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CONTENTS
VOL.2

Page
No.

Number of
Questions

18. Electrostatics

..957-1103 (863)

19.

Current Electricity

1104-1204 (606)

20.

Heating and Chemical Effect of Current

1205-1247

(302)

21.

Magnetic Effect f Current

1248-1326

(467)

22.

Magnetism.

.1327-1373

(319)

23.

Electromagnetic Induction

1374-1432 (393)

24.

Alternating Cur-ent

1433-1471 (239)

25.

Electron, Photoi, Photo-electric Effect and X-Rays

1472-1537

(509)

26.

Atomic and Nu lear Physics

1538-1632

(732)

27.

Electronics.

.1633-1715

(519)

28.

Communicatioi

29.

Ray Optics.

.1745-1867 (850)

30.

Wave Optics

.1868-1941

(482)

31.

Universe.

.1942-1956

(87)

1716-1744 (118)

* * * *
* * * * * *

Chapter

18
Electrostatics
Electric Charge

A charged body may attract a neutral body or an oppositely

charged body but it always repels similarly charged body. Hence,
repulsion is a sure test of electrification.
(5) Unit and dimensional formula
S.I. unit of charge is Ampere x sec = coulomb (C). smaller S.I.
units are rr?C, //C.
C.G.S. unit of charge is Stat coulomb or electrostatic unit
(e.s.u.) Electromagnetic unit of charge is ab coulomb
!C = 3xl0 9 stat coulomb = ab coulomb .

(1) Charge is the property associated with matter due to which

it produces and experiences electrjcal and magnetic effects.
(2) It is known that evei|y atom is electrically neutral,
containing as many electrons a^ the number of protons in the
nucleus.
(3) Charged particles can be created by disturbing neutrality of
an atom. Loss of electrons gives toositive charge (as then np > ne)
and gain of electrons gives negative charge (as then ne > np) to a
particle. In charging mass of the bcjdy changes as shown below

Dimensional formula [Q] = [AT]

(6) Charge is
Transferable : It can be transferred from one body to
another.
Associated with mass : Charge cannot exist without mass
but reverse is not true.
Conserved : It can neither be created nor be destroyed.
Invariant : Independent of velocity of charged particle.

(7) Electric charge produces electric field (E), magnetic field

(B) and electromagnetic radiations.

Neutral

v =0
M

M">M
1

<M

Fig.

(4) Charges with the same ele:trical sign repel each other, and
charges with opposite electrical sigrj attract each other.

_+

,_
Fig. 18.2

v = constant

E and B

v * constant
E , B and Radiates energy

Fig. 18.3
(8) Point charge : A finite size body may behave like a point
charge if it produces an inverse square electric field. For example
an isolated charged sphere behave like a point charge at very large
distance as well as at very small distance close to it's surface.
(9) Charge on a conductor : Charge given to a conductor
always resides on it's outer surface. This is why both a solid and
hollow conducting sphere of same outer radius will hold maximum

958 Electrostatics
equal charge. If surface is uniform the charge distributes uniformly
on the surface and for irregular surface the distribution of charge,
i.e., charge density is not uniforjn. It is maximum where the radius
of curvature is minimum and vice versa, i.e., oc (l/R). This is
why charge leaks from sharp points.

Charge on a body can never be e , 17.2e or 10~5e etc.

ij

(12) Comparison of charge and mass : We are familiar with

role of mass in gravitation, and we have just studied some features of
electric charge. We can compare the two as shown below
Table 18.1 : Charge v/s mass
Mass

Charge
(A)

(1) Electric charge can

positive, negative or zero.

(B)

Fifl. 18.4
(10) Charge distribution : It may be of two types
(i) Discrete distribution of charge : A system consisting of
ultimate individual charges.

be

(1) Mass of a body is always a

positive quantity.

(2) Charge carried by a body

does not depend upon velocity
of the body.

(2) Mass of a body increases with

/

2 / 2

where c is velocity of light in

vacuum, m is the mass of the body
moving with velocity v and mg is

Fig. 18.5
(ii) Continuous distribution of charge : An amount of charge
distributes uniformly or non-uniformly on a body. It is of following
three types
(a) Linear charge distribution : Charge on a line e.g. charged
it wire, circu ar charged rinc etc.
+ /I
3

Charge
= Linear charge density
Length

^ S.I. unit is
m

rest mass of the body.

(3) Charge is quantized.

(3) The quantization of mass is yet

to be established.

(4) Electric charge is always

conserved.

(4) Mass is not conserved as it can

be changed into energy and viceversa.

(5) Force between charges can

be attractive or repulsive,
accordingly as charges are
unlike or like charges.

(5) The gravitational force between

two masses is always attractive.

Al

Fig. 18.6
(b) Surface charge distribution : Charge distributed on a
surface e.g. plane sheet of charge, conducting sphere, conducting
cylinder etc.

a =

= Surface charge density

Area
+
S.I. unit is

C
m
*

Dimension is [L 2TA]

Fig. 18.7
(c) Volume charge density : Charge distributes through out the
volume of the body e.g. charge on a dielectric sphere etc.
p
Charge . . .
_,_ + +
p=
^ = Volume charge density
Volume

S.I. unit is
Dimension is [L~3TA]

Fig. 18.8

Methods of Charging
A body can be charged by following methods.
(1) By friction : By rubbing two bodies together, both positive
and negative charges in equal amounts appear simultaneously due
to transfer of electrons from one body to the other.
(i) When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the rod becomes
positively charged while the silk becomes negatively charged. The
decrease in the mass of glass rod is equal to the total mass of
electrons lost by it.
(ii) Ebonite on rubbing with wool becomes negatively charged
making the wool positively charged.
(iii) Clouds also get charged by friction.
(iv) A comb moving through dry hair gets electrically charged.
It starts attracting small bits of paper.
(v) During landing or take-off, the tyres of an aircraft get
electrified therefore special material is used to manufacture them.

(11) Quantization of charge : If the charge of an electron

(= 1.6 x 10~19C ) is taken as elementary unit i.e quanta of charge,
the charge on any body will be some integral multiple of e i.e.,
Q = ne with n = 1,2,3....

Fig. 18.9

Electrostatics 959
(2) By electrostatic induction : If a charged body is
brought near an uncharged body, one side of neutral body (closer
to charged body) becomes oppositely charged while the other side
becomes similarly charged.

+Q

Coulomb's Law
If two stationary point charges Q: and Q 2 are kept at a
distance r, then it is found that force of attraction or repulsion
between them is

+Q
Torsion
fiber

+Q
Charged
balls
Scale

Fig. 18.10

Fig. 18.12

Induced charge can be lesser or equal to inducing charge (but

F

never greater) and its maximum value is given by Q'= -Q 1 -

K
where Q is the inducing charge and K is the dielectric constant of
the material of the uncharged body. It is also known as specific
inductive capacity (SIC) of the medium, or relative permittivity er
of the medium (relative means with respect to free space)

Table 18.2 : Different dielectric constants

Medium

Medium

Vacuum

Mica

air

1.0003

Silicon

12

Paraffin Wax

2.1

Germanium

16

Rubber

Glycerin

50

Transformer oil

4.5

Water

80

Glass

5-10

Metal

CO

(3) Charging by conduction : Take two conductors, one

charged and other uncharged. Bring the conductors in contact with
each other. The charge (whether ~ve or +ve} under its own
repulsion will spread over b<j>th the conductors. Thus the
conductors will be charged with the same sign. This is called as
charging by conduction (through contact).

Electroscope
It is a simple apparatus by which the presence of electric charge
on a body is detected (see figure). When
metal knob is touched with a charged
body, some charge is transferred to the
gold leaves, which then diverges due to
repulsion. The separation gives a rough
idea of the amount of charge on the
body. When a charged body is brought
near a charged electroscope, the leaves
will further diverge, if the charge on
body is similar to that on electroscope
and will usually converge if opposite. If
the induction effect is strong enough
leaves after converging may again
F>9- 18.11
diverge.

Q,Q2
' 2" i.e., F = L-2- (k = Proportionality constant)

InC.G.S. (for air ) k = 1, F = ^-^

In S.I. (for air) k =

=> F =

4xe0

- = 9xl0 9 ^L

. V 2 newton (I Newton = 10s Dyne)

r

0 = Absolute permittivity of air or free space

= 8.85 xl(T12

n-m

. It's dimensional formula

(1) Vector form of Coulomb's law : Vector form of

O Q -*
Coulomb's law is F 12 = K. -^- r,,02 -K.1-^-2-fi2, where f12 is
the unit vector from first charge to second charge along the line
joining the two charges.
(2) Effect of medium : When a dielectric medium is
completely filled in between charges, rearrangement of the charges
inside
the
dielectric
medium takes place and QI jjjf
the force between the
same
two
charges
k
r
decreases by a factor of
p- jg jg
K (dielectric constant)
i >

'

medium

Q,Q2
1
.
tr '
n
<ureQK
^

Q'r

ir

(Here 0K = E0eT - E = permittivity of medium)

If a dielectric medium (dielectric constant K, thickness t) is
partially filled between
the
charges
then Qi ;,<
Qeffective air separation
between the charges
becomes (r-t+t^/K)
F'9Hence force F =

QiQ2
(r-t + t

(3) Principle of superposition : According to the principle

of superposition, total force acting on a given charge due to
number of charges is the vector sum of the individual forces acting
on that charge due to all :he
Q
charges.

Electric Field
A positive charge or a negative charge is said to create its field
around itself. Thus the space around a charge in which another
charged particle experiences a force is said to have electric field in it.

Consider n number of charges

Ql , Q2 , Q3 ... applying force on
a charge Q.
Net force on Q will be
Fig. 18.18
Fnet = F l + F 2 + . . . . + F n -l+F

(4) The magnitude of the resultant of two electric forces is given by

and tan a =

(1) Electric field intensity () :

The electric field intensity at any point is
defined as the force experienced by a
unit positive charge placed at that point.

e_ f -_ f c Q
Qo

F9 sin 6
Fj + F2 cos 9

where q0 ~* 0

Fig. 18.16
For problem solving remember following standard results.

so tnat

presence of this charge may not affect

the source charge Q and its electric field is not changed, therefore
expression for electric field intensity can be better written as
= Lim
10 ~>o q0
(2) Unit and Dimensional formula
newton
volt
joule
Its S.I. unit =
=coulomb meter coulomb x meter
and C.G.S. unit - dyne/stat coulomb.
Dimension : [E] ^MLT^A' 1 ]
(3) Direction of electric field : Electric field (intensity)
is a vector quantity. Electric field due to a positive charge is always
away from the charge and that due to a negative charge is always
towards the charge.
(4) Relation between electric force and electric field :

Fig. 18.17
Table 18.3 : Fundamental forces of nature
Force

Nature and
formula

Range

Force of
gravitation
between any
two masses

Attractive, F =
Gm^mz/r2,
obey's Newton's
third law of
motion, it's a
conservative forc)e

Long range
(between
planets,
between
electron and
proton)

Electromagne
tic force (for
stationary
and moving
charges)

Attractive as well
as repulsive,
obey's Newton's,
third law of
motion, it's a
conservative force

Long (upto few

ketometers)

Nuclear force
(between
nucleons)

Attractive, exact
expression is not
known till date.

Short (of the

order of nuclear
size 10-15 m)

Weak force
(for processes
like /? decay)

(Attractive as well
as repulsive)
Formula not
known

Short

Relative
strength

In an electric field E a charge (Q) experiences a force F = QE . If

charge is positive then force is directed in the direction of field
while if charge is negative force acts on it in the opposite direction
of field
_
_

1036

~*

Fig. 18.19
(5) Superposition of electric field (electric field at a point
due to various charges) : The resultant electric field at any point is
equal to the vector sum of electric fields at that point due to various
charges i.e. E = E^+ E2+ E3 +...

(less than and

upto lCH G m)

1039

(strongest)
1024

(6) Electric field due to continuous distribution of

charges : A system of closely spaced electric charges forms a
continuous charge distribution. To find the field of a continuous
charge distribution, we divide the charge into infinitesimal charge
elements. Each infinitesimal charge element is then considered, as
a point charge and electric field dE is determined due to this
charge at given point. The net field at the given point is the
summation of fields of all the elements, i.e., = |d .

UWVH8/U

Electrostatics 961 L||s

Electric Potential
(1) Definition : Potential at a point in a field is defined as the
amount of work done in bringing a unit positive test charge, from
infinity to that point along any arbitrary path (infinity is point of
zero potential). Electric potential is a scalar quantity, it is denoted
byV;

Electric Field and Potential Due to Various

Charge Distribution
(1) Point charge : Electric field and potential at point P due
to a point charge Q is
Q0
<

U'

V=

do

P
>

Fig. 18.22

(2) Unit and dimensional formula

S. I. unit:

;ou/e
= volt
coulomb

: or L =K-f
r
ri

C.G.S. unit: stqt volt (e.s.u.); |l volt =

300

siat volt

Graph

Dimension : [V] = [MLT^/f1]

(3) Types of electric potential : According to the nature of
charge, potential is of two types
(i) Positive potential : Due to| positive charge,
(ii) Negative potential: Due to negative charge.

Fig. 18.23

(2) Line charge: Electric field and potential due to a charged

straight conducting wire of length / and charge density A

(4) Potential of a system of point charges : Consider P is

a point at which net electric potential is to be determined due to
several charges. So net potential it P

.A

-r-> P
av

zQil
r3

r4
Fig. 18.24

In general V = ^

k/i
and Ev = (cos /? - cos a)

fc* , .

Fig. 18.20
(5) Electric potential due to a continuous charge
distribution : The potential due to a continuous charge
distribution is the sum of potentials of all the infinitesimal charge
elements in which the distribution may be divided i.e.,

V = log,
2>^o

(i) If point P lies at perpendicular bisector of wire i.e. a = p,

2kA
Er =
sin or andE, = 0

= f_

(6) Graphical representation of potential : As we move

on the line joining two charges then variation of potential with
distance is shown below
+q
-q
+q

it
(ii) If wire is infinitely long i.e. / > so a = ft = ;
2kA
r

= 0:

(iii) If point P lies near one end of infinitely long wire i.e. a = 0,

-./.-I
0

0
Fig. 18

(7) Potential difference : In an electric field potential

difference between two points A and B is defined as equal to the
amount of work done (by external agent) in moving a unit positive
W
charge from point A to point B i.e., VB - VA =
Fig. 18.25

962 Electrostatics
(3) Charged circular ring : Suppose we have a charged
circular ring of radius R and charge Q.
On it's axis electric field and potential
is to be determined at a poiht 'P'
distance 'x' away from the centre of
the ring.

(5) Charged cylinder

(i) Non-conducting
uniformly charged cylinder

I
+ -f

+lf

kQx

+!+
.i j

Fig. 18.26

(x 2 +R 2 ) 3 / 2

+l+

At point P

E=

(ii) Conducting charged

cylinder

+
^_-__

P
r

+
+
+
+
+

(A)

T
i

+
+

L
r

T-

1* ~+
1
.i^

- r

(B)

Fig. 18.28

If point of observation (P) lies outside the cylinder then for

At centre x = 0 so ,, , = C

both types of cylindrical charge" distribution Eout =

At a point on the axis such that x R E = kQ

I r

A,

, and

= - , Emax=

V2

If point of observation lies at surface i.e. r - R so for both

cylinders

Graph

o"

and Vsurface

2^f?0

\o5e R + c

If point of observation lies inside the cylinder then for conducting

R

cylinders Ein = 0 and for non-conducting in =

j-

Graph
Fig. 18.27
(4) Some more results of line charge : If a thin plastic rod
having charge density /I is bent id the following shapes then electric
field at P in different situations is shown in the following table
Table 18.4 : Electric field due to bending of charged rod

E '

E
1

E in =0
O

(A) For non-conducting cylinder

.-

P r

f-

r-

2U

sin 6

(B) For conducting cylinder

Fig. 18.29
,

E = =^-cos0
r

(6) Charged conducting sphere (or shell of charge) : If

charge on a conducting sphere of radius R is Q (and a = surface
charge density) as shown in figure then electric field and potential
in different situations are

+Q
+ + +
9Q1J90'
r

y
f

11 +

+ +

|P

2U
r

(A) Outside

+Q
P

(B) At the surface

(C) Inside

Fig. 18.30

(i) Outside the sphere : If point P lies outside the sphere

1

Q oR2
~5" =
5"

and

1 Q '1*?2
^out = __ -~ = '
(Q = crxA = CTX4

(ii) At the surface of sphere : At surface r = R

+ + + +

E =-

So, E s = -

.-fV = and Vs =-

Q oR

.^ = R en

(iii) Inside the sphere: : Inside the conducting charged

sphere electric field is zero and potential remains constant at all
points and equals to the potential at the surface.

