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Chapter wise Notes by: Mr.

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Naveed Atif
Chapter # 13: Electrostatics
Q#1. Define electrostatics.
Ans: The branch of physics that deals with the study of static charges is called
electrostatics.
Q#2: What is charge?
Ans: It is the property of a material due to which it can attract or repel another material.
Q.3: How an object can be charged by rubbing?
(Ans) Charging by rubbing
A body can be charged by rubbing it with another body. It is because some electrons
from the surface of one body transferred to the surface of other body during rubbing.
For example
When a comb is rubbed with hair, the hair loses an electron and becomes positively
charge while the comb gain electron and becomes negatively charge.
Q.4: What is meant by electrostatic induction?
(Ans) Electrostatic induction
The rearrangement of charges inside a neutral body when a charged body is brought
closer to it is called electrostatic induction. This new arrangement of charges is
temporary and will regain original after the removal of charged body. Electrostatic
induction can take place in both conductors and insulators.
Q#5: What is Electroscope?
Ans: A sensitive device used for the detection and testing of charge is called
Electroscope.
Q#6: State Coulombs law?
(Ans) Statement
This law states that the force of attraction or repulsion between the two charges is
directly proportional to the product of the magnitude of charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between the charges.
F=k q1q2 / r2
Q#7: What is meant by electric field and electric field intensity?
(Ans) Electric field
The region around a charge body in which it can interact another charge is known as
electric field. It is a vector quantity. It is represented by electric lines of force.
Electric field intensity
The strength of the field at any point is known as electric field intensity.
It can also be defined as the electric force exerted per unit positive test charge is
known as electric field intensity. It is denoted by E. It is a vector quantity.
Mathematically
E = k q / r2
This equation shows the electric field intensity of a point charge q.
The SI unit of electric field intensity is Newton/coulomb (N/C).

Chapter wise Notes by: Mr.

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Naveed Atif
Q#8: What are electric lines of force? Describe its characteristics.
(Ans) Eectric lines of force
An electric line of force in general shows the path through which an electric charge
would move. The direction of the lines shows the direction of the field. The number of
electric lines per unit area represents the intensity of the field.
General characteristics of the electric lines of force are as under:
A positive charge always emits lines of force.
A negative charge always absorb lines of force.
W
hen two opposite charges are placed nearer, then the lines of force start from the
positive charge and ends at negative charge. As a result, they attract each other.
Q#9: Define and explain electric potential and its unit?
(Ans) Electric potential
The work done on a unit positive charge to move it from one place to another against
the electric field is called electric potential. It is denoted by V. Mathematically
V=W/q
Potential difference
The work done on a unit positive charge to move it from point A to point B against
the electric field is called potential difference. OR
The energy supplied by a unit positive charge as it moves from a point of higher
potential to a point of lower potential is called potential difference.
Q#10: Write the practical applications of electrostatics.
(Ans) The practical applications of electrostatics are as under:
(1) Electropainting
Electrostatics is used in applying paint on the surface of different articles. The body of
the car is earthed. The particles of the paint emerge out of the nozzle of the spray
machine, they aquire a positive charge. As they reached to the body of the car due to
electrostatic induction negative induced on the body of the car. As a result, an
electrostatic force established and firm coating of the paint is formed on the surface of
the car. This method is efficient, effective and cheap.
(2) Dust extraction
Electrostatics is used for the separation of smoke and dust particles from a coal-burning
power station by means of an electroastatic precipitator.
Q.10 What is a capacitor? Describe the capacitance of a capacitor.
(Ans) Capacitor
A device used to store an electric charge is called capacitor.
Construction
A capacitor consists of two parallel metallic plates having a small distance between
them. The medium inside the plates is air or some other insulating material known as
dielectric.
Charging a capacitor

Chapter wise Notes by: Mr.

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Naveed Atif
Consider a charge +Q is transferred to plate A, then by electrostatic induction a -Q
charge is induced on plate B.
A force of attraction is established between the
plates due to which the charges are bound with the
plates and remain stored for long period.
Capacitance of a capacitor
The capacity of a capacitor to store charge is called
capacitance of the capacitor.
Experiments show that the charge store in a
capacitor is directly proportion to the potential
difference across the plates of the capacitor.
Mathematically
Q = Constant V
Q = CV
Where C is costant and is known as capacitance of the capacitor. The SI unit of
capacitance of a capacitor is farad (F).
Farad
It can be defined as the capacitance of a capacitor is one farad if one coulomb charge
is stored by the capacitor providing a potential difference of one volt to their plates.
Q.11 How capacitors can be connected in a circuit?
(Ans) There are two basic ways of connecting capacitors in a circuit.
1. Series combination
A type of combination of two or more than two capacitors in
which the capacitors are connected plate to plate is called
series combination of the capacitors.
2. Parallel combination of capacitor
A type of combination of two or more than two capacitors in which
the plates of the capacitors are connected parallel to each other as
shown in figure is called parallel combination of capacitors.
Q.12 Write different types of capacitors.
(Ans) There are two types of capacitors.
1. Fixed capacitors
2. Variable capacitors
1. Fixed capacitors
Those capacitors whose parts are fixed by design and its plates are immovable is called
fixed capacitors. The capacitance of these capacitors does not change (constant).
Examples of these capacitors are paper capacitors and mica capacitors.
2. Variable capacitors
A type of capacitors whose area of the plates can be changed is called variable
capacitors. The capacitance of these capacitors can be changed by increasing or
decreasing the area between the plates. For example
The capacitors used in tuning of a radio frequency.

