ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

1. Two charged spheres of radii 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
(c) The same energy
(d) The same field on their surfaces
2. The electric potential 𝑉 at any point O (x, y, z all in metres) in space is given by
𝑉 = 4𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡. The electric field at the point (1𝑚, 0,2𝑚) in 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡/𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒 is
(a) 8 along negative 𝑋 −axis
(b) 8 along positive 𝑋 −axis
(c) 16 along negative 𝑋 −axis
(d) 16 along positive 𝑍 −axis
3. A hollow metal sphere of radius 5 cm is charged so that the potential on its surface
is 10 V. The potential at the centre of the sphere is
(a) 0 V (b) 10 V
(c) Same as at point 5 cm away from the surface
(d) Same as at point 25 cm away from the surface
4. Charges of + × 10 𝐶 are placed at each of the four corners of a square of side
8𝑐𝑚. The potential at the intersection of the diagonals is
(a) 150√2𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (b) 1500√2𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
(c) 900√2𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡 (d) 900𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
5. Three charges 2𝑞, −𝑞, −𝑞 are located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. At
the centre 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
6. Two spheres 𝐴and 𝐵 of radius 4𝑐𝑚 and 6𝑐𝑚 are given charges of 80𝜇𝑐 and
40𝜇𝑐respectively. If they are connected by a fine wire, the amount of charge
flowing from one to the other is
(a) 20𝜇𝐶from 𝐴to 𝐵 (b) 16𝜇𝐶 from 𝐴to 𝐵
(c) 32𝜇𝐶from 𝐵 to 𝐴 (d) 32𝜇𝐶 from 𝐴to 𝐵
7. A charge of 5𝐶 is given a displacement of 0.5𝑚. The work done in the process is
10𝐽. The potential difference between the two points will be
(a) 2𝑉 (b) 0.25𝑉
(c) 1𝑉 (d) 25𝑉
8. The electric potential 𝑉 is given as a function of distance 𝑥 (metre) by 𝑉 = (5𝑥 +
10𝑥 − 9)𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡. Value of electric field at 𝑥 = 1 is
(a) 20𝑉/𝑚 (b) 6𝑉/𝑚
(c) 11𝑉/𝑚 (d) −23𝑉/𝑚
 9. Two metal pieces having a potential difference of 800𝑉 are 0.02𝑚 apart
horizontally. A particle of mass 1.96 × 10 𝑘𝑔is suspended in equilibrium
between the plates. If 𝑒 is the elementary charge, then charge on the particle is

(a) 𝑒 (b) 3𝑒
(c) 6𝑒 (d) 8𝑒
10. Three charges 𝑄, +𝑞 and +𝑞 are placed at the vertices of a right-angled isosceles
triangle as shown. The net electrostatic energy of the configuration is zero if Q is
equal to
(a) Q
√

(b)
√
(c) −2𝑞
(d) +𝑞 +q +q
a

11. A thin spherical conducting shell of radius 𝑅 has a charge q. Another charge Q is
placed at the centre of the shell. The electrostatic potential at a point p a distance
from the centre of the shell is
( )
(a) (b)

(c) − (d) +

12. Each side of a square is 60cm long. Charges of –2, 3,-4 and 5C are placed at its
corners. Calculate the potential at the center of the square. [Ans. 4.2x104V]

13. Two point charges q1=+40x10-9C and q2= -30x10-9 C are 10 cm apart. Point A is
midway between them; point B is 8 cm from q1 and 6cm from q2. Find
(a) The potential at point A.
(b) The potential at point B.
Ans : a)1800V b) zero
14. The potential at a certain distance from a point charge is 600 volts, and the electric
field is 200 N/C.
a) What is the distance to the point charge?
b) What is the magnitude of the charge?
Ans a) 3m b) 2x10-7C
15. The electric field outside a charged long straight wire is given by E=1000/r v/m, and
is directed outwards. If two points are situated such that rA=0.2m and rB= 0.4 m find VA-VB.
(Ans +693 volts )
16. A charged oil droplet remain stationary when suspended between two parallel plates
20mm apart maintained at p.d of 500 V. Find the charge on the droplet if the mass of the
droplet is 2x10-4Kg.Take g=10ms-2 (Ans : 8x10-13C)
17. A charge Q is distributed over two concentric hollow spheres of radii r and R ( R>r) such
that the surface charge density is equal . Find the potential at the common center.
[Ans : (Q/40)(R+r)/(R2+r2)]
18. Two protons charges each having a speed of 106 m/s are far apart and approach each
other. What will be the closest distance between them?
[Ans. 1.33x10-13m]
19. A particle A has charge +q and particle B has charge +4q with each of them having the
same mass m. They are accelerated by the same potential difference. Find the ratio of
speeds vA/vB acquired by them. [Ans. ½]
20. A ball of mass 5gm and charge 10-7C moves from point A whose potential is 500v to a
point B whose potential is zero. If vA= 25cm/s, find vB?
(Ans : 28.8 cm/s)
21. A spherical drop carrying a charge of 3x10-10C, has a potential of 500V at its surface. If
two such drops combine to form a single spherical drop, what will be the potential at the
surface of this drop?
(Ans : 22/3x500 = 794 volts)
22. Three concentric spherical metallic shells A, B and C of radii a,b and c(a<b<c) have surface
charge densities σ,−σ and σ, respectively. If shells A and C are at the same potential, then find
the relation between the radii a,b and c.
Anc. 𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏

ANSWERS
1. (b) Because current flows from higher potential to lower potential.
2. (a) The electric potential 𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 4𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
→
Now 𝐸 = − 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 𝑘

Now = 8𝑥, = 0 and =0

→
Hence 𝐸 = −8𝑥𝚤̂, so at point (1m, 0, 2m)
→
𝐸 = −8𝚤̂𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡/𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒 or 8 along negative X-axis.
3. (b) Since potential inside the hollow sphere is same as that on the surface.
4. (b) Potential at the centre O, 𝑉 = 4 × . /√

where 𝑄 = × 10 𝐶 and 𝑎 = 8𝑐𝑚 = 8 × 10 𝑚

+q +q
A B

D +q C
+q
 ×
So 𝑉 = 5 × 9 × 10 × ×
= 1500√2𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
√

5. (b) Obviously, from charge configuration, at the centre electric field is non-zero.
Potential at the centre due to 2q charge 𝑉 =
2q

r r
E– q E2q E– q
–q –q

and potential due to – q charge

𝑉 =− (r = distance of centre point)

 Total potential 𝑉 = 𝑉 + 𝑉 + 𝑉 =0

6. (d) Total charge 𝑄 = 80 + 40 = 120𝜇𝐶. By using the formula 𝑄 ′ = 𝑄 . New

charge on sphere A is 𝑄 = 𝑄 = 120 = 48𝜇𝐶. Initially it was 80𝜇𝐶
i.e., 32𝜇𝐶 charge flows from A to B.
7. (a) Since 𝑊 = 𝑞𝑉  20 = 5  V  V = 2 volts
8. (a) 𝐸 = − =− (5𝑥 + 10𝑥 − 9) = −10𝑥 − 10
 (𝐸) = −10 × 1 − 10 = −20𝑉/𝑚
9. (b) For equilibrium mg = qE
 1.96 × 10 × 9.8 = 𝑞 × .

. × × . × .
𝑞=

. × × . × .
 𝑛 × 1.6 × 10 =  n = 3.

10. (b) Net electrostatic energy 𝑈 = + + =0

√
⇒ 𝑄+𝑞+ =0𝑄=−
√ √

11. (d) Electric potential at P

. .
𝑉= /
+
q R
P
= + Q
R/ 2