
Energy in capacitor = CV =  For D.C, capacitor behaves as
2 2 C
open circuit.
 Energy is stored in electric field between the plates.
 For A.C, capacitor behaves as
1  A r o 
 Ed 
2
 Energy =  closed circuit.
2  d 
1
 Energy Density =Energy/volume = ЄrЄoE2
2
CHARGING AND DISCHARGING A CAPACITOR
 D.C supply stores charges on the plate
 A.C supply does not store charge
 Charging and discharging time depends upon product of R & C
Time Constant
t=RC
Its unit is ‘s’ i.e. second.
 Time constant is defined as the time required by a capacitor to charge up to 0.63 times the
equilibrium charge on the capacitor.
 Charge reaches its equilibrium value sooner when time constant is smaller.
 Windshield wipers of car work by charging and discharging of capacitor.

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics

EXERCISE
(1) A charge q1 exerts some force on a second charge q2 . If third charge q3 is brought near, the
force of q1 exerted on q2 :
(a) increases (b) zero
(c) decreases (d) remains unchanged
(2) Two charges are placed at a certain distance apart in air. When a metallic sheet is placed
between them, the electrostatic force between them will.
(a) decrease (b) increase
(c) remain unchanged (d) become zero
(3) The minimum charge on any object cannot be less than_____________
(a) 1.6x10-19C (b) 3.2x10-19C
(c) 9.1x109C (d) no definite value exist
(4) Four charges are arranged at the corners of a square ABCD, as shown in the adjoining figure.
The force on the charge kept at the centre O is:

(a) zero (b) along the diagonal BD

(c) along the diagonal AC (d) perpendicular to side AB
(5) When air is replaced by a dielectric medium of constant k, the maximum force of attraction
between two charges separated by a distance
(a) decreases k times (b) remains unchanged
(c) increases k times (d) increases k−1 times
(6) Four capacitors, each of capacitance 50  F are connected as shown in Fig below. If the
voltmeter reads 100 V, the charge on each capacitor is.

(a) 2×10-3C (b) 5×10-3C

(c) 0.2C (d) 0.5C
(7) The force per unit charge is known as ______________
(a) electric flux (b) electric intensity
(c) electric potential (d) all of above are same
(8) Two small conducting spheres of equal radius have charges +10μCand −20μC respectively and
placed at a distance R from each other experience force F1. If they are brought in contact and
separated to the same distance, they experience force F2. The ratio of F1 to F2
(a) 1 : 8 (b) - 8 : 1
(c) 1 : 2 (d) - 2 : 1
(9) Uncharged capacitor is connected in a series with resistor, switch and a battery. When switch is closed
the potential drop across resistor
(a) remain same (b) initially maximum then decreases to zero
(c) become zero then increase maximum (d) remain zero

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(10) Two charges placed in air repel each other by a force of 10 −4N. When oil is introduced between
the charges, the force becomes 2.5×10 −5N. The dielectric constant of oil is
(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 2 (d) 0.25
(11) Two charges each equal to 2μC are 0.5m apart. If both of them exist inside vacuum, then the
force between them is
(a) 2.44 N (b) 0.144 N
(c) 1.89 N (d) 3.144 N
(12) Electric flux linked with a surface will be maximum when  =?
(a) 600 (b) 900
0
(c) 30 (d) 00
(13) Two capacitor of capacitances 1 F and 2F are connected in series with a D.C source of 300 volt.
Charge stored by each capacitor
(a) 100 C, 200 C (b) 200 C, 100 C
(c) 200 C, 200 C (d) 100 C, 100 C
(14) The electric lines of force are _____________
(a) imaginary (b) physically existing every where
(c) physically existing near the charges (d) depends upon case
(15) Two point charges +3μC and +8μC repel each other with a force of 40N. If a charge of -5μC is
added to each other of them, then the force between them will become
(a) -20N (b) +20N
(c) +10N (d) -10N
(16) A capacitor of capacitance C has charge Q and stored energy is W. If the charge is increase to
2Q. The stored energy will be
(a) W/4 (b) W/2
(c) 2W (d) 4W
(17) A hollow metal sphere of radius 5 cm is charged so that the potential on its surface is 10 V.
The potential at the center of the sphere is
(a) 10 V (b) same as at point 5 cm away from the surface
(c) 0 V (d) same as at point 25 cm away from the surface
(18) The variation of electric potential due to a point charge with distance is represented by the
graph (where V along y-axis and r along x-axis)

(a) (b) (c) (d)

(19) An electron of charge e is introduced between two metal plates a distance d apart.
A potential difference V is applied to the plates as shown in the diagram.

