Q1.

A capacitor is charged to a potential V and then connected to an uncharged capacitor of the

same capacitance. The final energy of the system is:
A. Equal to the initial energy
B. Half of the initial energy
C. Double the initial energy
D. Zero
Ans: B

Q2. Which of the following graphs best represents the variation of electric field E with distance r
from a uniformly charged conducting sphere?
A. Linear increasing
B. Constant inside and ∝ 1/r² outside
C. Inversely proportional to r inside and outside
D. Zero everywhere
Ans: B

Q3. The drift velocity of free electrons is of the order of:

A. 10⁻¹ m/s
B. 10⁻⁴ m/s
C. 10² m/s
D. 10⁵ m/s
Ans: B

Q4. Two capacitors C₁ = 2μF and C₂ = 4μF are connected in series. The total energy stored when
connected to a 12V source is:
A. 96 μJ
B. 64 μJ
C. 48 μJ
D. 24 μJ
Ans: C

Q5. Which combination gives rise to maximum power transfer to the external load?
A. Load resistance = internal resistance of cell
B. Load resistance → 0
C. Load resistance → ∞
D. Load resistance < internal resistance
Ans: A

SECTION B – Assertion & Reason (1 mark × 5 = 5 marks)

(Choose the correct option)

• (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

 • (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

• (C) A is true but R is false.

• (D) A is false but R is true.

Q6.
Assertion (A): The electric field inside a hollow conducting sphere is zero.
Reason (R): Charges in a conductor reside on the outer surface.
Ans: A

Q7.
Assertion (A): Ohm’s law is a fundamental law in electricity.
Reason (R): It is valid for all conductors irrespective of temperature and material.
Ans: C

Q8.
Assertion (A): In an electric circuit, the current is same in all elements connected in series.
Reason (R): Charge is conserved and has only one path in series connection.
Ans: A

Q9.
Assertion (A): A capacitor blocks DC but allows AC.
Reason (R): The reactance of a capacitor is inversely proportional to frequency.
Ans: A

Q10.
Assertion (A): The electric potential is continuous across a charged conductor.
Reason (R): Electric potential changes discontinuously at the surface.
Ans: C

SECTION C – Short Answer Type (2 marks × 5 = 10 marks)

Q11. Derive the expression for energy stored in a capacitor and hence prove that the energy is
proportional to the square of the charge.

Q12. A parallel plate capacitor is charged by a battery. The battery is then disconnected, and the
plates are pulled apart slightly. Explain:
(a) What happens to the capacitance
(b) What happens to the energy stored

Q13. State and prove Kirchhoff’s junction rule. Use it to derive an expression for current division in
parallel resistors.
Q14. A cell of emf 1.5V and internal resistance 0.5Ω is connected across a resistor of 2Ω.
(a) Find current drawn
(b) Terminal voltage of cell

Q15. Derive the formula for equivalent resistance when n resistors, each of resistance R, are
connected:
(a) In series
(b) In parallel

SECTION D – Long Answer / HOTS / Derivation (3 marks × 3 = 9 marks)

Q16. Derive the expression for electric field at a point on the axial line of an electric dipole. State
conditions for:
(a) Point near the dipole
(b) Point far from dipole

Q17. Derive an expression for drift velocity of electrons in a conductor in terms of electric field and
relaxation time. Use it to explain Ohm’s Law microscopically.

Q18. A 10 μF capacitor is charged to 100V. It is then connected to an uncharged 20 μF capacitor.

(a) Find final common voltage
(b) Energy loss
(c) Reason for energy loss

SECTION E – Case Study Based (4 marks)

Q19. Case Study:

A Wheatstone Bridge Experiment

A student performs an experiment with four resistors P, Q, R, S connected in the form of a

Wheatstone bridge. The galvanometer shows zero deflection for P = 100Ω, Q = 200Ω, and R = 150Ω.

Answer the following:

(i) What must be the value of S for bridge to be balanced?