(8) Infinite thin plane sheet of charge : Consider a thin

infinite non-conducting plane sheet having uniform surface charge
,,, , . ,. .
density a . Electric field and potential near the sheet are

, = 0 and Un = constant = V,
Graph
O

and V = - + C

r =R
(A)

Fig. 18.31
(7) Uniformly charged non-conducting sphere : Suppose
charge Q is uniformly distributed in the volume of a nonconducting sphere of radius R as shown below

+Q

?P

i+Q

(9) Electric field due to two thin infinite plane parallel

sheets cf charge : Consider two large uniformly charged parallel
plates A and B, having surface charge densities ffA and <JB
n
_
respectivelu Net electric field at points P, Q and R is to be
calculated.'
B

jr

+Q

**

*+
(A) Outside

(B) Af the surface

>

Fig. 18.35

(C) Inside

Fig. 18.32
(i) Outside the sphere : If point P lies outside the sphere

^f
*

At P, Ep = -(A + EB ) = - - (<JA + a

-. and

AtQ, E 0 = |

-0-R

If the sphere has uniform volume charge density p =

At /?, ER = (EA + EB) =

then Eout =

pR3

3or2

s -t

pR

.,
HI 1U

\Jtr\e

V-

1 Q pR2

4^f0 R 3e0

sphere : Ata distance r from the centre

1 Qr
pr

(iii) Inside

4*
"rJlCr

(i) If aA = aB = (Tthen \EP\R\ O/Q and EQ = 0

(ii) If aA = crand aB = - crthen P = ER = 0 and 0 =
(10) Hemispherical charged body
At centre O,

= -2

30

p(3R2-r2)

Q13R2

and

(ffA + CTB)

Special cases

M ~ 3or

(ii) At the surface of sphere

ere : At surface r = R

l
2e0

2R 3

V =-

f.F

Fig. 18.36

Otg

At centre r = 0 so, Vce

4;r'E'o

ip
i.e.,

v centre

>Vv surface

Uniformly charged disc : At a distance x from centre

O on it's axis

>Vou>

Graph
iT

Fig. 18.37
O

Fig. 18.33

r=R
(B)

If x -* 0, E-=

2en

i.e. for points situated near the disc, it

behaves as an infinite sheet of charge.

964 Electrostatics
(12) Charged conducting surface : Electric field A and
potential near a charged conducting surface.

(ii) Potential at the surface of outer sphere

1 Q' , 1
V2 =
0
o r,

Relation between Electric Field and Potential

Potential Due to Concentric Spheres
(1) Consider two concentrip conducting shells of radii rj and
rj carrying uniformly distributed charges Ql and Q2
respectively. Potential at the surface of each shell is
r2r2

b| r2
Q2

V2 =

meter

Fig. 18.38
(2) The figure shows three conducting concentric shells of radii
a, b and c (a < b < c) having charges Q0, Qb and Qc respectively
Potential at A;

9s.
a

Potential at B;
1
Potential at C;
~Q 0
Vc =

Fig. 18.39

9.

.^---.Q

r->

knowing the boundary conditions dV = I E.dr = - l

Jri

E.drcosff

Jri

(8) If at any point = 0 , then V may or may not be zero. For

example, inside a charged conductor E = 0 . but V is not zero.
(9) If at any point E = 0 , then V = constant (zero or non
c
dV
zero) because E =
.
dr
(10) If V = 0 at a point, then E may or may not be zero. For
example, on the equatorial line of a dipole V = 0 , but * 0 .

Electric Lines of Force

=> Q' = -Q
ii) Potential of the inner sphere
,fl + -

(-0)

(4) In the above case if outer sphere is given a charge +Q and

inner sphere is earthed then
(i) In this case potential at the surface of inner sphere is zero, so
if Q' is the charge induced on inner sphere
+Q
then

dV

, potential difference
dr
between any two points in an electric field can be determined by

(3) The figure shows two concentric spheres having radii

and r2 respectively (r2 > r t ). If pharge on inner sphere is +Q and
outer sphere is earthed then
(i) Potential at the
surface of outer sphere

V1 =

(4) In the above relation negative sign indicates that in the

direction of electric field, potential decreases.
(5) Negative of the slope of the V-r graph denotes intensity of
V
electric field i.e. tan 6 = = -E
r
(6) In space around a charge distribution we can also write
p _ : _ - _ . "

9V ^
dV . .,
3V
fc = Exi +t v j + t z fc , where hx =
, hy =
andh z =
(7) With the help of formula E =

V2 =

(1) In an electric field rate of change of potential with distance

is known as potential gradient.
(2) Potential gradient is a vector quantity and it's direction is
opposite to that of electric field.
(3) Potential gradient relates with electric field according to the
dV
following relation = . This relation gives another unit of
dr
volt
electric field as

(1) Definition : The electric field in a region is represented by

continuous lines (also called lines of force). Field line is an
imaginary line along which a positive test charge will move if left
free.

(A) (Radially outward)

i.e.,
Fig. 18.41
(Charge on inner sphere is less than that of the outer sphere.)

Fig. 18.42

(2) Properties of electric lines of force

Equipotential Surface

(i) Electric field lines come out of positive charge and go into
the negative charge.
(ii) Tangent to the field line at any point gives the direction of
the field at that point.

For a given charge distribution, locus of all points having same

potential is called "equipotential surface" regarding equipotential
surface following points should keep in mind :
(1) The density of the equipotential lines gives an idea about
the magnitude of electric field. Higher the density larger the field
strength.
(2) The direction of electric field is perpendicular to the
equipotential surfaces or lines.
(3) The equipotential surfaces produced by a point charge or
a spherical charge distribution are a family of concentric spheres.

Fig. 18.43

V = V,

(iii) Field lines never intersect

ct each other,

V4

(iv) Field lines are always normal to conducting surface.

}/5

V= V,

Spherical E.P.S.
for a point charge

Equipotential
surface

Fig. 18.47
(B)

Fig. 18.44

(v) Field lines do not exist ifliside a conductor.

(vi) The electric field linesj never form closed loops. (While
magnetic lines of forces form closed loop)
(vii) The number of lines originating or terminating on a
charge is proportional to the magnitude of charge i.e. |Q|
number of lines. In the following figure | QA \>\B \ B

(4) For a uniform electric field, the equipotential surfaces are a

family of plane perpendicular to the field lines.
(5) A metallic surface of any shape is an equipotential surface.
(6) Equipotential surfaces can never cross each other
(7) The work done in moving a charge along an equipotential
surface is always zero.

Motion of Charged Particle in Electric Field

(1) When charged particle initially at rest is placed in
the uniform field
Suppose a charged particle having charge Q and mass m is
initially at rest in an electric field of strength E. The particle will
experience an electric force which causes it's motion.
(i) Force and acceleration : The force experienced by the
charged particle is F = QE .
QE
Acceleration produced by this force is a = =
m

(viii) If the lines of forces a|re equidistant and parallel straight

lines, the field is uniform andi if either, lines of force are not
equidistant or straight line or b ith, the field will be non uniform,
also the density of field lines is proportional to the strength of the
electric field.

(ii) Velocity : Suppose at point A particle is at rest and in

time t it reaches the point B where it's velocity becomes u. Also if
AV = Potential difference between A and B, S = Separation
between A and B
-'E
QEt
|2QAV
m

Fig. 18.48

,Y

(iii) Momentum : Momentum p = mu, p = mx

(A) x = y

(B) Ex

Fig 18.46

= QEt

966 Electrostatics
(iv) Kinetic energy : Kinetic energy gained by the particle in
time t is K = mv2 =
2

or

(1) Definition : A charge is said to be in equilibrium, if net

force acting on it is zero. A system of charges is said to be in
equilibrium if each charge is separately in equilibrium.

QB
m

Equilibrium of Charges

2m

1
2QAV .,.
K = mx^
= Q&V

(2) Types of equilibrium : Equilibrium can be divided in

following types:

(v) Work done : According :o work energy theorem we can

say that gain in kinetic energy = work done in displacement of
charge i.e. W = QAV
where AV = Potential difference between the two positions of

(i) Stable equilibrium : After displacing a charged particle

from it's equilibrium position, if it returns back then it is said to be
in stable equilibrium. If U is the potential energy then in case of
stable equilibrium

charge Q. ( AV = E .A r = EArcostf where 9 is the angle between

direction of electric field and direct on of motion of charge).
If charge Q is given a displacement r =(^1 +r2j + r3k) in an
electric

field

= (Eji +E 2 ; + 3 fc),

IV = Q(E .7) =

the

work

done

is

(ii) Unstable equilibrium : After displacing a charged

particle from it's equilibrium position, if it never returns back then it
is said to be in unstable equilibrium and in unstable equilibrium
d2U

dx2

+ E 2 r 2 + E3r3

Work done in displacing a charge in an electric field is path

independent because electric force field is conservative.
W, = W,, = IV,,,

d2U
is positive i.e., U is minimum.
dx2

is negative i.e., U is maximum.

(iii) Neutral equilibrium : After displacing a charged particle

from it's equilibrium position if it neither comes back, nor moves
away but remains in the position in which it was kept then it is said
to be in neutral equilibrium and in neutral equilibrium

dx2

zero i.e., U is constant

Table 18.5 : Different cases of equilibrium of charge
Fig. 18.49

Suspended charge

(2) When a charged particle enters with an initial

velocity at right angle to the uniform field
When charged particle enters perpendicularly in an electric
field, it describes a parabolic path < s shown
(i) Equation of trajectory : Throughout the motion particle
has uniform velocity along x-axis and horizontal displacement (x) is
given by the equation x = ut

Freely suspended charge

t F = QE
In equilibrium

+Q
Q

System of three collinear

charges
In the
charges
along a
will be
only if

following figure three

Q1? Q and Q2 are kept
straight line, charge Q
in equilibrium if and

| Force applied by charge Qi |

= | Force applied by charge Q2 |

Since the motion of the particle is accelerated along y-axis

Suspension of charge from
string

i.e.

Q2Q

Fig. 18.50

So y =
21 rr>

I ; this is the equation of a parabola

\I
In equilibrium

which shows y <

(ii) Velocity at any instant : At any instant t, vx = u and
QEt

Tsin6> = QE

....(i)

Tcos# = mg

....(ii)

From equations (i) and (ii)

If ft is the angle made by v with x-axis then

T = V(QE) 2+ (mg) 2
and tan 6 =

mu

QE
mg

This is the necessary condition

for Q to be in equilibrium.
If all the three charges (Qj, Q
and Q2) are similar, Q will be
in stable equilibrium.
If extreme charges are similar
while charge Q is of different
nature Q will be in unstable
equilibrium.

Time Period of Oscillation of a Charged Body

(1) Simple pendulum : If a simple pendulum having length /
and mass of bob m oscillates atiout it's mean position then it's time

, _.
Having time period T = 2n

Qi

period of oscillation T = 2n\

Fig. 18.56

Fig. 18.52

Case-1 : If some charge say +Q is given to bob and an

electric field E is applied in the | direction as shown in figure, then
equilibrium position ot charged bob (point charge) changes from O
toCX.
_
"

Fig. 18.53

On displacing the bob from it's equilibrium position 0' it will

oscillate under the effective acceleration g7, where
g' = V(mg) 2 +(QE) 2

Hence the

=> d' = ^32 + (QE I rnf .

new time period is T, = "in \ = 2jc

\9'
Since g' >g, so Tj < T i.e. time period of pendulum will decrease.

(3) Spring mass system : A block of mass m containing a

negative charge - Q is placed on a frictionless horizontal table and
is connected to a wall through an unstretched spring of spring
constant k as shown. If electric field E is applied as shown in figure
the block experiences an electric force, hence spring compress and
block comes in new position. This is called the equilibrium position
of block under the influence of electric field. If block is compressed
further or stretched, it executes
oscillation having time period

T = 2x.\ .
Maximum
m,-Q
V k
compression in the spring due to
QE

Fig. 18.57

electric field =

Neutral Point and Zero Potential

A neutral point is a point where resultant electrical field is zero.
(1) Neutral point Due to a system of two like point
charges : For this case neutral point is obtained at an internal
point along the line joining two like charges.
N
Q2
Q,

Case-2 : If electric field is applied in the downward direction

then effective acceleration

X2-

Fig. 18.58
If N is the neutral point at a distance Xj from
So new time period

distance x 2 ( = x - X j ) from Q2 then

AtN |E.F. due to QJ = |E.F. due to Q2|

I
g + (QE/m)
Case-3 : In case 2 if electric field is applied in upward
direction then, effective acceleration ^^^^
g' = g - Q E / m

Kx

QE

So new time period

T3>T

i.e.,
Fig. 18.54

T2 <T

T3 =

and at a

I
S-(Q/m)

Short Trick : x-, = -

Q2

\
X

and x2=-r

(2) Neutral point due to a system of two unlike point

charge : For this condition neutral point lies at an external point
along the line joining two unlike charges. Suppose two unlike
charge Ql and Q2 are separated by a distance x from each other.
N.

Qi

Q,

Fig. 18.55

(2) Charged circular ring : A thin stationary ring of radius R

has a positive charge +Q unit. lit a negative charge - q (mass m) is
placed at a small distance x fron the centre. Then motion of the
particle will be simple harmonic motion.

Fig. 18.59

Here neutral point lies outside the line joining two unlike charges
and also it lies nearer to charge which is smaller in magnitude.

968 Electrostatics
If Qi| < Q 2 j then neutral point will be obtained on the side of
, suppose it is at a distance / from Qj

kQ2

Hence at neutiol point ^- i

9L.(-L{
Q
2

(5) Electron volt (eV) : It is the smallest practical unit of

energy used in atomic and nuclear physics. An electron volt is
defined as "the energy acquired by a particle having one quantum
of
charge
(le), when
accelerated
by
luo/t" i.e.

so 1 =
(3) Zero potential due to a system of two point charges
(i) If both charges are like then resultant potential is not zero at
any finite point.
(ii) If the charges are unequal and unlike then all such points
where resultant potential is zero lie on a closed curve.
(iii) Along the line joining the two charge, two such points
exist, one lies inside and the other lies outside the charges on the
line joining the charges. Both the above points lie nearer to the
smaller charge.
For internal point
(it ib cibbumeu mm | Vi I "' | V2
At P

'

2
II v- V \I
\~xi)

(4) Work energy relation : If a charge moves from one

position to another position in an electric field so it's potential
energy change and work done by external force for this change is
W = Uf - U,

leV = 1.6xl(T 19 Cx =1.6xl(r I9 J = 1.6 x lO"12 erg

\^f

(6) Electric potential energy of a uniformly charged

sphere : Consider a uniformly charged sphere of radius R having
a total charge Q. The electric potential energy of this sphere is
equal to the work done in bringing the charges from infinity to
assemble the sphere.

U=

3Q2
0R

(7) Electric potential energy of a uniformly charged thin

spherical shell : It is given by the following formula U =

i.
Qi

Q2

HI

Ok

Q2

(8) Energy density : The energy stored per unit volume

around a point in an electric field is given by

(QJJ/QJ + 1)

LL = - = nE2 . If in place of vacuum some medium

Volume 2

Fig. 18.60

For External point

Qj

A+ D

is present then Ue =0rE2

Q2

xi

(x + xj

Qi

Q2

Force on a Charged Conductor

e-x -**
X

Fig. 18.61

Electrostatic Potential Energy_____

(1) Work done in bringing the given charge from infinity to a
point in the electric field is known as potential energy of the
charge. Potential can also be written as potential energy per unit
,

charge, i.e.

To find force on a charged conductor (due to repulsion of like

charges) imagine a small part XY to be cut and just separated from
the rest of the conductor MLN. The field in the cavity due to the
rest of the conductor is E2, while field due to small part is Er. Then

V = = .

(2) Potential energy of a system of two charge

Potential energy of Qi = Potential energy of Q2 = potential
Q2

energy of system U = k-

Fig. 18.63
B

InC.G.S.

Fig. 18.62

Inside the conductor = El - E2 = 0 or El = E2

Outside the conductor E = E1 + E2 =

(3) Potential energy of a system of n charge

ti

T T

t,

n OO
V/Vr
;

* ~-^

Thus Ej = 2 =

It is given by U = V

fc=

The factor of is applied only with the summation sign

because on expanding the summation each pair is counted twice.

(1) To find force, imagine charged part XV (having charge

ddA placed in the cavity MN having field E2). Thus force
2
dF = (crdA)E2 or dF =
dA . The force per unit area or
electrostatic pressure p = =

For a system' of 3 charges U = k

V

r!2

'23

dA

2en

Electrostatics 969
(2) The force is always outwards as (<r)2 is positive i.e.,
whether charged positively or negatively, this force will try to
expand the charged body. [A soap bubble or rubber balloon
expands on charging to it (charge of any kind + or -)].

Electric Dipole
System of two equal and opposite charges separated by a
small fixed distance is called a dipole.

Equilibrium of Charged Soap Bubble

(1) For a charged soap babble of radius R and surface tension T
Axial line

and charge density a. The pressure due to surface tension 4

R
and atmospheric pressure Fout acts radially inwards and the
Fig. 18.65

electrical pressure (Pel) acts radially outwards.

(1) Dipole moment : It is a vector quantity and is directed

from negative charge to positive charge along the axis. It is
denoted as p and is defined as the product of the magnitude of
either of the charge and the dipole length i.e. p = q(2l)
Its S.I. unit is coulomb-metre or Debye (1 Defaye = 3.3 x
10~30 C x m) and its dimensions are
(A) Uncharged bubble

(2) When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, its atoms or

molecules are considered as tiny dipoles.

(B) Charged bubble

Fig 18.64
(2) The total pressure insidp the soap bubble
47

P -~ rPout Tt r>
"in

a2

(A)

(B)

Fig. 18.66

(3) Excess pressure inside t ne charged soap bubble

P.in -P out = Pexcess =-

Water (H2O), Chloroform (CHC/3), Ammonia (NH3), HCl, CO

molecules are some examples of permanent electric dipole.

2e0

(4) If air pressure inside and outside are assumed equal then
P in =P out i.e., Pexcess = 0 . So,

(i) Charge density : Since

<7=.

2T

(ii) Radius of bubble R =

V^W?