Which expression gives the electric force F on the electron?

eV
(a) (b) eVd
d
V dV
(c) (d)
ed e

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(20) The energy stored per unit volume in an electric field of strength E volt/meter in a medium of dielectric
constant K (in Joule/metre3) is:
1 1
(a)  0 E 2 (b) K  0 E 2
2 2
1  E 2
1
(c) . 0 (d) K 2 02 E
2 K 2
(21) Figure shows the electric lines of force emerging from a charged body. If the electric field at A
and B are EA and EB respectively and if the displacement between A and B is r then

(a) EA < EB (b) EA = EB

(c) EA > EB (d) none of these
(22) Which diagram represents the electric fields of a negative point charge, shown by.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

(23) The energy stored between the plates of a capacitor is not represented by
CV 2
(a) U= (b) U = 2qV
2
q2 qV
(c) U= (d) U=
2C 2
(24) A charge of 2C experiences a force 2000N in a uniform electric field. In this field the potential
difference between two points separated by a distance 1cm is
(a) 2V (b) 5V
(c) 10 V (d) 20V
(25) A 5 μF capacitor has a potential difference across its plates is 200 volts. The charge on the
capacitor is
(a) 2.5x10-8 C (b) 10-3 C
3
(c) 10 C (d) 4x103 C
(26) Equal amount of charge is given to two sphere A and B of radii 2cm and 3cm respectively. The potential
VA and VB
(a) VA = VB (b) VA < VB
(c) VA > VB
(d) depend upon number of material of sphere
(27) Equivalent capacitance is greater than individual capacitances in
(a) series combination (b) parallel combination
(c) both series and parallel combinations (d) none of above

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(28) If the distance between the plates of parallel plates condenser is increased, its potential will
(a) remain same (b) increase
(c) decrease (d) decreases exponentially
(29) The number of electrons in one coulomb charge is equal to
(a) 6.2 x 1018 (b) 1.6 x 10-19
(c) 6.2 x 1021 (d) 1.6 x 10-27
(30) The amount of work done in joule in carrying a charge +q along the closed path PQRSP between the
oppositely charged metal plates is (where E is electric field between the plates)

(a) Zero (b) q

q
(c) qE  PQ  QR  SR  SP  (d)
0
(31) The graph shows the growth of charge with potential difference between plates. The area under the
graph shows

(a) capacitance (b) separation of plates

(c) energy stored (d) electric intensity
(32) Value of εr for various dielectrics is always
(a) less than unity (b) equal to unity
(c) larger than unity (d) no hard and fast rule
(33) The leaves of a positively charged electroscope diverge more when an object is brought near the
knob of the electroscope. The object must be:
(a) an insulator (b) a conductor
(c) negatively charged (d) positively charged
(34) Two thin infinite parallel plates have uniform charge densities +  and - . The electric field in
the space between them is
(a) /2ε0 (b) /ε0
(c)  (d) zero
(35) In the electric field of a point charge q, a certain charge is carried from point A to B, C, D and
E. Then the work done

(a) is least along the path AB

(b) is zero along all the paths AB, AC, AD and AE
(c) is least along AE
(d) is least along the path AD

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(36) A hollow metal sphere of radius 6 cm is charged such as the potential on its surface is 40V. The
potential at the centre of sphere is
(a) Zero (b) 40 V
(c) 25 V (d) 50 V
(37) A charge particle is free to move in an electric field. It will travel
(a) along a line of force, if it has some initial velocity in the direction of an acute angle with the
line of force
(b) always along a line of force
(c) along a line of force, if its initial velocity is zero
(d) none of these
(38) An uncharged sphere of metal is placed in between two charged plates as shown. The lines of
force look like