Chapter wise Notes by: Mr.

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Naveed Atif
SHORT QUESTIONS (EXERCISE)
Q#1: An electrified rod attracts pieces of paper. After a while these pieces fly
away! Why?
Ans:
When electrified rod is brought close to the pieces of paper, by induction an opposite
charge appear on pieces of paper due to which these pieces of paper attracted towards
the rod. But when these pieces of paper touches the charged rod, charge of rod transfer
to the pieces of paper due to which the will be force of repulsion between the rod and
pieces of paper, hence te pieces of paper fly away from the rod.
Q#2: How much negative charge has been removed from a positively charged
electroscope if it has a charge of 7.5 * 10-11 C?
Ans: An electroscope is charged positively means the negative charges are removed
from the electroscope. So, if we remove 2 C charge from electroscope and it is
positively charged means we remove 2 C (-ive) charge from the electroscope to charge
it positively of equal amount i-e 2 C. Hence if an electroscope is charged of an 7.5 * 1011
C positive charge means we have to remove equal amount of negative charge from
electroscope.
Q#3: In What direction will a positively charged particle move in an electric field?
Ans: The whole phenomena depends upon source of electric field if source is positive
charge then electric field will repels and if source charge is negative it attracts the
positively charged particle.
Q#4: Does each capacitor carry equal charge in series combination? Explain.
Ans: Each capacitor has the same charge across series combination because
capacitors are connected side by side so, if battery supply +Q to C 1 due to induction Q
charge is induced on C2. So, total charge remains same.
Q#5: Each capacitor in parallel combination has equal potential difference
between its two plates. Justify the statement.
Ans: In parallel combination potential applied to each capacitor is same so, the
potential difference across capacitor is also same because of direct connection of
capacitor and battery.
Q#6: Is the presence of charge is necessary for the existence of electrostatic
potential?
Ans: Yes, presence of charge is necessary for the existence of electrostatic potential.
Q#7: Rubber tires get charged from friction with road. What is the polarity of the
charge?
Ans: When friction takes place between rubber and road, charge is produced. Then the
rubber become negatively charged and road becomes positively charged.
Q#8: Perhaps you have seen a gasoline truck trailing a metal chain beneath it.
What purpose does the chain serve?
Ans: When the fuel is pumped from the truck to reservoir charge can quickly build up
due to fluid flow. This static charge can create sparks that can cause explosion. So, the

Chapter wise Notes by: Mr.

Expected short questions from theory and exercise
Naveed Atif
metal chain is used since metals are conductors and allow charge to flow in this way ,
by connecting it to ground whole charge transfers to ground.
Q#9: If a high voltage power line fell across your car while you were in the car,
why should you not come out of the car?
Ans: As the tires of the car are totally behaves as insulator so, when a high voltage
power line fell across your car it becomes Faraday cage so, you are perfectly safe
inside. But when you try to come out, you provides a way to current to pass out from
you.
Q#10: Explain why, a glass rod can be charged by rubbing when held by hand but
an iron rod cannot be charged by rubbing, if held by hand?
Ans: The work function of iron is very high so, it doesnt take electrons easily. Also iron
is a good conductor so, it cant take charge because when you apply charge the
electrons in iron flow away.
But the glass is not conductor and it stores a charge for few moments.
1. Why is it not good to seek shelter under a tree during a lightning storm?
A. it is not a good idea to seek shelter under a tree during a lightning storm. Because
when the charge clouds pass over a tree, then an opposite charge is induced on the
tree due to electrostatic induction. The force of attraction is established between the
tree and clouds due to which there is a greater possibility for the lightning discharge to
take place.
2. Define the term volt?
A. Volt is the SI unit of potential difference. It can be defined as if 1 joule work is done
on a charge body of 1 coulomb to move it from one point to another against the electric
field. Mathematically
1 Volt = 1 Joule / 1 Coulomb
3. Why electric charge is produced on bodies by friction?
A. Electric charge is produced on bodies by friction. Because when two bodies rubbed
with each other, transferred of charges occur. As a result, charges are produced on the
objects. For example
When a glass rod is rubbed with silk. The glass rod loses electrons and the silk gain
these electrons. The glass becomes positively charged, while the silk becomes
negatively charged.
4. A chain is hanging from the rear side of petrol supply tanker. What is its
purpose?
A. When the petrol supply tanker moves on a road, charge may be induced on its body
due to friction. To avoid these charges a chain is made to hang from the rear side of
petrol supply tanker. This chain works like earth wire and supply these charges to the
earth.