Fig. 18.67
(3) Electric field and potential due to an electric dipole :
If a, e and g are three points on axial, equatorial and general
position at a distance r from the centre of dipole

(iii) Surface tension T =

-<J

(iv) Total charge on the bubble Q = 8xRj2e0TR

_ -1 -\ m

(v) Electric field intensity at tlfie surface of the bubble

r8T

[0R

-21Fig. 18.68
(i) At axial point: Electric field and potential are given as
_

(vi) Electric potential at the siirface V =

9+ a

2/cpr

kp

(iii) Equilibrium of dipole : When 9 = 0 i.e. dipole is

placed along the electric field it is said to be in stable equilibrium,
because after turning it through a small angle, dipole tries to align
itself again in the direction of electric field.

if r / then, EQ = ^-. -|- (directed from - q to +q)

V=-

-.-*=-. Angle between E0 and p is 0.

(ii) At equatorial point: Eequatoria, =

if rl then, Ee =

kp

When 6 = 180 i.e. dipole is placed opposite to electric field, it

is said to be in unstable equilibrium.

|2*3/2

,-^- directed from +q to - q) and

Ve = 0 . Angle between Ee and p is 180.

(iii) At general point : E,

(iv) Oscillation of dipole : In a uniform electric field if a

dipole is slightly displaced from it's stable equilibrium position it
executes angular SHM havino period of oscillation.

n~

and

*2 Angle between E and p is (6 + a) (where

tan or = tan 9 )
2
(4) Dipole in an external electric field : When a dipole is
kept in a uniform electric field. The net force experienced by the
dipole is zero as shown in fig.

T = 2x I
VPE

where / = moment of inertia of dipole about

the axis passing through it's centre and perpendicular to it's length.
(5) Electric dipole in non-uniform electric field : In
non-uniform electric field F

The net torque experienced by the dipole is

T = pE sin 9
r = px
Fig. 18.69
Hence due to torque so produced, dipole aligns itself in the
direction of electric field. This is the position of stable equilibrium
of dipole.
(i) Work done in rotation : Suppose initially, dipole is kept
in a uniform electric field at an angle 6^. Now to turn it through an
angle ff2 (with the field) Work done IV = pEfcos 0l - cos 92].

In this case motion of the dipole is combination of translatory

and rotatory motion
Table 18.6 : Dipole-dipole interaction
Relative position of dipole

-q

+q -q

+q

w -* ,
Pi

Fig. 18.70
If d-i = 0 and 6^ = 6 i.e. initially dipole is kept along the field
then it turn through 9 so work done W = pE(l - cos 9)
(ii) Potential energy of dipole : It is defined as work done
in rotating a dipole from a direction perpendicular to the field to
the given direction, i.e. from above formula of work.

>

Pi

Pz

0=90 U
Not in equilibrium

Unstable equilibrium

rmax

= f

W = pE

T=0

= 2pE
= pE

6ptp2
r4

1 3pip2
4^r0 ' r 4
(repulsive)

-<*4

f-N,

P
0=180

1
te 0

-q
->

Pi

_,
Pz

Potential
energy

1 2p,p2
4^o
^

(attractive)

+<3d
*

-<*

Stable equilibrium
r=0

Pi

+q d

If 9l = 90 and <% = 9 => W =* U = -pE cos 0 = -p . E

KJ

Force

+q
^-&

***

1 3p:p2
4;zn ' r 4
(perpendicular
tor)

1 PiP2
4^ 0 ' r3

Electric flux is a measure of 'flow' of electric field through a

surface. It is equal to the product of an area element and the

~L

perpendicular component of l:., integrated over a surface.

+0
(1) Flux of electric field E through
any area A is defined as.
i/> = E.AcosO

>

-QT

Fig. 18.74

or

(2) In case of variable elecjtric field or

Flux from surface S1 = + , Flux from surface S2 = - ,

and flux from S3= flux from surface S4 = 0

curved area. <z> = \E.dA

(3) It's S.I. Unit is (Volt X m) or

N-m2

(4) For a closed body oilitward flux is taken to be positive

while inward flux is taken to be negative.

Application of Gauss's law : See flux emergence in the

following cases
(1) If a dipole is enclosed by a surface

-Q
vQenc=0

=> 0 = 0

R 9- 18'75

(2) The net charge Qenc is the algebraic sum of all the enclosed
positive, and negative charges. If Qenc is positive the net flux is
outward; if Q^,. is negative, the net flux is inward.

(3) If a closed body (not enclosing any charge) is placed in an

electric field (either uniform or non-uniform) total flux linked with it
will be zero

Negative flux

8.73

Gauss's Law and it's Application

(1) According to this law, IB total flux linked with a closed
surface called Gaussian surface (The surface need not be a real
physical surface, it can also be n hypothetical one) is (1/0) times
the
charge
enclosed
by
the
closed
surface i.e.,

(A) <pT = 0
(2) Electric field in cjE. dA is complete electric field. It may be
partly due to charge with in thej surface and partly due to charge
outside the surface. However if i lere is no charge enclosed in the
Gaussian surface, then

(B) fa = <pout = EC? => fa = 0

Fig. 18.77

(4) If a hemispherical body is placed in uniform electric field

then flux linked with the curved surface is calculated as follows

).

(3) The electric field E is re ulting from all charge, both those
inside and those outside the Gau sian surface.
(Keep in mind, the electric ield due to a charge outside the
Gaussian surface contributes ze o net flux through the surface,
Because as many lines due to tha charge enter the surface as leave
it).

^Curved + ^Circular =
^Curved ~ ~0Circular

= -(Ex;rf?2cosl80)
Fig. 18.78

972 Electrostatics
(5) If a hemispherical body is placed in non-uniform electric
field as shown below, then flux ijinked with the circular surface
calculated as follows
^Circular

Capacitance

"^Curved

= -2nR2E

Fig. 18.79

(6) If charge is kept at the centre of cube

(1) Capacitance of a conductor : Charge given to a
conductor increases it's potential i.e., Q <* V => Q = CV

= -(Q)

Fig. 18.80
(7) If charge is kept at the centre of a face : First we should
enclosed the charge by assuming a Gaussian surface (an identical
imaginary cube)

Where C is a proportionality constant, called capacity or

capacitance of conductor. Hence capacitance is the ability of
conductor to hold the charge.
(2) Its S.I. unit is

Coulomb _
, ._.
= Farad (F)
Volt

Smaller S.I. units are mF, /jF, nF and pF (lmF=10~ 3 F,

Iff

(3) It's C.G.S. unit is StatFarad IF = 9xlO n Stat Farad .

(4) It's dimension : [C] = [M^r 2 T 4 A 2 ] .

(B)

Fig. 18.81
Total flux emerges from the sy item (Two cubes) 0tota/ =

= lO^F , InF = 10~9F , IpF = 1/yf = 10"12F )

Rux from given cube (i.e. frorri 5 face only) (f>cube =

(8) If a charge is kept at the cohier of a cube

(5) Capacity of a body is independent of charge given to the

body or it's potential raised and depends on shape and size only.
(6) Capacity of an isolated spherical conductor : When
charge Q is given to a spherical conductor
,Q
of radius R, then potential at the surface of
sphere is V =

+
+

1
R
9xlO y

Fig. 18.84

'

pi...
(B)
Fig. 18.82

If earth is assumed to be a conducting sphere having radius

R - 6400 km. It's theoretical capacitance C = 711/zF . But for all
practical purpose capacitance of earth is taken infinity and its
potential V = 0.

Combination of Charged Drops

For enclosing the charge seven more cubes are required so

= . Flux from given cube

Suppose we have n identical drops each having Radius - r,

Capacitance - c, Charge - q, Potential - u and Energy - u.

<t>cube = . Flux from one face opposite to charge, of the given

If these drops are combined to form a big drop of Radius - R,

Capacitance - C, Charge - Q, Potential - V and Energy - U then

total flux from the 8 cube system i

8e,

Q/8f 0 _ Q
cube

luse only three faces are seen).

(1) Charge on big drop : Q = nq

(2) Radius of big drop : Volume of big drop = n x volume

(9) A long straight wire of charge

of a single drop i.e., ;rf?3 = nx nr3 , R = n 1/3 r
o
o

density /I penetrates a hollow body.

The flux emerges from the body is
A x Length of the wire inside bddy

(3) Capacitance of big drop : C = n1/3c

Fig. 18.83

Q =(4) Potential of big drop : V =

C n

(5) Energy of big drop : U = -CV2 = i(n 1/3 c)(n 2/3 u) 2

Lt

U = n 5/3 u
(6) Energy difference : 'otal energy of big drop is greater
than the total energy all smaller drop. Hence energy difference
rf1

~ ^

-1

0~, >

n2/3J

(7) Surface charge densi

- 4;rR
Q

4;rr
nq

1Mrr

"

Capacitor or Condenser
(1) A capacitor is a device that stores electric energy or a
capacitor is a pair of two conductors of any shape, which are close
to each other and have equal and
opposite charge.
(2) The capacitance of a
capacitor
is defined as
the
magnitude of the charge Q on the
positive plate divided by the
magnitude of the potential difference
Vbetween the plates i.e., C =

Fig. 18.87

4nrz

Redistribution of Charges and Loss of Energy

When two charged condu<:tors are joined together through a
conducting wire, charge begins to flow from one conductor to
another from higher potential td lower potential.
This flow of charge stops when they attain the same potential.
Due to flow of charge, loss of energy also takes place in the
form of heat through the connecting wire.
Suppose there are two spherical conductors of radii TJ and
r 2 , having charge Ql and Q 2 , potential Vj and V 2 , energies Uj
and U2 and capacitance C\d C2 respectively.

Q 2 = C2V2
Fig. 18.85
If these two spheres are ccnnected through a conducting wire,
then alteration of charge, potential and energy takes place.
Qi'

*
r2

C;

U,'

(3) A capacitor get's charged when a battery is connected

across the plates. Once capacitor get's fully charged, flow of charge
carriers stops in the circuit and in this condition potential difference
across the plates of capacitor is same as the potential difference
across the terminals of battery.
(4) Net charge on a capacitor is always zero, but when we
speak of the charge Q on a capacitor, we are referring to the
magnitude of the charge on each plate.
(5) Energy stored : When a capacitor is charged by a
voltage source (say battery) it stores the electric energy. If C =
Capacitance of capacitor; Q = Charge on capacitor and V =
Potential difference across capacitor then energy stored in
capacitor U -

Q2
C2
V2
U2

=\W ~

In charging capacitor by battery half the energy supplied is

stored in the capacitor and remaining half energy (1/2 QV) is lost in
the form of heat.

Dielectric
Conductor
(Metal foil)

Q/
C2
V
U,'

Qi'=C,V

1.

J ^

Conductor
(Metal foi

Q2'=C2V
Fib. 18.86

(1) New charge : Accord ng to the conservation of charge

Dielectric
(Plastic sheet)

Dielectrics are insulating (non-conducting) materials which

transmits electric effect without conducting.
Dielectrics are of two types

Q! + Q2 = Qi + Q2 4 Q (say), also L = 3- = i
Q2 C2 r2

(1) Polar dielectrics : A polar molecule has permanent

electric dipole moment (p) in the absence of electric field also. But

=* Q 2 =Q

a polar dielectric has net dipole moment zero in the absence of

electric field because polar molecules are randomly oriented as
shown in figure.

and similarly Ql = Q

(2) Common potential : Common potential

Total charge
Ql + Q2 _ Qt + Q2
Total capacity ! Cj + C2 ~ Cl + C2

-iVi+C 2 V 2
Cl + C2

(3) Energy loss : The k ss of energy due to redistribution of

charge is given by
AfT-rr

rr .

rip
M*-^
2(C, + C 2 )

(Vi-v 2 ) 2

Fig. 18.88
In the presence of electric field polar molecules tends to line
up in the direction of electric field, and the substance has finite
dipole moment e.g. water, Alcohol, 00%, NH 3 , HC1 etc. are

made of polar atoms/molecules.

974 Electrostatics
(2) Non polar dielectric : In non-polar molecules, Each
molecule has zero dipole momertt in its normal state.
When electric field is applied, molecules becomes induced
electric dipole e.g. N2, O2, Benzene, Methane etc. are made of
non-polar atoms/molecules
In general, any non-conducting material can be called as a
dielectric but broadly non-conducting material having non-polar
molecules referred to as dielectric.
(3) Polarization of a dielectric slab : It is the process of
inducing equal and opposite charges on the two faces of the
dielectric on the application of electric field.

(iv) If a dielectric medium of dielectric constant K is h

completely between the plates then capacitance increases by
times i.e.

C'=KC

(v) The capacitance of parallel plate capacitor depends on A

(C <* A) and d C = . It does not depend on the charge on the
plates or the potential difference between the plates.
(vi) If a dielectric slab is partially filled between the plates

C' =

0A

Fig. 18.89

(i) Electric field between the plates in the presence of dielectric

medium is E' = E - Ef where E = Main field, E' = Induced field.

(vii) If a number of dielectric slabs are inserted between the

plate as shown
jr jf _Jf jgr
*

.~S

(ii) Dielectric constant of dielectric medium is defined as :

E _ Electric field between the plates with air
E' Electric field between the plates with medium
(iii) K is also known as relative permittivity (r)

of the
'2

material or SIC (Specific Inductive Capacitance)

(4) Dielectric breakdown and dielectric strength : If a
very high electric field is created ih a dielectric,. The dielectric then
behaves like a conductor. Th;is phenomenon is known as
dielectric breakdown.
The maximum value of electric field (or potential gradient)
that a dielectric material can tolerate without it's electric breakdown
is called it's dielectric strength.

V
S.I. unit of dielectric strength of a material is but practical
unit is

kV

Capacity of Various Capacitor

(1) Parallel plate capacitor : It consists of two parallel
metallic plates (may be circular, rectangular, square) separated by
a small distance. If A = Effective overlapping area of each plate.

Fig. 18.91
0A

C' =

d-(t1+t2+t3+

(viii) When a metallic slab is inserted between the plates

c=-(d-t)
eA
If metallic slab fills the
complete space between the plates
(i.e. t = d) or both plates are
joined through a metallic wire then
capacitance becomes infinite.

^
>|
Fig. 18.92

(ix) Force between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.

(i) Electric field between the plates : E = = Q

(3
d

AQ

2o

Qz

CV2

20A

2d

(ii) Potential difference between the plates : V = Exd = (x) Energy density between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor
(iii) Capacitance : C =

C.G.S. : C =

Energy _ 1
_.
Energy density =
Volume

Electrostatics 975
fable 18.7 : Variation of different variable (Q.CV.E and U)
of parallel plate capacitor when dielectric is introduced
Quantity

Battery Remains
connected

Grouping of Capacitors
(1) Series grouping
(i) Charge on each capacitor remains same and equals to the
main charge supplied by the battery but potential difference
distributes i.e. V = Vl + V2 + V3
(ii) Equivalent capacitance

-= - + - +

or c

Cj

f
Capacity

C' = ,

-Q

+Q

= (C

+c

C2
-Q

+ C 1 )" 1

C3
+Q

-Q

C' = KC

Charge

=v

Potential

+1 , -

Intensity

' = E/K

' =

Energy

U' = UIK

U" = KU

(2) Spherical capacitpr : It consists of two concentric

conducting spheres of radii a and b (a < b). Inner sphere is given
charge +Q; while outer spheri is earthed
(i) Potential difference : Between the spheres is

Fig. 18.96
(iii) In series combination potential difference and energy
distributes in the reverse ratio of capacitance i.e.,
V and U = .
C
C
(iv) If two capacitors having capacitances Cl and C2 are
C,C,
Multiplication
connected in series then C,~ =
=
C, + C2
Addition

Q
"/
(ii) Capacitance : C = 4/Z
In C.G.S. C =

ab

b-a

ab

. ! -,

+Q

' b-a

Fig. 18.93
. In the presence of dielectric medium

(dielectric constant K) between he spheres C' =

ab
b-a

(iii) If outer sphere is giver a charge +Q while inner sphere is

earthed
Induced charge on the inn :r sphere

and v2 =
(v) If n identical capacitors each having capacitances C are
connected in series with supply voltage V then Equivalent
C
capacitance C = and Potential difference across each
n
V
capacitor V' = .
n
(vi) If n identical plates are arranged as shown below, they
constitute (n - I) capacitors in series. If each capacitor has
capacitance then Ceq = !

Q' = .Q and capacitancte of

b
the system C' =

b-a

Fig. 18.94

This arrangement is not a capacitor. But it's capacitance is

equivalent to the sum of capacitance of spherical capacitor and
spherical conductor i.e. 4fi0.f = 4^e0
+ ^n0b
bY~a
b-a
(3) Cylindrical capacitor : It consists of two co-axial
cylinders of radii a and b (a <\b), inner cylinder is given charge
+Q while outer cylinder is e|arthed. Common length of the
cylinders is / then

Fig. 18.95

Fig. 18.97
In this situation except two extreme plates each plate is
common to adjacent capacitors.
(vii) Here, effective capacitance Ceq is even less than the least
of the individual capacitances.
(2) Parallel grouping
(i) Potential difference across each capacitor remains same
and equal to the applied potential difference but charge distributes
i.e. Q = Q! + Qz + Q3
+Qi -

(ii) Ceq = C, + C2 + C3
(iii) In parallel combination charge and energy distributes in
the ratio of capacitance i.e. Q <x C and U <* C
(iv) If two capacitors having capacitance G\d C2 respectively
are connected in parallel then Ce
+C
. Q and Q2 =

Qi =

.Q

(ii) Discharging : After the completion of charging, if battery

is removed capacitor starts discharging. In transient state charge on
the capacitor at any instant Q = Q 0 e~'

cross the capacitor at any instant V = V0e ~' 'R

Q!