(a) C (b) A
(c) D (d) B
(39) The intensity of electric field required to balance a proton of mass 1.7×10 −27kg and
charge1.6×10−19 C is nearly
(a) 1×10−7 V/m (b) 1×10−5 V/m
(c) 1×107 V/m (d) 1×105 V/m
(40) Two plates are 2cm apart, a potential difference of 10 volt is applied between them, the electric
field between the plates is
(a) 20 N/C (b) 500N/C
(c) 5N/C (d) 250 N/C
(41) Two identical metal balls with charges +2Q and –Q are separated by some distance, and exert a
force F on each other. They are joined by a conducting wire, which is then removed. The force
between them will now be
(a) F (b) F/2
(c) F/4 (d) F/8
(42) A particle A has charge +q and a particle B has charge +4q with each of them having the same
mass m. When allowed to fall from rest through the same electric potential difference, the ratio
of their speed vA/vB will become
(a) 1:2 (b) 1:4
(c) 2:1 (d) 4:1
(43) What would happen to the electrostatic force between a pair of charged particles if both charges
were doubled and the distance between them were also doubled?
(a) It would decrease by a factor of 4 (b) It would decrease by a factor of 2
(c) It would remain unchanged (d) It would increase by a factor of 2.
(44) A charge of 5C experiences a force of 5000N when it is kept in a uniform electric field. What is
the potential difference between two points separated by a distance of 1cm
(a) 250 V (b) 2500V
(c) 1000V (d) 10V
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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(45) Two charges 1 C and 5 C separated by 20 cm, the ratio of electric forces acting on them will
be:
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1:1
(c) 1:5 (d) 5:1
(46) In bringing an electron towards the second electron the electrostatic potential of the system
(a) increases (b) remains the same
(c) decreases (d) becomes zero
(47) A capacitor is charged by using a battery which is then disconnected. A dielectric slab is then
slipped between the plates, which results in
(a) reduction of charge on the plates and increase of potential difference across the plates
(b) increase in the potential difference across the plate, reduction in stored energy, but no
change in the charge on the plates
(c) decrease in the potential difference across the plates, reduction in the stored energy, but no
change in the charge on the plates
(d) none of the above
(48) An-α-particle is accelerated through a potential difference of 10 6 V. Its K.E will be
(a) 1 MeV (b) 2MeV
(c) 4 MeV (d) 8MeV
(49) Unit of energy density of electric field is:
(a) JC-1 (b) Jm-3
(c) JV -1 (d) JF-3
(50) Two charge +q and –q are situated at a certain distance. At the point exactly midway between
them
(a) electric field and potential both are zero
(b) electric field is zero but potential is not zero
(c) electric field is not zero but potential is zero
(d) electric field is not zero but potential is zero
(51) Each capacitor has capacitance C in the fig. Find CAB.

(a) C (b) 2C
C 3c
(c) (d)
2 2
(52) Coulomb’s law applicable for______
(a) any two charges (b) point charges
(c) both (d) none
(53) Two charged sphere of radius 10 cm and 15 cm are connected by a thin wire. No current will
flow, if they have
(a) the same charge on each (b) the same potential on each
(c) the same energy (d) the same field on their surface

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(54) Three charges 2q,-q,-q are located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. At the center of the
triangle.
(a) the field is zero but potential is non-zero (b) the field is non-zero but potential is zero
(c) both field and potential are zero (d) both field and potential are non-zero
(55) An external agency carries ‘–5 C’ of charge from infinity to a point in an electrostatic field and
performs 100 joule of work. The potential at the given point is
(a) 10 V (b) 20 V
(c) –10 V (d) –20 V
(56) A tin nucleus has charge + 50e. If the proton is at a distance 10 –12 m from the nucleus, then the
potential V at this position is [charge on the proton = 1.6×10 –19C]
(a) 14.4×104 volt (b) 7.2×108 volt
4
(c) 7.2×10 volt (d) 14.4×108 volt
(57) A dielectric slab of dielectric constant K = 5 is covered from all sides with a metallic foil. This
system is introduced into the space of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance of 10 pF. The
slab fills almost the entire space between the plates, but does not touch the plates. The
capacitance will become nearly
(a) infinity (b) 2 pF
(c) zero (d) 50 pF
(58) A parallel plate condenser is immersed in an oil of dielectric constant 2. The field between the
plates is
1
(a) increased proportional to 2 (b) decreases proportional to
2
1
(c) increased proportional to 2 (d) decreased proportional to
2
(59) Four charges 2C, –3C, –4C and 5C respectively are placed at all the corners of a square. Which
of the following statements is true for the point of intersection of the diagonals?
(a) Electric field is zero but electric potential is non-zero
(b) Electric field non-zero but electric potential is zero
(c) Both electric field and electric potential are zero
(d) Neither electric field nor electric potential is zero
(60) Two charges are placed at a certain distance. If the magnitude of each charge is doubled the
force will become
1 1
(a) th of its original value (b) th of its original value
4 8
(c) 4 times of original value (d) 8 times of its original value
ANSWER KEY