(ii) Write the condition of balance in a Wheatstone bridge.
(iii) If a galvanometer shows deflection, what does it indicate?
(iv) Name one practical application of Wheatstone bridge.

Ans:
(i) S = 300 Ω
(ii) P/Q = R/S
(iii) Bridge is not balanced.
(iv) Measurement of unknown resistance using Meter Bridge.
CBSE Class 12 Physics Practice Paper (PYQ-Based)

Electrostatics & Current Electricity (40 Marks)

Time Allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (1 × 5 = 5 marks)

1. The electric field at a point on the axis of an electric dipole at a distance r from its center is
proportional to:
a) 1/r
b) 1/r²
c) 1/r³
d) 1/r⁴
(CBSE 2022)

2. The SI unit of permittivity of free space (ε₀) is:

a) C²N⁻¹m⁻²
b) C²N⁻¹m⁻¹
c) C²N⁻¹m
d) C²N⁻²m⁻²
(CBSE 2023)

3. Which of the following is true for a metallic conductor at room temperature?

a) The resistance increases with temperature
b) The resistance decreases with temperature
c) The resistance is independent of temperature
d) None of these
(CBSE 2021)

4. In a circuit, if the length of a wire is doubled and its cross-sectional area is halved, its
resistance becomes:
a) Doubled
b) Halved
c) Four times
d) One-fourth
(CBSE 2020)

5. The potential difference between two points in a current-carrying conductor is 2 V. If 0.5 C

charge passes between the points, the work done is:
a) 1 J
b) 2 J
c) 0.5 J
d) 4 J
(CBSE 2019)

Section B: Very Short Answer (2 × 3 = 6 marks)

 6. Define electric flux. Write its SI unit.
(CBSE 2022)

7. What is the equivalent capacitance of two capacitors, 4 μF and 6 μF, connected in series?
(CBSE 2021)

8. State Ohm’s law. Draw the V-I graph for an ohmic conductor.
(CBSE 2020)

Section C: Short Answer (3 × 3 = 9 marks)

(Attempt any 3)

9. Derive the expression for the electric field at a point on the equatorial line of an electric
dipole.
(CBSE 2022)

10. A 10 Ω resistor is connected to a battery of emf 6 V and internal resistance 1 Ω. Calculate:

a) The current through the circuit
b) The terminal voltage of the battery
(CBSE 2021)

11. State Kirchhoff’s second law. Apply it to a closed circuit containing three resistors and a cell.
(CBSE 2023)

12. Explain the principle of Wheatstone bridge. How is it used to determine unknown
resistance?
(CBSE 2020)

Section D: Case-Based Question (1 × 4 = 4 marks)

13.

A parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates has a capacitance of 2 μF. It is connected to a
100 V battery. After the capacitor is fully charged, the battery is disconnected and a dielectric slab of
dielectric constant 5 is inserted between the plates.

a) What is the initial charge stored on the capacitor?

b) What is the new capacitance after inserting the dielectric?
c) What is the new potential difference across the plates?
d) How does the energy stored in the capacitor change?
(CBSE 2022, 2023)

Section E: Long Answer (5 × 2 = 10 marks)

(Attempt any 2)

14.
a) State Gauss’s law in electrostatics.
b) Using Gauss’s law, derive the expression for the electric field due to a uniformly charged thin
spherical shell at a point (i) outside and (ii) inside the shell.
(CBSE 2023, 2021)

15.

a) State Kirchhoff’s laws.

b) Using Kirchhoff’s laws, calculate the current in each branch of the following circuit:

• A cell of emf 12 V and internal resistance 1 Ω is connected in series with two resistors of 2 Ω
and 3 Ω.
(CBSE 2022, 2020)

16.

A cell of emf 1.5 V and internal resistance 0.5 Ω is connected to an external resistor of 4.5 Ω.
a) Calculate the current drawn from the cell.
b) Find the potential difference across the external resistor.
c) How much energy is supplied by the cell in 5 minutes?
(CBSE 2021, 2019)