If n identical plates are arranged such that even numbered of

plates are connected together and odd numbered plates are
connected together, then (n - 1) capacitors will be formed and they
will be in parallel grouping.

r _

A
where C = capacitance of a capacitor = -2
d
(vi) This type of combination is used when high capacity is
required at low potential.
(vii) If Cp is the effective capacity when n identical capacitors
are connected in parallel and Cs| is their effective capacity when

Charge on the capacitor increases

with time during charging

Kirchhoff's Law for Capacitor Circuits

According to Kirchhoff s junction law ]Tq = 0 and Kirchhoff s
second law (Loop law) states that in a close loop of an electric
circuit 7 =
*-c
Use following sign convention while solving the problems.
E ,

As shown in the following figure (A) when switch S is closed,

capacitor start charging. In this transient state potential difference
appears across capacitor as well as across resistor. When capacitor
gets fully charged the entire potential difference appeared across the
capacitor and nothing is left for the resistor. [Shown in figure (B)]
R

AWU
14
VW

' i

*^

ll

^f

(A) Transient state

(B) Steady state

Fig. 18.100
(i) Charging : In transient state of charging charge on the
capacitor

at any instant

-1
Q = Q0 ( 1 - e RC

and potential

difference across the capacitor at any instant V = V0 1 - e RC

(Here Q and V are the instantaneous values of charge and
potential difference while maximum charge on capacitor is

Qo = CV 0 )

Charge on the capacitor decreases

with time during discharging

(iii) Time constant (7) : The quantity RC is called the time

constant as it has the dimension of time during charging if

E,
+ E.

-E

Charging and Discharging of Capacitor in Series

><

Fig. 18.101

connected in series, then = n

LZ

t = T = RC, Q = Q 0 (l-e- 1 ) = 0.63Q0= 63% of Q0 (- = 0.37)

e
or during discharging it is defined as the time during which charge
on a capacitor falls to 0.37 times (37%) of the initial charge on the
capacitor.

Fig. 18.99
Equivalent capacitance C' = (in -1) C

* v

= Q0(l-rwc)

Q
capacitor Q =

Qo
Qt

Qc

(v) If n identical capacitors are connected in parallel, then

Equivalent capacitance Ce = nC and Charge on each

and potential difference

AV = - q/C

AV = + q/C

Fig. 18.102

When an arrangement of capacitors cannot be simplified by

the method of successive reduction, then we need to apply the
Kirchhoff s laws to solve the circuit.

B
JSS After earthing a positively charged conductor electrons flow
from earth to conductor and if a negatively charged conductor is
earthed then electrons flows from conductor to earth.

Electrostatics 977
jeS When a charged spherical conductor is placed inside a
hollow insulated conductor and connected through a fine
conducting wire the charge wiil be completely transferred from
the inner conductor to the oute conductor.

jeZ Electric field is always directed from higher potential to

lower potential.
& A positive charge if left free in electric field always moves
from higher potential to lower potential while a negative charge
moves from lower potential to higher potential.
J& An electric potential can exist at a point in a region where
the electric field is zero and it's vice versa.

jeS Lightening-rod arresters are made up of conductors with

one of their ends earthed while the other sharp, and protects a
building from lightening either oy neutralising or conducting the
charge of the cloud to the ground.
5 With rise in temperature dielectric constant of liquid decreases.
S If X-rays are incident on a charged electroscope, due to
ionisation of air by X-rays the electroscope will get discharged
and hence its leaves will collap se. However, if the electroscope
is evacuated. X-rays will cause photoelectric effect with gold and
so the leaves will further diverge if it is positively charged (or
uncharged) and will converge iflit is negatively charged.
jeS Two point charges separated by a distance r in vacuum and
a force F acting between them. After filling a dielectric medium
having dielectric constant K completely between the charges,
force between them decreases. To maintain the force as before
separation between them has to be changed to ryK . This
distance known as effective air separation.
jeS No point charge produces <;lectric field at it's own position.
eS The electric field on the surface of a conductor is directly
proportional to the surface chargs density at that point i.e, = a
jeS Two charged spheres having radii rj and r 2 , charge
densities ol and a2 respectively, then the ratio of electric field
on their surfaces will be = -^P- =

r~

eS In air, if intensity of el Bctric field exceeds the value

3 x!0 6 N/C, air ionizes.
A small ball is suspended in a uniform electric field with the
help of an insulated thread. If a high energy X-ray beam falls on
the ball, X-rays knock out elections from the ball so the ball is
positively charged and therefqre the ball is deflected in the
direction of electric field.

jeS It is a common misconception that the path traced by a

positive test charge is a field line but actually the path traced by
a unit positive test charge represents a field line only when it
moves along a straight line.
eS An electric field is completely characterized by two physical
quantities Potential and Intensity. Force characteristic of the
field is intensity and work characteristic of the field is potential.
$ For a short dipole, electric field intensity at a point on the
axial line is double the electric field intensity at a point on the
equatorial line of electric dipole i.e. E^, = 2Eequatoria,
jeS It is interesting to note that dipole field E <*= - decreases
much rapidly as compared to the field of a point charge
1

eS Franklin (i.e., e.s.u. of charge) is the smallest unit of charge

while faraday is largest (1 Faraday = 96500 C).
jeS The e.s.u. of charge is also called stat coulomb or Franklin
(Fr) and is related to e.m.u. of charge through the relation
emu of charge = 3xlo io
esu of charge
xS Recently it has been discovered that elementary particles
such as proton or neutron are composed of quarks having
charge (l/3)e and (2/3)e. However, as quarks do not
exist in free state, the quanta of charge is still e.
& Inducting body neither gains nor loses charge.
JeS Dielectric constant of an insulator can not be
gS For metals in electrostatics K = and so Q' = - Q; i.e. in
metals induced charge is equal and opposite to inducing charge.
jsS A truck carrying explosives has a metal chain touching the
ground, to conduct away the charge produced by friction.
jeS Coulombs law is valid at a distance greater than 10~15m.
jeS Ratio of gravitational force and electrostatic force between
(i) Two electrons is Ifr43/!. (ii) Two protons is lO"36/!

F=QE

(iii) One proton and one electron 10"39/!.

MS Decreasing

X-Ray

^Nuclear

>

order

^Electromagnetic

>

MVeofc

to
>

fundamental
^Gravitational

forces

978 Electrostatics
eS At the centre of the line joining two equal and opposite
charge V = 0 but E * 0.

JtS Spherical conductor is equivalent to a spherical capacitor

with it's outer sphere of infinite radius.

jeS At the centre of the line joining two equal and similar
charge V * 0, E = 0 .

j*f A spherical capacitor behaves as a parallel plate capacitor if

its spherical surfaces have large radii and are close to each
other.

SS Electric field intensity an<jl electric potential due to a point

charge q, at a distance t, + J where ^ is thickness of medium
of dielectric constant K, an<[i t2 is thickness of medium of
dielectric constant K2 are :

-; V =
4;te

e$ If an electron (charge ej and mass m) is moving on a

circular path of radius r aboutia positively charge infinitely long
linear charge, (charge density |i) then the velocity of electron in

jgS The intensity of electric field between the plates of a parallel

plate capacitor (E = O/Q) does not depend upon the distance
between them.
& The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are being moved
away with some velocity. If the plete separation at any instant of
time is 'd' then the rate of change of capacitance with time is
proportional to .
Jg$ Radial and non-uniform electric field exists between the
spherical surfaces of spherical capacitor.

dynamic equilibrium will be v j=

g$ A metal plate is charged uniformly with a surface charge
density o. An electron of energy IV is fired towards the charged
metal plate from a distance d, then for no collision of electron

fS Two large conducting plates X and Y kept close to each

other. The plate X is given a charge Qj while plate Y is given a
charge Q2(Qi > Q 2 ), the distribution of charge on the four faces
a, b, c, d will be as shown in the following figure.

with plate d = ^t I J\t 2 i

$ It is a very common misconception that a capacitor stores

charge but actually a capacitor stores electric energy in the
electrostatic field between the plates.
jeS Two plates of unequal ar^a can also form a capacitor, but
effective overlapping area is considered.

I'M
K-d-

2
I +Q 2

Oi-Q 2

Q+Q,

V
eS When dielectric is partially filled between the plates of a
parallel plate capacitor then it's capacitance increases but
potential difference decreases. To maintain the capacitance and
potential difference of capacitor as before separation between
the plates has to be increased say by d' . In such case
K-

t-d

jeS Capacitance of a parallel'plate capacitor doesn't depends

upon the charge given, potential raised or nature of metals and
thickness of plates.

jeS In series combination equivalent capacitance is always

lesser than that of either of the individual capacitors. In parallel
combination, equivalent capacitance is always greater than the
maximum capacitance of either capacitor in network.

MS The distance between the plates is kept small to avoid

fringing or edge effect (non-Uniformity of the field) at the
boundaries of the plates.

MS If n identical capacitors are connected in parallel which are

charged to a potential V. If these are separated and connected in
series then potential difference of combination will be nV.
MS Two capacitors of capacitances Cl and C2 are charged to
potential of Vj and V2 respectively. After disconnecting from
batteries they are again connected to each other with reverse
polarity i.e., positive plate of a capacitor connected to negative
plate of other. Then common potential is given by

v = Qi-Q2 =
Q + C,

cyi-c2v2
Q + C2

Electrostatics 979
A charge Q is placed at each of the opposite corners of a
square. A charge q is placed at each of the other two
corners. If the net electrical force on Q is zero, then Q/q
equals
[AIEEE 2009; Similar MP PET 2008]

Objective Questions

(a) -2V2"
Charge and! Coulomb's Law

2.

3.

5.

The law, governing th? force between electric charges is

known as
[CPMT 1972; MP PMT 2004]
(a) Ampere's law
(b) Ohm's law
(c) Faraday's law
(d) Coulomb's law
When the distance between the charged particles is halved,
the force between them becomes
[MNR 1986]
(a) One-fourth
(b) Half
(c) Double
(d) Four times
There are two charges 4-1 //C and +5 //C respectively.
The ratio of the forces acting on them will be [CPMT 1979]
(a) 1:5
(b) 1:1
(c) 5:1
(d) 1:25
Under the influence of ti\ Coulomb field of charge +Q, a
charge -q is moving around it in an elliptical orbit. Find out
the correct statement(s)
[IIT-JEE 2009]
(a) The angular momentum of the charge -q is constant
(b) The linear momentum of the charge -q is constant
(c) The angular velocity of the charge -q is constant
(d) The linear speed of the charge -q is constant
Three concentric metallic spherical shells of radii R, 2R, 3R,
are given charges Q1,Q2\Q3. respectively. It is found that
the surface charge densities on the outer surfaces of the shells
are equal. Then, the ratio of the charges given to the shells,
Qi : Q2 : Q3 . is
[IIT-JEE 2009]

6.

7.

8.

(c)
10.

A body can be negatively charged by

[CPMT 1972; AHMS 1998]
(a) Giving excess of electrons to it
(b) Removing some electrons from it
(c) Giving some protons to it
(d) Removing some neutrons from it

11.

The charge q is projected into a uniform electric field E,

work done when it moves a distance Y is [Orissa JEE 2009]

a) qEY
(c)

12.

(b)

qE

Energy associated with a moving charge is due to a

[Orissa JEE 2008]
(a) Electric field
(b) Magnetic field
(c) Both electric field and magnetic field
(d) None of these

13.

A total charge Q is broken in two parts Qj and Q2 and

they are placed at a distance R from each other. The
maximum force of repulsion between them will occur, when
[MP PET 1990]

(a) 1 : 2 : 3
(b) 1 : 3 : 5
(c) 1 : 4 : 9
(d) 1 : 8 : 18
The ratio of the forces between two small spheres with
constant charge (a) in air (b) in a medium of dielectric
constant K is
[MNR 1998]
(a) 1 : K
(b) K : 1
(c) 1:K 2
(d) K 2 : l
A soap bubble is given a nejgative charge, then its radius
[MNpfl988; CPMT 1997; RPMT 1997;
DCE 2000; BVP 2003]
(a) Decreases
(b) Increases
(c) Remains unchanged
(d) Nothing can be predicted as information is insufficient
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
[NCERT 1983; BHU 1999]

(b) -1

(a) Q
, Q i =^
Q-R

v29 =
R,vi
(c)

14.

Q O 3Q
-j.Qi

(b) ^2
Q? =4
, Q,
>^
j = Q - 3

(d)

2'

Two identical conducting spheres carrying different charges

attract each other with a force F when placed in air medium
at a distance 'd' apart. The spheres are brought into contact
and then taken to their original positions. Now the two
spheres repel each other with a force whose magnitude is
equal to that of the initial attractive force. The ratio between
initial charges on the spheres is
[Kerala PET 2008]
(a) -(3 + V8)only

(b) -3 + V8only

(c)

(d) +V3

-(3 + V8)or(-3+V8)

(e) -V8

+ 2q

15.

In nature, the electric charge of any system is always equal

to
[VITEEE 2008]
(a) Half integral multiple of the least amount of charge

(b) Along the diagonal AC

(a) Zero
(c) Along the diagonal BD (d) Perpendicular to side AB

(b) Zero
(c) Square of the least amount of charge
(d) Integral multiple of the least amount of charge

980 Electrostatics
Two small spheres each having the charge +Q are
suspended by insulating threads of length L from a hook.
This arrangement is taken in space where there is no
gravitational effect, them the angle between the two
suspensions and the tension in each will be
[I1T 1986]

17.

Q2

(a)

180,

(c)

180, 1 Q 2
4;z0 2L2

o (2L)2

A solid sphere of radius

^\J ,
(b) 90

(d) ian

23.

+15, +12 and -20e.s.u. are placed respectively on A , B

and C . The force acting on B is
(a) 125 dynes
(b) 35 dynes

Q2

(c) 25 dynes

, L2
24.

Q2

ABC is a right angled triangle in which AB = 3cm and

BC = 4cm. And Z. ABC = Jti2. The three charges

L2

anid volume charge density

p = is enclosed by a hollow sphere of radius R2 with

Two small spherical balls each carrying a charge Q=lQfjC

(10 micro-coulomb) are suspended by two insulating
threads of equal lengths 1m each, from a point fixed in the
ceiling. It is found that in equilibrium threads are separated
by an angle 60 between them, as shown in the figure. What
is
the
tension
in
the
threads
(Given:
= 9xl0 9 Nm/C 2 )

negative surface charge density a, such that the total

charge in the system is zero. pQ is a positive constant and r

[MP PET 2001; Pb. PET 2003]

(a) 18 N

is the distance from the! centre of the sphere. The ratio

is
[VITEEE2008]

(b) 1.8 N
(c) 0.18 N

(b)

(d) None of the above

Po

25.

Two charges q^ and q 2 are placed in vacuum at a distance

d and the force acting between them is F . If a medium of
dielectric constant 4 is introduced between them, the force
now will be
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) 4F
(b) 2F

26.

Force of attraction between two point charges Q and - Q

separated by d metre is Fe . When these charges are placed
on two identical spheres of radius R = 0.3 d whose centres

(d)
18.

(d) Zero

A solid spherical conductor of radius R has a spherical cavity

of radius a (a < R) at its Centre. A charge +Q is kept at the
center. The charge at the inner surface, outer and at a
position r ( a < r <R) are respectively
[VITEEE 2008]

(a)
19.

20.

21.

22.

+ Q.-Q.O

(b) -Q, + Q,0

0,-Q,0

(d) +Q,0,0

The surface charge densii/ (in C / m 2 ) of the earth is about

[DUMET 2009]

are d metre apart, the force of attraction between them is

(a) 1C

(a) Greater than Fe

(b) Equal to Fe

(c) Less than Fe

(d) None of these

(c) 109
(d) -HT9
There are two metallic spheres of same radii but one is solid
and the other is hollow, then
[KCET 1994; BHU 1999]
(a) Solid sphere can be given more charge
(b) Hollow sphere can be given more charge
(c) They can be charged equally (maximum)
(d) None of the above
One of the following is n0t a property of field lines
[DUMET 2009]
(a) Field lines are continuous curves without any breaks
(b) Two field lines cannot cross each other
(c) Field lines start at positive charge and end at negative
charges
(d) They form closed loops
Three equal charges are placed on the three corners of a
square. If the force between ql and q 2 is F12 and that
p
between qj and q 3 is ff13 , the ratio of magnitudes ^- is
i~n

[MP PET 1993]

(a)

1/2

(c) 1/V2

[AIIMS 1995]

(b) -109

27.

28.

Consider a neutral conducting sphere. A positive point

charge is placed outside the sphere. The net charge on the
sphere is then
[1IT-JEE 2007]
(a) Negative and distributed uniformly over the surface of
the sphere
(b) Negative and appears only at the point on the sphere
closest to the point charge
(c) Negative and distributed non-uniformly over the entire
surface of the sphere
(d) Zero
A force F acts between sodium and chlorine ions of salt
(sodium chloride) when put 1cm apart in air. The
permittivity of air and dielectric constant of water are 0
and K respectively. When a piece of salt is put in water
electrical force acting between sodium and chlorine ions
1cm apart is
[MP PET 1995]

">*

(b)

(c)

(d)

(b) 2
(d) V2

KO

30.

Two identical charges repel each other with a force equal to

10 mg wt when they are 0.6 m apart in air. (<j=10ms~2). The
value of each charge is
[Karnataka CET 2007]
(a) 2mC
(b) 2xlO- 7 C
(c) 2 n C
(d) 2fjC
The value of electric permittivity of free space is

38.