1 d 11 b 21 c 31 c 41 d 51 c
2 d 12 b 22 b 32 c 42 a 52 b
3 a 13 c 23 b 33 d 43 c 53 b
4 b 14 a 24 c 34 b 44 d 54 b
5 a 15 d 25 b 35 b 45 b 55 d
6 b 16 d 26 c 36 b 46 a 56 c
7 b 17 a 27 b 37 c 47 c 57 a
8 b 18 d 28 b 38 a 48 b 58 b
9 b 19 a 29 a 39 a 49 b 59 b
10 b 20 b 30 a 40 b 50 c 60 c
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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics

SOLUTION
(1)
kq1q2
The force will still remain same by the relation F 
r2
Fvac
(2) Fmed 
r
r   for metals
Fmetal  0
(3) The minimum charge on an object is equal to 1.6 1019 C because q = ne
(4) We put a unit positive charge at O. Resultant force due to the charge placed at A and C is zero
and resultant force due to B and D is towards D along the diagonal BD
(5)
1 q1q2
Fair 
4 o r 2
1 q1q2
Fmed 
4 o k r 2
Fair
 Fmed 
k
(6) Q = CV   50 106  100 
 50 104  5 103 C
(7) E = F/Q
(8)

(9) As capacitor charge, V across resistor decreases

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(10)

(11)

(12) For maximum flux surface making angle 90° with electric field for vector area making angle 0°
with electric field
CC
(13) Q=Ceq V= 1 2 V
C1  C2
2
Q = ×10-6×300 = 200μ C
3
(14)
(15)

Q2
(16) W=
2C
W  Q2
(17) Since potential inside the hollow sphere is same as that on the surface.
kq 1
(18) V=  V 
r r
W W
(19) V 
q e
eV
Ve  Fe d  Fe 
d
E 1
(20)    o r E 2
V 2
Here  r  k
1
 k o E 2
2
(21) In non-uniform electric field. Intensity is more, where the lines are more denser,
(22) For negative charge electric field lines directed radially inward.

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
1
(23) U= CV 2
2
1
U= CV.V
2
1 Q
U= QV V=
2 C
Q2
U=
2C
F
(24) ΔV=d.E  d
q
10-2×2000
= =10V
2
(25) Q  CV  5 106  200  103 C
kq 1
(26) V V 
r r
(27) For parallel Ceq  C1  C2  C3  ......Cn
(28)
V  Ed
E  constant
Hence,
V d
(29) Q  ne
1 1
ne  1  n   19
 6.25 1018
e 1.6 10
(30) Electric field is conservative field so work done in closed path is zero
1
(31) E  QV  Area of Q & V  energy
2
(32) r 1 always
(33) When positive charge brought near to gold leaf electroscope then separation between leaves
increases.

(34) For capacitor E 
o
(35) ABCDE is an equipotential surface, on equipotential surface no work is done in shifting a
charge from one place to another
V
(36) E
d
Here surface are equipotential so V  0 so
Vout  Vinside  10V
(37) Because E points along the tangent to the lines of force. If initial velocity is zero, then due to the
force, it always moves in the direction of E. Hence will always move on some lines of force.
(38) Electric lines of force never intersect the conductor. They are perpendicular and slightly curved
near the surface of conductor.

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(39)

(40)

(41) When the two balls are connected by a conducting wire, the net charge is (2Q – Q) i.e Q. Since,
the balls are identical therefore charge Q gets shared equally between the two balls.
Now, F  2Q2 -----(i)
2
Q
F    ----(ii)
2
Dividing (ii) by (i), we get
F Q 2 1 1
  2
F 4 2Q 8
F
F 
8
(42)

(43) Applying Coulomb’s law, we see that the electric force will not change.

(44)

F12 1
(45) F12  F21  
F21 1
(46)  V  P.E 
(47)

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FUNG Assignment Series Ch 12: Electrostatics
(48)
K.E  qV
where q   2e
K.E   2e  106 V   2 106 eV
 2MeV
energy
(49) Energy density=
volume
(50)

C
(51) It is a balanced Wheatstone bridge. Hence Ceq 
2
(52) Coulombs law is for point charges.
(53) Charge flow due to potential difference.
(54) E0

2kq qk
V2 q  , V q 
r r
V  V2 q  V q  V q
V 0
W 100
(55) V  volt  20 volt
q 5
kq 9 109  50 1.6 1019
(56) V  12
 7.2 104V
r 10
(57) Metal shield is like K  
Cmed  KCvac      Cvac  
E E
(58) Emed  air 
K 2
Kq Kq Kq Kq q q q q 
(59) V  1  2  3  4  K 1  2  3  4 
r1 r2 r3 r4 r r r r 
 2 3 4 5
(60) V  9 109       0
r r r r
Kq1q2
F
r2

Department of Physics STEM 235