(b) F

(c) I
2F

[MP PET 1996; RPET 2001]

(c) 8.85xlO- 12 C 2 /Nrf7 2 (d) 9xl0 9 C 2 /Nm 2

Two similar spheres hav ng +q and -q charge are kept at

(d) 4F
Two point charges +3//C and +8//C repel each other with
a force of 40/V . If a charge of -5//C is added to each of
them, then the force between them will become

a certain distance. F fdrce acts between the two. If in the

middle of two spheres, another similar sphere having +q

[SCRA 1998; JIPMER 2000;

Similar Orissa JEE 2008; DPMT 2009]

(a) 9 x l 0 9 N C 2 / m 2
31.

(b) 8.85xlO" 12 Nm 2 /C 2 sec

charge is kept, then it experience a force in magnitude and

direction as
[MP PET 1996]
(a) Zero having no direction (b) 8F towards +q charge
(c)
32.

39.

(a) -ION
(c) +20N
40.

8F towards -q che rge (d) 4F towards +q charge

41.

42.

at the corners A, B and C respectively of an equilateral

triangle ABC having length of each side 10 cm. The
resultant force on the charge at C is [EAMCET (Engg.) 2000]
(a) 0.9 N
(b) 1.8N
(c) 2.7 N
(d) 3.6 N
Charge on a -particle is
[MH CET 2000]

(a) 2
(b) 1/2
(c) 4
(d) 1/4
Number of electrons in or^e coulomb of charge will be

(a) 5.46 xlO 29

34.

35.

36.

(a) 4.8xHT19C

(b) 6.25 xlO18

(c) 1.6xlO +19

(d) 9xlO n
When air is replaced by a dielectric medium of constant k ,
the maximum force of attraction between two charges
separated by a distance
[CBSE PMT 1999]
(a) Decreases k times
(b) Remains unchanged
(c) Increases k times
(d) Increases k'1 times
A glass rod rubbed with silk is used to charge a gold leaf
electroscope and the lea 'es are observed to diverge. The
electroscope thus charged is exposed to X-rays for a short
period. Then
[AMU 1995]
(a) The divergence of leaves will not be affected
(b) The leaves will diverge further
(c) The leaves will collapse
(d) The leaves will melt
One metallic sphere A is given positive charge whereas
another identical metallic s|phere B of exactly same mass as
of A is given equal amourit of negative charge. Then

43.

(c)

22.50 N

(d) 45.00 N

(c) 3.2xlO"19C
(d) 6.4xlO~19C
Two small conducting spheres of equal radius have charges
+10//C and -20//C respectively and placed at a distance
in contact and separated to the same distance, they
experience force F2 . The ratio of Fj to F2 is
[MP PMT 2001; Orissa JEE 2011; Similar J & K CET 2006;
K?mataka CET 2008]

44.

(a) 1 : 8
(b) - 8 : 1
(c) 1:2
(d) - 2 : 1
Two charges each equal to 2//C are 0.5m apart. If both of
them exist inside vacuum, then the force between them is
(a) 1.89N

45.

[CPMT 2001; Similar CPMT 1977; DPMT 1999]

(b) 2.44 N

(c) 0.144JV
(d) 3.144N
Two charges are at a distance 'd' apart. If a copper plate
(conducting medium) of thickness - - is placed between

(a) Mass of A and mass of B still remain equal

(b) Mass of A increases
(c) Mass of B decreases
(d) Mass of B increases
The force between two charges 0.06m apart is 5N. If
each charge is moved towards the other by 0.01m, then
the force between them wil become
[SCRA 1994]
7.20
N
(a)
(b) 11.25N

(b) 1.6xlO~19C

R from each other experience force Fj. If they are brought

[AMIU 1995; RPET 2000; CPMT 2000]

37.

When 1019 electrons are removed from a neutral metal

plate, the electric charge on it is
(a) -1.6C
(b) + 1.6 C
(c) 10+19C
(d) 10-19C
Electric charges of IfjC, - 1//C and 2//C are placed in air

[MP PET 1997; Kerala PET 2011]

[MP PMT/PET }998; Pb. PMT 1999; AIIMS 1999;

RPET 2001; S milar RPET 2004; WB-JEE 2009]

(b) +10N
(d) -20N

[Manipal MEE 1995; Karnataka CET (Engg./Med.) 1999]

A charge Q is divided in o two parts of q and Q - q . If the

coulomb repulsion betwei n them when they are separated is
to be maximum, the ratio of should be

33.

Two charged spheres separated at a distance d exert a force

Fon each other. If they are immersed in a liquid of
dielectric constant 2, then what is the force (if all conditions
are same)
[AIIMS 1997; MH CET 2003]

them, the effective force will be

[UPSEAT 2001; J & K CET 2005]
(a) 2F
(b) F / 2
46.

(c) 0
(d) A/2F
Two electrons are separated by a distance of 1A. What is the
coulomb force between them
[MH CET 2002]
(a) 2.3xHT 8 N

(b) 4.6xlO~ 8 N

(c)

(d) None of these

l.SxlO^N

982 Electrostatics
Two copper balls, each weighting lOg are kept in air 10 cm
apart. If one electron from every 106 atoms is transferred
from one ball to the other, ithe coulomb force between them
is (atomic weight of copper is 63.5)
[KCET 2002]
(a) 2.0xl0 10 N
48.

_Q

atom in a circular orbit of radius r. The coulomb force F

1
) [CBSE PMT 2003]
between the two is (Where K =

55.

Q_
56.

4^ 2 '4^c 2

Q
0,.
Hm"
(d) None of the above
Three charges each of magnitude q are placed at the corners
of an equilateral triangle, the electrostatic force on the
charge placed at the center is (each side of triangle is L)
(c)

49.

[DPMT 2002]

57.

(b) ^^

~ L2

58.

,2

3q2

12^0 Lf50.

(a) 2.5
(b) 0.25
(c) 2.0
(d) 4.0
Three charges are placed at the vertices of an equilateral
triangle of side 'a' as shown in the following figure. The
force experienced by the charge placed at the vertex A in a
direction normal to BC is
A
[AIIMS 2003]
+Q
(a) Q 2 /

(c)

-K^-i

(d) K^-i

A body has - 80 micro coulomb of charge. Number of

additional electrons in it will be
[MP PMT 2003]
(a) 8xlO~ 5

(b) SOxHT 17

(c)

(d) 1.28 xlO' 17

5xl0 14

Two point charges placed at a certain distance r in air exert

a force F on each other. Then the distance r' at which these
charges will exert the same force in a medium of dielectric
constant k is given by
[EAMCET 1990; MP PMT 2001]

(a) r

(b) r/k

(c) r/Vfc

(d)

Dielectric constant for metal is

[MP PMT/PET 1998]

(b) Infinite
(d) Greater than 1

A charge of Q coulomb is placed on a solid piece of metal of

irregular shape. The charge will distribute itself

(d) Such that the total heat loss is minimised

59.

Five balls numbered 1 to 5 are suspended using separate

threads. Pairs (1, 2), (2, 4) and (4, 1} show electrostatic
attraction, while pair (2, 3) and (4, 5) show repulsion.
Therefore ball 1 must be
[NCERT 1980; MP PMT 2003]
(a) Positively charged

(b) Negatively charged

(c) Neutral

(d) Made of metal

Equal charges q are placed at the four corners A, B, C, D

of a square of length a . The magnitude of the force on the
charge at B will be
[MP PMT 1994; DPMT 2001]

I+Q
B
a
c
Two particle of equal mass m and charge q are placed at a
distance of 16 cm. They do not experience any force. The
(d) Q2

(b)

[MP PET 2003]

(d)
61.
(c)

53.

rVfc

(c) Such that the potential energy of the system is

minimised

60.

(c) Zero

value of is
m

(b) K^-i

(a) Uniformly in the metal object

(b) Uniformly on the surface of the object

(b) -Q 2

52.

-J

[MP PMT 1991]

Two charges placed in air repel each other by a force of

10 N . When oil is introduced between the charges, the
force becomes 2.5 x 10~5N . The dielectric constant of oil is
[MP PET 2003]

51.

(a) Zero
(c) 1

1_

(a) Zero

An electron is moving around the nucleus of a hydrogen

(b) 2.0xl0 4 N

(c) 2.0xl0 8 N
(d) 2.0xl0 6 N
A solid conducting sphere of radius a has a net positive
charge 2Q. A conducting spherical shell of inner radius b
and outer radius c is concentric with the solid sphere and
has a net charge - Q. The surface charge density on the
inner and outer surfaces of 'the spherical shell will be
[AMU 2002]
2Q
Q
4^b2 ' 4;rc2

(b)

54.

(d)

When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, it

(a) Gains electrons from si
(b) Gives electrons to silk
(c) Gains protons from silk
(d) Gives protons to silk

[MP PET 2003]

2+

Two identical conductors of copper and aluminium are

placed in an identical electric fields. The magnitude of
induced charge in the aluminium will be
[AIIMS 1999]
(a) Zero
(b) Greater than in copper
(c) Equal to that in copper
(d) Less than in copper

Two spherical conductors B and C having equal radii and

carrying equal charges in them repel each other with a force
F when kept apart at some distance. A third spherical
conductor having same j radius as that of B but uncharged is
brought in contact witrj B, then brought in contact with C
and finally removed a|vay from both. The new force of
repulsion between B an< C is
[AIEEE 2004]
(a) F/4
(b) 3F/4

70.

(a) There is a potential difference between our body and

the ground

(c) F/8

63.

64.

65.

(d) 3F/8
When a body is earth :onnected, electrons from the earth
flow into the body. This means the body is
[KCET 2004]
(a) Unchanged
(b) Charged positively
(d) An insulator
(c) Charged negatively
The charges on two spheres are +7//C and - 5//C
respectively. They expedience a force F. If each of them is
given and additional charge of - 2//C, the new force of
attraction will be
[RPET 2002]
(a) F
(b) F/2

(b) 100 Vnr1 is not a high electric field so that we do not

feel the shock
(c) Our body and the ground forms an Equipotential
surface
(d) The atmosphere is not a conductor
71.

(c) F/V3
(d) 2F
The ratio of electrostatic and gravitational forces acting
between electron and proton separated by a distance
5xlCr n m, will be (Charge on electron = 1.6 x 10~19 C, mass

66.

67.

68.

69.

[RPET 1997; Pb. PMT 2003] 72.

(a) 2.36 xlO 3 9

(b) 2.36 xlO 4 0
(c) 2.34 xlO 4 1
(d) 2.34xlO 42
Two identical spheres c; trying charges -9//C and 5//C
respectively are kept in contact and then separated from
each other. Point out tru e statement from the following. In
each sphere
[Kerala PMT 2007]
(a)

1.25 xlO 13 electrons are in deficit

(b)

1.25xl013 electrons are in excess

(c)

2.15 x 1013 electrons fire in excess

(d) 2.15x 1013 electrons W in deficit

Two equally charged, identical metal spheres A and B repel
each other with a force 'F The spheres are kept fixed with a
distance V between them A third identical, but uncharged
sphere C is brought in con act with A and then placed at the
mid-point of the line joining A and B. The magnitude of the
net electric force on C is
[UPSEAT 2004; DCE 2005]
(b) 3F/4
(a) F
(d) F/4
(c) F/2
Two charges of equal magnitudes and at a distance r exert a
force F on each other. If th charges are halved and distance
between them is doubled, len the new force acting on each
[DCE 2004]
charge is
(b) F / 4
(a) F/8
(d) F/16
(c) 4F
An infinite number of chc rges, each of charge 1 //C, are
placed on the x-axis with c -ordinates x = 1, 2, 4, 8, ....>. If
a charge of 1 C is kept a the origin, then what is the net
[DCE 2004]
force acting on 1 C charge
(b) 12000 N
(a) 9000 N
(d) 36000 N
(c) 240007V

Four metal conductors having different shapes

1.

A sphere

2.

Cylindrical

3.

Pear

3.

Lightning conductor

are mounted on insulating stands and charged. The one

which is best suited to retain the charges for a longer time is
[KCET 2005]

of electron = 9.1 x lO"31 tfg. mass of proton = 1.6xl(T27/cg,

G = 6.7xlO- n /Vm 2 /fcg )

The top of the atmosphere is at about 400 kV with respect to

the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field
that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth,
the field is about 100 Vm~l. Still, we do not get an electric
shock as we step out of our house into the open house
because (assume the house to be a steel cage so that there is
no field inside)
[Kamataka CET 2006]

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

Identify the wrong statement in the following. Coulomb's law

correctly describes the electric force that
(KCET 2005]
(a) Binds the electrons of an atom to its nucleus
(b) Binds the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an
atom
(c) Binds atoms together to form molecules
(d) Binds atoms and molecules together to form solids

73.

74.

Which of the following will represent coulomb's law

[BCECE 2006]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

A comb run through one's dry hair attracts small bits of

paper. This is due to
[Kamataka CET 2006]
(a) Comb is a good conductor
(b) Paper is a good conductor
(c) The atoms in the paper get polarised by the charged
comb
(d) The comb possesses magnetic properties

75.

Two positive ions, each carrying a charge q, are separated

by a distance d. If F is the force of repulsion between the
ions, the number of electrons missing from each ion will be
(e being the charge on an electron)
[CBSE PMT 2010]

&Fe2

(d)

984 Electrostatics

Two charges +6//C and +15//C are placed along the

82.

Two charged spherical conductors of radii Rj and R 2 are

x-axis at x = 0 and x = 2 m respectively A negative charge

is placed between them such that the resultant force on it is
zero. The negative charge is placed at
[Orissa JEE 2010]

connected by a wire. Then the ratio of surface charge

densities of the spheres av I a? is
[Kerala PET 2010]

(a) x = 0.775m

(a)

(b)

x = 1.2m

(c)

x = 0.5m

(b) 4^

*'f

(d) Position depends on the amount of charge

77.

Two protons are a distance of 1x10

10

cm from each other.

[Orissa JEE 2010]

The forces acting on them a re.

83.

(c) Coulomb force and gravitational force

A conductor has been given a charge -3xlO~ 7 C by

transferring electron. Mass increase (in kg) of the conductor
and the number of electrons added to the conductor are
respectively
[AMU (Engg.) 2010]

(d) Nuclear, coulomb and gravitational force

(a) 2xKT 16 and 2xl0 31

(a) Nuclear force and coulomb force

(b) Nuclear force and gravitational force

78.

Two identical conducting balls A and B have positive charges q,

and q2 respectively. But q1 =4 q z . The balls are brought together

84.

so that they touch each other and then kept in their original
positions. The force between them is
[Kamataka CET 2010]

(b) 5xlO~ 31 and 5xl019

(c) 3xlO~ 19 and 9xl0 16 (d) 2xKT 18 and 2xl0 12

A ring of radius r carries a charge Q uniformly distributed
over its length. A charge q is placed at its centre will
experience a force equal to
[Orissa JEE 2010]

(a) Less than that before the balls touched

(b) -

(b) Greater than that befote the balls touched

(c) Same as that before thje balls touched
85.

(d) Zero

79.

Two small spheres of masses M, and M2 are suspended by

weightless insulating thread$ of lengths L; and L2. The spheres
carry charges Qj and Q2 respectively. The spheres are
suspended such that they are in level with one another and the
threads are inclined to the vertical at angles of 0l and 02 &*
shown. Which one of the following conditions is essential, if
[Kamataka CET 2010]
#! -0

(c) Zero
(d) None of these
Four point charges -Q, -q, 2q and 2Q are placed, one at
each corner of the square. The relation between Q and q for
which the potential at the centre of the square is zero is
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2012]
Q=-q

(b)

(d)

(c) Q=q

Electric Field and Potential

A charge q is placed at the centre of the line joining two
equal charges Q. The system of the three charges will be in
equilibrium, if q is equal to
[IIT 1987; CBSE PMT 1995; Bihar MEE 1995; CPMT 1999;
MP PET 1999; MP PMT 1999, 2000; RPET 1999;
KCET 2001; AIEEE 2002; AFMC 2002;
Kerala PMT 2004; J & K CET 2004]

(a)

80.

A ball with charge -50 e is placed at the centre of a hollow

spherical shell which has a net charge of -50 e. What is the
charge on the shell's outer 'surface
[DUMET 2010]
-50e

81.

(b) Zero

(d) +100e
-lOOe
-.10
If 10 electrons are acquired by a body every second, the
time required for the body to get a total charge of 1 C will be
[DUMET 2010]
(a) Two hours

(b) Two days

(c) Two years

(d) 20 years

-f

N-a

(c, ^

Wl +f
Q

Let P(r) = j-r be the charge density distribution for a

solid sphere of radius R and total charge Q. For a point 'p'
inside the sphere at distance rjfrom the centre of the
sphere, the magnitude of electric field is
(a) 0

(b)

Qr,2

4;re

(d)

Qr?
3;re0 R 4

[AIEEE 2009]

ElectrostaticsJ?85
Two small spheres each carrying a charge q are placed r
metre apart. If one of the sphere is taken around the other
one in a circular path of radius r, the work done will be
equal to
[CPMT 1975, 91, 2001; NCERT 1980, 83;

11.

corners of a square of side 8cm. The potential at the

intersection of the diagonals is
[BIT 1993]

EAMCET 1994; MP PET 1995; MNR 1998; Pb. PMT 2000]

(a) Force between them x r

(b) Force between them x 2nr

4.

5.

6.

7.

(c) Force between them I2nr

(d) Zero
Two points P and Q are meiintained at the potentials of 10 V
and -4V, respectively. The work done in moving 100
electrons from P to Q is
[AIEEE 2009]
(a) -9.60xKT 17 J

(b) 9.60xlO~ 17 J

(c)

(d) 2.24xHT 16 J

-2.24xlO" 16 J

Two charged spheres o: radii 10 cm and 15 cm are

connected by a thin wire. 1 o charge will flow, if they have
[CPMT 1975; MP PET 1991]
(a) The same charge on efech
(b) The same potential
(c) The same energy
(d) The same field on thei|r surfaces
The electric field inside a spherical shell of uniform surface
charge density is
[CPM1 :1982; MP PET 1994; RPET 2000]
(a) Zero
(b) Constant, less than ze:
(c) Directly proportional to the distance from the centre
(d) None of the above
The electric potential V at any point O (x, y, z all in metres)
in space is given by V=ftx2 volt. The electric field at the
point (1m, 0, 2m) in uo/t/rfierre is
[HT 1992; RPET 1999;

12.

8.

of the sphere is

9.

150V2uo/t

(b) 1500^/2 volt

c)

900V2uo/t

(d) 9QOuolt

A uniform electric field having a magnitude 0 and direction

along the positive X-axis exists. If the potential V is zero at
x=0, then its value at X= +x will be
[MP PMT 1987]
(a) V ( x ) =+xE 0
(b) V x = - x E 0

13.

(d) V x = - x 2 E 0

Three charges 2q, ~q, -q are located at the vertices of an

equilateral triangle. At the centre of the triangle
[MP PET 1985; J & K CET 2004; Kerala PET 2009]

14.

(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
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
[CPMT 1986, 88]

(a) E A > E B

(b) E A < E B

(c) E A = ^

(d) E A = ^ f

15.

[CPMT 1985; AIEEE 2002]

(a) 0 V
(b) 10 V
(c) Same as at point 5 citn away from the surface
(d) Same as at point 25 Cm away from the surface
If a unit positive charge s taken from one point to another
over an equipotential suriace, then

(a) Work is done on the charge

(b) Work is done by the charge
(c) Work done is constant
(d) No work is done
Electric lines of force abojut negative point charge are
[MP PMT 1987]

(a) Circular, anticlockwise

(c) Radial, inward

(b) Circular, clockwise

(d) Radial, outward

ABC is an equilateral triangle. Charges +q are placed at

each corner. The electric intensity at O will be

[HT 1983; MNR 1990; MP PET/PMT 2000;

DPMT 2004; Similar MP PMT 2009]

[KCET 1994; CPMT 1997; CBSE PMT 2000; BCECE 2004;

Similar WB-JEE 2009]

10.

(a)

(c) V x = + x 2 E 0

MP PMT 2001; Similar Kamataka CET 2009]

(a) 8 along negative X-axis (b) 8 along positive X-axis

(c) 16 along negative X-.ixis (d) 16 along positive Z-axis
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

10

Charges of + xlO" 9 C are placed at each of the four

(b)

(c) Zero

IA\)
16.

O
'

->

C
B
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

[NCERT 1980]

(a) Is least along the path AB

(b) Is least along the path AD
(c) Is zero along all the paths AB,

AC, AD and AE
(d) Is least along AE

986 Electrostatics
The magnitude of electric field intensity is such that, an
electron placed in it would experience an electrical force
equal to its weight is given by
[CPMT 1975, 80; AFMC 2001; BCECE 2003]

(a) mge
e
mg

18.

20.

21.

22.

26.

(d) -4i

If is the electric field intensity of an electrostatic field, then

the electrostatic energy density is proportional to
[MP PMT 2003]

(b) ^
e

(a)

(b) E 2

(c) l/ 2

(d) 3

The charge given to any conductor resides on its outer

surface, because
[MP PET 2009]

Three concentric spherical shells have radii a, fa and

c (a < b < c) and have Surface charge densities a, - a and a

(a) The free charge tends to be in its minimum potential

energy state

respectively. If VA, VB and Vc denote the potentials of the

(b) The free charge tends to be in its minimum kinetic

energy state

three shells, then, for c = a + b, we have

19.

25.

[CBSE PMT 2009]

(a)

VC=VA*VB

(b) VC=VB*VA

(c)

VC*VB*VA

(d) VC=VB=VA

An electron and a proton are in a uniform electric field, the

ratio of their accelerations will be
[NCERT 1984; MP PET 2002]
(a) Zero
(b) Unity
(c) The ratio of the masses of proton and electron
(d) The ratio of the masses of electron and proton
Two parallel plates have equal and opposite charge. When
the space between them is evacuated, the electric field
between the plates is 2 x l 0 5 V / m . When the space is filled
with dielectric, the electric field becomes l x l 0 5 V / m . The
dielectric constant of the jdielectric material [MP PET 1989]
(a) 1/2
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 3
The insulation property of air breciks down at = 3xl0 6
volt/metre. The maximum charge that can be given to a
sphere of diameter 5 m te approximately (in coulombs)
[MP PMT 1990]
(b) 2xl(T 3
(a) 2xlCT 2

(c) The free charge tends to be in its maximum potential

energy state
(d) The free charge tends to be in its maximum kinetic
energy state
27.

In identical mercury droplets charged to the same potential

V coalesce to form a single bigger drop. The potential of
new drop will be
[Kerala PET 2008; MP PET 2009]

(a)
(c)
28.

(b) nV
nV2

(d) n z/3 V

An uncharged sphere of metal is placed in between two

charged plates as shown. The lines of force look like
[MP PMT 1985; KCET 2004]

(d) 2xl(T5
(c) 2x10-"
The electric potential at a point (x, y, z) is given by

+++++++

V = -x2y - xz3 + 4

The electric field E at th t point is

[CBSE PMT 2009]

_ /

(a) = i (2xy + z 3 ) + j x 2 + / c 3 x z 2

(b) = / 2xy + j (x2 + y f ) + k (3xz - y 2 )

= j z3 + j xyz -i- k zp

(d) E = i (2xy - z 3 ) + j x,y2 + k 3z2x

23.

Two spheres A and B of radius, 4cm and 6cm are given

charges of 80//C and 40//C respectively. If they are
connected by a fine wire, the amount of charge flowing from
one to the other is
[MP PET 1991]
(a) 20//C from A to B
(b) 16//C from A to B
(c) 32//C from B to A
(d) 32//C from A to B

24.

The mean free path of electrons in a metal is 4 x 1CT8 m . The

electric field which can give on an average 2 eV energy to an

29.

(a) A

(b) B

(c)

(d) D

In figure + Q charge is located at one of the edge of the cube,

then electric flux through cube due to + Q charge is
[MP PMT 2009]

(b)

electron in the metal will be in units of V/m [CBSE PMT 2009]

(a) 8xl0 7
(c)

SxlCT11

(b) SxHT11
(d) 5xl0 7

(d)

+Q
2e 0

+Q
8e n

30.

On rotating a point charge having a charge q around a

charge Q in a circle of radius r. The work done will be

37.

The electric field near a conducting surface having a uniform

surface charge density cris given by

[CPMT 1990, 97; MP PET 1993, 2010, AIIMS 1997;

[MP PMT 1994; Gujarat CET 2007]

DCE 2003; KCET 2005; WB-JEE 2009; Kerala PMT 2011]

(a) and is parallel to the surface

\vi

*7

(b) and is parallel to the surface

Q
31.

321.

Two parallel metal plates having charges + Q and -Q face

(c)

each other at a certain distance between them. If the plates

are now dipped in kerojsene oil tank, the electric field
between the plates will
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2010]

(d) - and is normal to the surface

Q

(a) Become zero

(b) Increase

(c)

(d) Remain same

The number of electrons tp be put on a spherical conductor

of radius O.lm to produc e an electric field of 0.036N/C

There is an electric field E in X-direction. If the work done

on moving a charge 0.2 C through a distance of 2m along a
line making an angle 60 with the X-axis is 4.0, what is the
value of E
[CBSE PMT 1995]

just above its surface is

(a) V 3 N / C

(b) 4 N / C

(c) 5 N / C

(d) None of these

Decrease

38.

MNR 1994; KCET (Engg.) 1999;

MH CET (Med.) 2001]

33.

(a) 2.7 xlO 5

(b) 2.6 xlO 5

(c) 2.5 xlO 5

(d) 2.4 xlO 5

39.

Two plates are 2cm apart, a potential difference of 10 volt

is applied between them, tie electric field between the plates
is
[MP PET 1994; DPMT 2002]
(a) 20 N/C
(c) 5 N / C

34.

Four equal charges Q are placed at the four corners of a

square of each side is 'a'. Work done in removing a charge
-Q from its centre to infinity is
[AIIMS 1995]
(a) 0

(b) 500N/C
(c)

(d) 250 N/C

The intensity of the electric field required to keep a water

drop of radius 10~5 cm just suspended in air when charged
with one electron is approximately
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) 260 volt/cm

(b) 260 newton'coulomb

(c) 130 volt/cm

(d) 130 newton'coulomb

40.

V2Q2

(b)

V2Q2

Q2

(d)

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 will become
"B

[MNR 1991; BHU 1995; UPSEAT 2000; Pb. PET 2004]

(g=10 newton/kg, e=1.6> 10-19 coulomb)

35.

and is normal to the surface

o

Conduction electrons are c Imost uniformly distributed within

(a) 2 : 1

(b) 1:2

a conducting plate. When placed in an electrostatic field E ,

the electric field within the plate
[MP PMT 1994]

(c) 1:4

(d) 4 : 1
op

41.

The electric field at a distance:

from the centre of a

(a) Is zero
(b) Depends upon E

charged conducting spherical shell of radius R is E. The

(c) Depends upon E

electric field at a distance

^ from the centre of the sphere is

(d) Depends upon the a tomic number of the conducting

element
36.

[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2010]

a) Zero

Three particles, each havirig a charge of 10 //C are placed at

the corners of an equilateral triangle of side 10 cm. The
electrostatic potential energy of the system is (Given
= 9xl09N-m2/C2)

[MP PMT 1994]

(c)

42.

(b)

Angle between equipotential surface and lines of force is

[MP PET 1995]

(a) Zero

(b) Infinite

(a) Zero

(b) 180

(c) 27 J

(d) 100 J

(c)

(d) 45

90

988 Electrostatics
43.

Below figures (1) and (2) represent lines of force. Which is

correct statement
[MP PET 1995]

50.

What is the magnitude of a point charge due to which the

electric field
30cm
away has the
magnitude
2newton/coulomb [1/4^0 = 9 x l 0 9 N m 2 / C 2 ]
[MP PMT 1996, 2000; RPET 2001]

(1)

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

44.

45.

46.

Figure (1) represents magnetic lines of force

Figure (2) represents magnetic lines of force
Figure (1) represents electric lines of force
Both figure (1) and figure (2) represent magnetic lines
of force
The unit of electric field is not equivalent to [MP PMT 1995]
(a) N/C
(b) J/C
(c) V/m
(d) J / C - m
A flat circular disc has a charge +Q uniformly distributed on
the disc. A charge +q if thrown with kinetic energy E
towards the disc along its normal axis. The charge q will
[MP PMT 1995]
(a) Hit the disc at the centre
(b) Return back along its path after touching tne disc
(c) Return back along its path without touching the disc
(d) Any of the above thr^e situations is possible depending
on the magnitude of E
At a certain distance from a point charge the electric field is
5 0 0 V / m and the potential is 3000V. What is this
distance

47.

48.

(a) 6m

(b) 12m

(c)

(d) 144m

36m

(b) 3xlO" n cou/omfa

(c) 5xlO~ u cou/omfa

(d) 9xlO' n cou/omb

Two charge +q and -q are situated at a certain distance.

At the point exactly midway between them [Roorkee 2000]
(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) Neither electric field nor potential is zero

52.

Two charged spheres of radii /?j and R2 having equal

surface charge density. The ratio of their potential is
[Orissa JEE 2009]

53.

(a) /?!/R 2

(b) / ? 2 / R j

(c) ( R . / R z ) 2

(d) ( R 2 / R , ) 2

An

a-particle of mass

and

charge

1.6xl05 VrrT1. The velocity of the particle at the end of

2 x 10~~ m path when it starts from rest is
[Kamataka CET 2009]

(a) 2V3xl0 5 ms

The magnitude of electric field E in the annular region of a

charged cylindrical capacitor
[IIT 1996]
(a) Is same throughout
(b) Is higher near the outer cylinder than near the inner
cylinder
(c) Varies as 1 / r , where r is the distance from the axis

6.4xlO~ 27 fcg

3.2xlO~ 19 C is situated in a uniform electric field of

[MP PMT 1995; Pb. PMT 2001; AFMC 2001;

RPMT 2005; J & K CET 2006]

(c)
54.

16xl05ms"1

(b) 8xl0 5 ms" 1

(d) 4V2xl0 5 ms~ 1

Consider a system of three charges , and O

- placed
O

at points A, B and C, respectively, as shown in the figure.

Take O to be the centre of the circle of radius R and angle
CAB = 60
[IIT-JEE 2008]

(d) Varies as I/ r 2 , where r is the distance from the axis

A metallic solid sphere is placed in a uniform electric field.
The lines of force follow the path(s) shown in figure as
1 > y^
?Ns >
i
[IIT 1996]
9

\,

(
3

4*-"

49.

51.

(a) 2xlO" n cou/omb

\-rX

/>

7 ~~*~

(a) 1
(c) 3
The distance between a proton and electron both having a
charge 1.6xlO~19cou/omb , of a hydrogen atom js
10"10 metre . The value of intensity of electric field
produced on electron due to proton will be
[MP PET 1996; Similar MP PET 19951]
(a) 2.304 xlO- 1 0 N/C

(b) 14.4 V/m

(c) 1 6 V / m

(d) 1.44xlO n N/C

(a) The electric field at point O is -

!^ directed along

the negative x-axis

(b) The Potential energy of the system is zero
(c) The magnitude of the force between the charges at C
and B is
(d) The potential at point O is -

Electrostatics 989
61.

55.

Two point charges 100 juC and 5 //C are placed at

points A and B respectively with AB=40 cm. The work
done by external force in displacing the charge 5 //C
from 6 to C, where BC = 30 cm , angle ABC = and
= 9xl09Nm2/C2

56.

A thin conducting ring oi radius R is given a charge +

Q. The electric field at the centre O of the ring due to
the charge on the part AKB of the ring is E. The electric
field at the centre due tol the charge on the part ACDB
of the ring is
[CBSE PMT 2008]
(a) E along KO
(b) 3 E along OK
(d) E along OK
(c) SEalongKO
In Millikan's oil drop experiment an oil drop carrying a
charge Q is held stationary by a potential difference 2400 V
between the plates. To tyeep a drop of half the radius
stationary the potential difference had to be made 600V .
What is the charge on the second drop
[MP PET 1997]

3Q
2
A charge of 5C experien :es a force of 5000 N when it is
kept in a uniform electiic field. What is the potential
difference between two points separated by a distance of
1cm
[MP PET 1997]
(c)

57.

58.

62.

63.

(d)

(a) 10 V

(b)

(c)

(d) 2500V

1000 V

(c)

64.

65.

66.

(b) Surface charge densiy on the 20cm sphere will be

(c) Surface charge density on the 15cm sphere will be
greater than that on the 20cm sphere
(d) Surface charge density; on the two spheres will be equal
Equal charges q are placed at the vertices A and B of an
equilateral triangle ABCi of side a . The magnitude of
[MP PMT 1997]
electric field at the point C
(b)

(c)

60.

(b)

25

(d) -4<

The unit of intensity of electric field is [MP PMT/PET 1998]

(a) Newton/Coulomb
(b) Joule/Coulomb
(c) Volt-metre
(d) Newton/metre
Equal charges are given to two spheres of different radii.
The potential will
[MP PMT/PET 1998; MH CET 2000]
(a) Be more on the smaller sphere
(b) Be more on the bigger sphere
(c) Be equal on both the spheres
(d) Depend on the nature of the materials of the spheres
The electric potential at a point in free space due to a charge
Q coulomb is Q x 10n volts. The electric field at the point is
(a) 4;re 0 Q x l 0 2 0 V / m

(b) 12;re0 Q x l 0 2 2 V / m

(c)

(d) 12;re0 Q x l 0 2 0 V / m

4;re0 Q x l 0 2 2 V / m

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
[MP PET 1999]
(a) 2V
(b) 0.25V
(c) IV
(d) 25V
The electric potential V is given as a function of distance x
(metre) by V = (5x2 + lOx - 9)volt. Value of electric field at
x = 1 Is

greater than that on ft e 15cm sphere

59.

9J

[CBSE PMT 2008]

250V

Two insulated charged conducting spheres of radii 20cm

and 15cm respectively and having an equal charge of IOC
are connected by a ccpper wire and then they are
separated. Then
[MP PET 1997]
(a) Both the spheres will have the same charge of IOC

[MP PMT 1997]

67.

[MP PET 1999; Similar KCET 2007]

(a) - 2 0 V / m

(b) 6 V / m

(c)

(d) -23V/m

HV/m

Two metal pieces having a potential difference of 800V are

0.02m apart horizontally. A particle of mass 1.96x 10~l5fcg is
suspended in equilibrium between the plates. If e is the
elementary charge, then charge on the particle is
[MP PET 1999]

V2q

(d) ^5-

68.

(a) e
.
(b) 3e
(c) 6e
(d) 8e
The figure shows some of the electric field
corresponding to an electric field. The figure suggests

Two equal charges q are placed at a distance of 2a and a

third charge -2q is placed at the midpoint. The potential
[MP PMT 1997]
energy of the system is
2

IW
(d)

lines

[MP PMT 1999]

**

(a)

E A > E B > Ec

(c)

EA=EC> EB

EA=EB=EC
(d)

EA=EC<EB

990 Electrostatics
69.

Two spheres of radii a and b respectively are charged and

joined by a wire. The ratio of electric field of the spheres is

76.

[CPMT 1999; JIPMER 2000; RPET 2000; MP PMT 2006]

70.

(a) alb

(b) b/a

(c) a 2 /fa 2

(d) fa 2 /a 2

77.

A particle of mass m and charge q is placed at rest in a

uniform electric field and then released. The kinetic
energy attained by the particle after moving a distance y is

(b) q2y
78.

(d) q 2 Ey
71.

A hollow insulated conducting sphere is given a positive

charge of 10//C. What Will be the electric field at the centre
of the sphere if its radius s 2 meters
(a) Zero

72.

[CBSE PMT 1998]

(b) 5 fjCm'2
(d) 8//Cm' 2

An electron of mass m

initially at rest moves through a

Point charges +4q, -q and +4q are kept on the x-axis at

points x=0, x=a and x=2a respectively, then
(a) Only q is in stable equilibrium
(b) None of the charges are in equilibrium
(c) All the charges are in unstable equilibrium
(d) All the charges are in stable equilibrium
Two point charges of 20//C and 80//C are 10cm apart.
Where will the electric field strength be zero on the line
joining the charges from 20//C charge
(a) O.lm

(b) 0.04m

(c)

(d) 0.33m

0.033m

Consider a thin spherical shell of radius R consisting of

uniform surface charge density a. The electric field at a
point of distance x from its centre and outside the shell is
[J & K CET 2008]

proton of mass mp also initially at rest takes time tz to

(b) Directly proportional to x2

(c) Directly proportional to R

[JIT 1997 Cancelled]

(a) 1

(b) (m p /m e

(c) (m e /mJ 1 / 2

(d)

80.

1/2

q/b2

(c) 32q/b 2

[SCRA 1998; JIPMER 2001, 02]

(b) q/2b 2

(a)

81.

(d) Zero

equilibrium in an electric j field. If charge on it is equal to

charge of an electron, theh intensity of electric field will be
(g = 10ms ! )
[RPET 1997; Similar MH CET 2004]
1.61N/C

(b) 26.2N/C

(c) 262N/C

(d) 1610N/C

82.

(a) 1.02xl0 7 N/C upwards

[RPET 1999]
-2Q

(b) 2.04xl0 7 JV/C dow wards

(d) 3V

83.

q_
'd

What is the potential energy of the equal positive point

charges of IjuC each held 1 m apart in air
[AMU 1999]
(a) 9xHT3J
(b) 9xlO-3eU
(c) 2eV/m
(d) Zero
An oil drop having charge 2e is kept stationary between
two parallel horizontal plates 2.0 cm apart when a potential
difference of 12000 volts is applied between them. If the
density of oil is 900 kg/m3, the radius of the drop will be
[AMU 1999]

(c) 2.04xl0 7 N/C upwards

(d) 1.02xl0 7 /V/C downlvards

(b) f V

Two unlike charges of magnitude q are separated by a

distance 2d . The potential at a point midway between them
is
[JIPMER 1999]
1
(a) Zero
(b)
(c)

Four charges are placed or corners of a square as shown in

figure having side of 5cm If Q is one microcoulomb, then
electric field intensity at centre will be

1,,

(0

A charged water drop jwhose radius is 0.1//m is in

(a)

(d) Inversely proportional to x2

If a charged spherical conductor of radius 10cm has
potential V at a point distant 5 cm from its centre, then the
potential at a point distant 15cm from the centre will be

1836

A cube of side b has a charge q at each of its vertices. The

electric field due to this charge distribution at the centre of
this cube will be
[KCET 1994, 2000; RPMT 2006]
(a)

75.

(d) 2.83 J/m 3

(a) Inversely proportional to a

equal to

74.

(c) 32J/m 3

certain distance in a uniform electric field in time tl. A

move through an equal d stance in this uniform electric field.
Neglecting the effect of gravity, the ratio of t2 11i1 is nearly

73.

(b) 8xl0 3 J/m 3

[RPET 1997; Similar VITEEE 2006]

79.
- (c)

(a) 64xl0 5 J/m 3

[CBSE PMT 1992]

[CBSE PMT 1998; Kerala PMT 2005; Kerala PET 2009]

qy2

A sphere of radius 1cm has potential of 8000 V, then

energy density near its surface will be
[RPET 1999]

-0

+ 2Q

(a) 2.0xlO' 6 m

(b) 1.7xl0^m

(c) 1.4x10-*

(d) l.lxlO~ 6 m

84.

The ratio of momenta of pn electron and an a-particle

which are accelerated frorr rest by a potential difference
of 100 volt is
[UPSEAT 1999]

92.

Electrostatics 991
i
.......I. I.
Two charges of 4//C each are placed at the corners A and
B of an equilateral triangle of side length 0.2 m in air. The
I

electric potential at C is
(a) 1

M ~2 "

= 9xlO y

(b)
[EAMCET (Med.) 2000]

(a) 9xl0 4 V
(c) 36xl0 4 V

(d)
85.

The work done in bringing a unit positive charge from

infinite distance to a point at distance x from a positive
charge Q is W. Then the potential (/> at that point is

93.

WQ

94.

(b)

(d)

WQ

W_

(c)

86.

When a proton is accelerated through IV, then its kinetic

energy will be [CBSE PMT 1999; Similar MP PET/PMT 1998;
JIPMER 1999; UPSEAT 2002;
Pb. PET 2003; Kerala PET 2007]

87.

(a) 1840 eV
(b) 13.6 eV
(c) l e V
(d) 0.54 eV
An electron enters between two horizontal plates separated
by 2mm and having a potential difference of 1000V. The
force on electron is
[JIPMER 1999]

(a) 8xlO" 12 N
88.

95.

96.

89.

(d)

3-

97.

[EAMCET (Engg.) 2000]

(a) Q(a ei +be 2 )

(b) l.SxlO 6 V

If an electron moves from rest from a point at which

potential is 50 volt to another point at which potential is 70
volt, then its kinetic energy in the final state will be
[J & K CET 2005; Similar RPET 1997]
(a) 3.2 x 10-10J
(b) 3.2 x 1Q-18J

(a) WA = WB = Wc
(b) WA = WB = Wc = 0

91.

WA > WB > Wc

(d)

WA<WB<WC

The electric field due to a charge at a distance of 3 m from it

is 500 N/coulomb. The nagnitude of the charge is

1
4;z0

= 9xl0 9

N-i

(b)

(c) Q( ei +e 2 )Va 2 +b 2

(c) 1.8xl0 5 V
(d) 1.8xl0 4 V
In the following diagram the work done in moving a point
charge from point P to point A, B and C is respectively as
WA, WB and Wc , then
[J & K CET 2005]

(c)

The displacement of a charge Q in the electric field

= eji + e2j + e3k is F = ai + bj . The work done is

[KCET (Ei|gg./Med.) 1999; MP PET 2006]

90.

(a) 5.8 J
(b) 5.8 eV
(c) 13 J
(d) 13 eV
Three identical point charges, as shown are placed at the
vertices of an isosceles right angled triangle. Which of the
numbered vectors coincides in direction with the electric
field at the mid-point M of the hypotenuse
[AMU 2000]
(a) 1

(d) 4

R3

placed at the corners of a square of side V2 m. the potential

at the centre of the square is
(a) 1.8V

(c) V = 0 and E = 0
(d) V = 0 and E * 0
Two positive point charges of 12//C and 8juC are 10cm
apart. The work done in bringing them 4 cm closer is

(c) 3

1: K2

Electric charges of +10//C, - 5//C, - 3//C and +8//C are

(b) V * 0 and E = 0

(b) 2

[KCET 1999]

(c) R f i R f

V * 0 and E * 0

[AMU 2000]

(c) 8xl0 9 N
(d) 8xl0 14 N
Two metal spheres of radii Rj and R2 are charged to the
same potential. The ratio of (Charges on the spheres is
(b) R,:R2

(b) 7xl0 4 N/C

(c) 5xl0 4 N/C

(d) 4xl0 4 N/C
Ten electrons are equally spaced and fixed around a circle
of radius R. Relative to V = 0 at infinity, the electrostatic
potential V and the electric field E at the centre C are
[AMU 2000]
(a)

(b) 8xlO' 14 N

(a)

Electric field strength due to a point charge of 5//C at a

distance of 80 cm from the charge is
[CBSE PMT 2000]
(a) 8xl0 4 N/C

[J & K CET 2008]

(b) 18xl0 4 V
(d) 36xlO~ 4 V

(c) I N
99.

(d) Idyne

There is a solid sphere of radius '/?' having uniformly

distributed charge. What is the relation between electric field
'' (inside the sphere) and radius of sphere '/?' is
[Pb. PMT 2000]

coulomb*

[MP PMT 2000; SMlar Pb. PMT 2001; RPET 2002]

(a) 2.5 micro-coulomb
(c) 1.0 micro-cou/omb

(b) 2.0 micro-cou/omb

(d) 0.5 micro-coulcmb

(a) E = / T 2
R3

(b) E o c R - 1
(d)

992 Electrostatics

100. Two charges +5//C and +10//C are placed 20 cm apart.

The net electric field at the mid-Point between the two
charges is
[KCET (Med.) 2000]
(a) 4.5xlO 6 N/C directed towards +5//C
(b) 4.5 xlO 6 N/C directed towards +10//C
(c)

13.5 x 106 N/C directed towards +5//C

106. Two electric charges \2fjC and -6//C are placed 20 cm

apart in air. There will be a point P on the line joining these
charges and outside the region between them, at which the
electric potential is zero. The distance of P from -6//C
charge is
[EAMCET 2000]
(a) 0.10m

(b) 0.15m

(c) 0.20m

(d) 0.25m

107. In the given figure distance of the point from A where the
electric field is zero is
[RPMT 2000]

(d) 13.5xlO6 N/C directed towards +10//C

101. Which of the following i$ deflected by electric field

[CPMT 2000]

(a) X-rays

(b) y -rays

(c) Neutrons

(d) a -particles

r- 2q

.
'tKEri

J 2+b2

WjiC
I*

102. As shown in the figure, charges -i-q and -q are placed at

the vertices B and C <]>f an isosceles triangle. The potential
[MP PE1
at the vertex A is
l-*\

80 cm

(a) 20cm

(b) 10cm

(c) 33cm

(d) None of these

108. Figures below show regular hexagons, with charges at the

vertices. In which of the following cases the electric field at
the centre is not zero
[AMU 2000]

**\

(b) Zero

q
,

q it

/r\

/
^c2

q
+b2

/
B w"

+q

>

'

(2)

(D

(-q)

103. Charges 4Q, q and Q and placed along x-axis at positions

x = 0,x = / / 2 and x =i / , respectively. Find the value of q
so that force on charge Q is zero
[DPMT 2005]
(a) Q

(b) Q/2

(c) - Q / 2

(d) -Q

104. A charged particle of rrtass 5x10" kg is held stationary in

space by placing it in a|n electric field of strength
directed vertically downwards. The charge on the particle is
[EAMCET 2000; Similar Orissa JEE 2002]

(a) -20xlO~ 5 //C

(b) -5xlO~ 5 //C

(c)

(d) 20xlO~ 5 //C

105. Three charges Q, +q ahd -I-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
[I1T-JEE (Screening) 2000; Similar Kerala PET 2008]
-q

(4)

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

109. An electron is moving towards x-axis. An electric field is

along y-direction then path of electron is
[RPET 2000]
(a) Circular

(b) Elliptical

(c) Parabola

(d) None of these

110. An electron enters in an electric field with its velocity in the

direction of the electric lines of force. Then [MP PMT 2000]
(a) The path of the electron will be a circle
(b) The path of the electron will be a parabola
(c) The velocity of the electron will decrease
(d) The velocity of the electron will increase
111. An electron of mass m and charge e is accelerated from
rest through a potential difference V in vacuum. The final
speed of the electron will be

[MP PMT 2000; AMU (Engg.) 2000]

2 + A/2

(d)

+q

(a) V y e / m

(b)

-JeV/m

(c)

(d) 2eWm

Electrostatics 993
112. At a point 20 cm from the centre of a uniformly charged
dielectric sphere of radius J.O cm, the electric field is 100
V/m. The electric field at 3 dm from the centre of the sphere
will be
[BCECE 2005]
(a) 150 V/m
(b) 125 V/m
(c) 120 V/m
(d) Zero

119.

A charge (-q) and another charge (+Q) are kept at two

points A and B respectively. Keeping the charge (+Q) fixed
at B, the charge (-q) at A is moved to another point C such
that ABC forms an equilateral triangle of side /. The net
work done in moving the charge (-q) is
[MP PET 2001]
1

Qq

1 Qq

113. The dimension of (1/2) e0E2(e0 : permittivity of free space;

: electric field) is [IIT-JEE (Screening) 2000; KCET 2000]
MLT

-Qq/

(d) Zero

(b) ML2!'2

Mr1!'2
(d) ML2!'1
114. In the rectangle, shown below, the two comers have charges
qj=-5//C and q2=+2.0//C., The work done in moving a
charge +3.0//Cfrom B to A is (take 1/4 ^b=1010N-m2/C2)
(c)

120.

[AMU 2001]
th

A particle of mass 'm' and charge 'q' is accelerated through a

potential difference of V volt, its energy will be [MP PET 2001]
(a) qV

(b) mqV

(c)

(d)

*
.m

q
mV

121. Two spheres A and B of radius 'a' and 'b' respectively are at
same electric potential. The ratio of the surface charge
densities of A and B is
[MP PMT 2001; Kerala PET 2009]

5 cm

15cm
(a)

(b) 3.5 J
(a) 2.8 J
(d) 5.5 J
(c) 4.5 J
115. A cube of a metal is giveiji a positive charge Q. For the
above system, which of the following statements is true
[MP PET 2001]

(a) Electric potential at the surface of the cube is zero

(b) Electric potential within the cube is zero
(c) Electric field is normal to the surface of the cube
(d) Electric field varies within the cube
116. If q is the charge per Unit area on the surface of a
conductor, then the electric'field intensity at a point on the
surface is
[MP PET 2001; UPSEAT 2001]
(a)

normal to surface (b)

normal to surface

c)

- tangential to surface (d)

tangential to surface

[MP PMT 2001; UPSEAT 2001; MP PET 2001, 02;

RPMT 2003; Orissa JEE 2005]

Zero

(b)

9.
v

(d)

1 Q
r
-^-^

118. A spherical conductor of radius 2m is charged to a potential

of 120 V. It is now placed: inside another hollow spherical
conductor of radius 6m. Calculate the potential to which the
[KCET 2001]
bigger sphere would be raiS' >d
(a) 20V
(b) 60V
(c) 80V
(d) 40V

(d)
122.

4 point charges each +q is placed on the circumference of a

circle of diameter 2d in such a way that they form a square.
The potential at the centre is
[WB-JEE 2008]

.$

(a) 0

(d>

73
4d

123. Electric field intensity at a point in between two parallel sheets

with like charges of same surface charge densities (d] is
[MP PMT 2001]
G

117. A hollow conducting sphere! of radius R has a charge (+Q)

on its surface. What is the electric potential within the sphere
at a distance r=R/3 from its centre

(b )

(c) Zero

(b)

(d)

124. In an hydrogen atom, the electron revolves around the

nucleus in an orbit of radius 0.53xl0 10 m. Then the
electrical potential produced by the nucleus at the position
of the electron is
[Pb. PMT 2001]
(a) -13.6V

(b) -27.2V

(c) 27.2V

(d) 13.6V

125. Consider two point charges of equal magnitude and

opposite sign separated by a certain distance. The neutral
point between them
[Kerala (Engg.) 2001]
(a) Does not exist
(b) Will be in mid way between them
(c) Lies on the perpendicular bisector of the line joining the two
(d) Will be closer to the negative charge

994 Electrostatics
126. Three identical charges each of 2//C are placed at the
vertices of a triangle ABC as shown in the figure
[Kerala PMT 2006]

If AB + AC = 12 cm! and ABAC = 32 cm2, the potential

energy of the charge at A is
(a) 1.53 J
(b) 5.31J
(c) 3.15 J
(d) 1.35J
127. A ball of mass 1 g and charge I O C moves from a point
A. where potential is 600 volt to the point B where potential
is zero. Velocity of the ball at the point B is 20 cm/s. The
velocity of the ball at the point A will be
[KCET 2001]
(a) 22.8 cm/s
(b) 228 cm/s
(c) 16.8 mis
(d) 168 m/s
128. The acceleration of
electron in an electric field of
magnitude 50 V/cmJ if e/m value of the electron is
1.76xlOnC/fcg, is
(a)

8.8 xlO14 m/sec2

[CPMT 2001]
(b) 6.2xlO13 m/sec2

(c) 5.4 xlO 12 m/sec2

(d) Zero
129. Three charges Q, + q and +q are placed at the vertices of
an equilateral triangle of side / as shown in the figure. If the
net electrostatic energy of the system is zero, then Q is equal
to [MP PET 2001; Kamataka CET 2008; Orissa JEE 2009]

Q
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d) Zero

130.

131

+q
+q
A positively charged particle moving along x-axis with a
certain velocity enters a uniform electric field directed along
positive y-axis. Its
[AMU (Engg.) 2001]
(a) Vertical velocity changes but horizontal velocity remains
constant
(b) Horizontal velocitychanges but vertical velocity remains
constant
(c) Both vertical and horizontal velocities change
(d) Neither vertical noij horizontal velocity changes

Electric potential at any point is V = -5x + 3y + V15z , then

the magnitude of the electric field is
[MP PET 2002]

(a) 3V2

(b) 4V2

(c) 5V2
(d) 7
132. The work done in bringing a 20 coulomb charge from point
A to point B for distance 0.2m is 2J. The potential difference
between the two points will be (in volt)
[RPET 1999; MP PMT 2002; AIEEE 2002]
(a) 0.2
(b) 8
(d) 0.4
(c) 0.1

133.

A hollow sphere of charge does not produce an electric field

at any
[MNR 1985; RPET 2001; DPMT 2002;
Kerala PMT 2004; Pb. PET 2004; Orissa PMT 2004]
(a) Point beyond 2 metres (b) Point beyond 10 metres
(c) Interior point
(d) Outer point

134. If 4xl0 2 0 eV energy is required to move a charge of 0.25

coulomb between two points. Then what will be the
potential difference between them
[MH CET 2002]
(a) 178V
(b) 256V
(c) 356V
(d) None of these
135. Kinetic energy of an electron accelerated in a potential
difference of 100 V is
[AFMC 1999; MP PMT 2002;
Similar CPMT 1973; MP PET 1989; JIPMER 2002]
(a) 1.6xHT17J
(b) 1.6xl0 21 J
(c) 1.6xlO~ 29 J
(d) 1.6xlQ- 34 J
136. A drop of lO^Jcg water carries lO^C charge. What
electric field should be applied to balance its weight (assume
g = 10m/s 2 )
[MP PET 2002]
(a) 10 V/m upward
(b) 10 V/m downward
(c) 0.1 V/m downward
(d) 0.1 V/m upward
137. A small conducting sphere of radius r is lying concentrically
inside a bigger hollow conducting sphere of radius R. The
bigger and smaller spheres are charged with Q and q
(Q>q)and are insulated from each other. The potential
difference between the spheres will be
[Kamataka CET 2008]
(a)

-f--ll
.r

R)

<b> zM!+
4^-n I R

(d)

138. Two point charges +9e and +e are at 16 cm away from

each other. Where should another charge q be placed
between them so that the system remains in equilibrium
[MP PET 2002]
' (a) 24cmfrom+9e
(b) 12 cm from+9e
(c) 24 cm from +e
(d) 12 cm from +e
139. If 3 charges are placed at the vertices of equilateral triangle
of charge 'q' each. What is the net potential energy, if the
side of equilateral A is / cm
[AIEEE 2002]
1

~2

a) ^r-^

3q2

(b)

2q2

(d)

140. The distance between charges 5xlO~ n C and -2.7xlO- n C

is 0.2 m. The distance at which a third charge should be
placed in order that it will not experience any force along
the line joining the two charges is
[Kerala PET 2002]
(a) 0.44m '
(b) 0.65m
(c) 0.556m
(d) 0.350m
141. If identical charges (-q) are placed at each corner of a cube
of side b, then electric potential energy of charge (+q) which
is placed at centre of the cube will be
[CBSE PMT 2002]

(a)

(b)
(d)

-8V2V

-4g 2

Electrostatics 995
142. An electron having change 'e' and mass 'm' is moving in a
uniform electric field E. Its acceleration will be [AIIMS 2002]

(a)

e
m

(b)

eE

(d)

m
mE

143. Cathode rays travelling from east to west enter into region of
electric field directed towards north to south in the plane of
paper. The deflection of cathode rays is towards [CPMT 2002]
(a) East
(b) South
(c) West
(d) North
144. In the figure, a proton moves a distance d in a uniform
electric field as showri in the figure. Does the electric field
do a positive or negati re work on the proton? Does the
electric potential energy Df the proton increase or decrease
[AIIMS 2007]
(a) Negative, increase

(b) Positive, decrease

(c) Negative, decrease
(d) Positive, increase
145. A simple pendulum of period T has a metal bob which is
negatively charged. If it is allowed to oscillate above a
positively charged metal plate, its period will
[CBSE PMT 2001; AIEEE 2002]
(a) Remains equal to T
(b) Less than T
(c) Greater than T
(d) Infinite

146. A charged particle of mass m and charge q is released from

rest in a uniform electric field E. Neglecting the effect of
gravity, the kinetic energy of the charged particle after 'f
second is
[KCET 2003]
(a)

Eq2m
2t2

(b)

E2q2t2
2m

(d)

2EV
mq
Eqm
t

147. A proton is about 1840 times heavier than an electron.

When it is accelerated by a potential difference of 1 kV, its
kinetic energy will be
[DCE 2001; AIIMS 2003]
(a) 1840 keV
(b) 1/1840 keV
(c) 1 keV
(d) 920 keV
148. A conducting sphere of rftdius /?=20 cm is given a charge
Q=l6/uC. What is E at centre
[BHU 2003]
(a) 3 . 6 x l 0 6 N / C
(b) 1.8xl0 6 N/C
(c) Zero
(d) 0.9xl0 6 N/C
149. 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 R/2 from the
(AIEEE 2003; Similar DCE 2006]
centre of the shell is
M

(0)1

(b)

R
2Q

2q

(d)

150. A hollow conducting sphere is placed in an electric field

produced by a point charge placed at P as shown in figure.
Let VA, VB, Vc be the potentials at points A, B and C
respectively. Then
[Orissa JEE 2003]

2Q
2Q

(c)

VB>VC

VC>VB

(b)

VA>VB

(d) VA=VC

151. A point charge is kept at the centre of a metallic insulated

spherical shell. Then
[Orissa JEE 2003]
(a) Electric field out side the sphere is zero
(b) Electric field inside the sphere is zero
(c) Net induced charge on the sphere is zero
(d) Electric potential inside the sphere is zero
152. An electron moving with the speed 5 x l 0 5 m per sec is
shooted parallel to the electric field of intensity 1 x 103N/C .
Field is responsible for the retardation of motion of electron.
Now evaluate the distance travelled by the electron before
coming to rest for an instant (mass of e = 9xlO'31Kg.
charge =1.6xlO~ 19 C)

[MP PMT 2003]

(a) 7m
(b) 0.7mm
(c) 7cm
(d) 0.7cm
153. An electron enters in high potential region V2 from lower
potential region Vj then its velocity

[MP PMT 2003]

(a) Will increase

(b) Will change in direction but not in magnitude
(c) No change in direction of field
(d) No change in direction perpendicular to field
154. The electric potential at the surface of an atomic nucleus
(Z = 50) of radius 9.0x 10'13 cm is
[CPMT 1990; Pb. PMT 2002; BVP 2003; MP PET 2004;
Similar Pb. PET 2003]
(a) 80 volts

(b) 8 x 106 volts

(c) 9 volts
(d) 9 x 105 volts
155. The figure shows the path of a positively charged particle 1
through a rectangular region of uniform electric field as
shown in the figure. What is the direction of electric field and
the direction of particles 2, 3 and 4
[AIIMS 2007]

Top
Down
(a) Top; down, top, down (b) Top; down, down, top
(c) Down; top, top, down
(d) Down; top, down, down
156. A particle has a mass 400 times than that of the electron and
charge is double than that of a electron. It is accelerated by
5V of potential difference. Initially the particle was at rest,
then its final kinetic energy will be
[MP PMT 1990; DPMT 1999]
'a) 5eV
(b) 10 eV
(c) 100 eV
d) 2000 eV

996 Electrostatics
157. Two point charges -q and +q are located at points (0,0 -a)
and (0, Oa), respectively. The potential at a point (0,0,z)
where z > a is
[EAMCET 2009]
qa
(b)

2qa

2qa

(d)

+a

158. An uniform electric field E exists along positive x-axis. The

work done in moving a charge 0.5 C through a distance 2 m
along a direction making an angle 60 with x-axis is 10 J.
Then the magnitude of electric field is [Kerala PMT 2009]

(a) SVrrT1

(b) 2Vm"

(c)

VsVrrT1

(d) 40Vrr

(e)

20 VrrT1

159. Four point +ve charges o same magnitude (Q) are placed
at four corners of a rigid square frame as shown in figure.
The plane of the frame is perpendicular to Z - axis. If a -ve
point charge is placed at d distance z away from the above
frame (zL) then
Q!
Q
[AIIMS 2005]

Z-axis

4
11

163. Two positive point charges of 12 and 5 microcoulombs, are

placed 10cm apart in air. The work needed to bring them 4
cm closer is
[AMU (Engg.) 2009]
(a) 2.4J
(b) 3.6J

(c) 4.8 J

(d) 6.0 J

164. When a positive q charge is taken from lower potential to a

higher potential point, then its potential energy will
[MP PMT 2006]

(a) Decrease
(b) Increase
(c) Remain unchanged
(d) Become zero
165. When a negative charge is taken at a height from earth's
surface, then its potential energy
[DPMT 2002]
(a) Decreases
(b) Increases
(c) Remains unchanged
(d) Will become infinity
166. When a charge of 3 coulomb is placed in a uniform electric
field, it experiences a force of 3000 Newton. Within this
field, potential difference between two points separated by a
distance of 1 cm is
[MP PMT 1986, 2000]
(a) 10 volts
(b) 90 note
(c) 1000 volts
(d) 3000 volts
167. There are two equipotential surfaces as shown in figure. The
distance between them is r. The charge of -q coulomb is
taken from the surface A to B, the resultant work done will
be
[MP PMT 1986; CPMT 1986, 88]

(a) W =-

160.

(a) - ve charge oscillates along the Z-axis.

(b) It moves away from the frame
(c) It moves slowly towards the frame and stays in the
plane of the frame
(d) It passes through the frame only once.
A charge of 10 e.s.u. is placed at a distance of 2 cm from a
charge of 40 e.s.u. and 4 cm from another charge of 20
e.s.u. The potential energy of the charge 10 e.s.u. is (in ergs)
[CPMT 1976; MP PET 1989]

87.5
(b) 112.5
(c) 150
(d) 250
[AMU (Engg.) 2009]
161. Identify the WRONG statement
(a) The electrical potential energy of a system of two
protons shall increase if the separation between the two
is decreased
(b) The electrical potential energy of a proton electron
system will increase if the separation between the two is
decreased
(c) The electrical potential energy of a proton electron
system will increase if the separation between the two is
increased
(d) The electrical potential energy of system of two
electrons shall increase if the separation between the
two is decreased
162. A sphere of 4 cm radius is suspended within a hollow sphere
of 6 cm radius. The inner sphere is charged to potential 3
e.s.u. and the outer sph ere is earthed. The charge on the
[MP PMT 1991]
inner sphere is
(a) 54 e.s.u.
(b) 1/4 e.s.u.
(c) 30 e.s.u.
(d) 36 e.s.u.
(a)

(b) IV = ! 4
(0

(d) W = zero
168. When one electron is taken towards the other electron, then
the electric potential energy of the system
[RPET 1999;
CBSE PMT 1993, 99; Pb. PMT 1999; BHU 2000, 02]
(a) Decreases
(b) Increases
(c) Remains unchanged
(d) Becomes zero
169. A hollow metal sphere of radius 5cm is charged such that
the potential on its surface is 10V. The potential at a
distance of 2cm from the centre of the sphere
[MP PET 1992; MP PMT 1996; Similar MP PMT 1990]
(a) Zero
(b) 10 V

(c) 4 V
(d) 10/3 V
170. The work done in carrying a charge of 5//C from a point A
to a point B in an electric field is lOmJ. The potential
difference (VB-VA) is then
[Haryana CEE 1996]
(a) +2/cV
(b) - 2 f c V
(c) + 200 V
(d) - 200 V
171. Value of potential at a point due to a point charge is
[MP PET 1996]

(a) Inversely proportional to square of the distance

(b) Directly proportional to square of the distance
(c) Inversely proportional to the distance
(d) Directly proportional to the distance
172. Electric potential of earth is taken to be zero because earth is
a good
[AIIMS 1998; BHU 2002]
(a) Insulator
(b) Conductor
(c) Semiconductor
(d) Dielectric

Electrostatics 997
173. There is 10 units of charge at the centre of a circle of radius
10m. The work done in mpving 1 unit of charge around the
circle once is
[EAMCET (Med.) 1995; AIIMS 2000; Pb. PMT 2000]
(a) Zero
(b) 10 units

(c) 100 units

(d) 1 unit
174. Two parallel plates separated by a distance of 5mm are kept
at a potential difference of 50V A particle of mass 10~15/cg
and charge 10~nC enters in it with a velocity 107m/s The
acceleration of the particle will be
[MP PMT 1997]
(a) IQPm/s2
(b) 5xl0 5 m/s 2
(c) IC^m/s2
(d) 2xl0 3 m/s 2
175. Three point charges ari> placed at the corners of an
equilateral triangle. Assurning only electrostatic forces are
acting
[KCET 2002]
(a) The system can never be in equilibrium
(b) The system will be in equilibrium if the charges rotate
about the centre of the triangle
(c) The system will be 'tf\m if the charges have
different magnitudes and different signs
(d) The system will be in equilibrium if the charges have the
same magnitudes bu{ different signs
176. If an insulated non-conducting sphere of radius R has
charge density p. The electric field at a distance r from the
centre of sphere (r < R) will be
[BHU 2003]

(b)

(d)

(c)

177. Two plates are at potentials -10 V and +30 V. If the

separation between the plates be 2 cm. The electric field
between them is
[Pb. PET 2000]
(a) 2000 V/m
(b) 1000 V/m
(c) 500 V/m
(d) 3000 V/m
178. The electric potential inside a conducting sphere

181. A charged particle is suspended in equilibrium in a uniform

vertical electric field of intensity 20000 V/m. If mass of the
particle is 9.6xlO~16 fcg, the charge on it and excess number
of '.ectrons on the particle are respectively (g=10 m/s2)
[Pb. PMT 2003]

(a) 4.8xlO- 19 C,3

(b) 5.8xlQ- !9 C,4
(c) 3.8xlO-19C, 2
(d) 2.8xlO- 19 C. 1
182. Three infinitely long charge sheets are placed as shown in
figure. The electric field at point P is
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2005]

.P

(b)-^fc

e0

-20

. . 4<r (c)
k
Co

-O

(d) - k
0
183. Four charges +Q, -Q, +Q, -Q are placed at the corners of
a square taken in order. At the centre of the square
[RPMT 2003]

(a) = 0, V = 0
(b) E = 0, V*0
(c) E*0, V = 0
(d) E*0, V * 0
184. Top of the stratosphere has an electric field E (in units of
V / m ) nearly equal to
[DUMET 2009]
(a) 0
(b) 10
(c) 100
(d) 1000
185. Charges q, 2q, 3q and 4q are placed at the corners A, B, C
and D of a square as shown in the following figure. The
direction of electric field at the centre of the square is along
c

[MP PMT 2004]

[RPMT 2002; MP PET 2006;

Similar MP PMT 1986; RPMT 1997]

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
179. The

Increases from centre to surface

Decreases from cenlke to surface
Remains constant fri m centre to surface
Is zero at every poin inside
wrong statement about electric lines of force is
[RPMT 2002]

(a) These originate frpm positive charge and end on

negative charge
(b) They do not intersect each other at a point
(c) They have the same form for a point charge and a sphere
(d) They have physical :existence
180. Two infinitely long parallel conducting plates having surface
charge densities +crand -a respectively, are separated by a
small distance. The medium between the plates is vacuum.
If Q is the dielectric permittivity of vacuum, then the electric
field in the region between the plates is
[AIIMS 2005;

A
B
(a) AB
(b) CB
(c) BD
(d) AC
186. Point charges ql = 2//C and q2 = -1//C are kept at points
x = 0 and x = 6 respectively. Electrical potential will be
zero at points
[MP PMT 2004; Kerala PMT 2010]
(a) x = 2 and x = 9
(b) x = 1 and x = 5
(c) x = 4 and x = 12
(d) x = -2 and x = 2
187. Equipotential surfaces associated with an electric field which
is increasing in magnitude along the x-direction are
[AIIMS 2004]

Similar AIIMS 2006; MP PMT 2006; UP CPMT 2006]

(a) 0 volts I meter

(b)

(c) volts I meter

(a)

- volts I meter

2e.
2a , ,
volts I meter

188.

(a) Planes parallel to yz-plane

(b) Planes parallel to xy-plane
(c) Planes parallel to xz-plane
(d) Coaxial cylinders of increasing radii around the x-axis
A bullet of mass 2 gm is having a charge of 2,wC. Through
what potential difference must it be accelerated, starting
from rest, to acquire a speed of 10 m/s [CBSE PMT 2004]
(a) 5fcV
!b) 50 fcV
(c) 5 V
(d) 50V

998 Electrostatics
189. The points resembling equal potentials are

ST

[Orissa PMT 2004]

(a) PandQ
(b) SandQ
(c) Sand/?
R
(d) PandR
190. Figure shows three points A, B and C in a region of uniform
electric field . The line AB is perpendicular and BC is
parallel to the field lines. Then which of the following holds
good. Where VA, VB and Vc represent the electric potential at
points A, B and C respectively
[CPMT 2004; MP PMT 2005; RPMT 2006; BHU 2006]
(a)

V,=VB=VC

(b) VA =VB>VC
(c)

--c

VA=VB<VC

(d) VA>VB = VC

191. In a certain charge distribution, all points having zero

potential can be joined by a circle S. Points inside S have
positive potential and points outside S have negative
potential. A positive charge, which is free to move, is placed
inside S
[DPMT 2004]
(a) It will remain in equilibrium
(b) It can move inside S, but it cannot cross S
(c) It must cross S at some time
(d) It may move, but will ultimately return to its starting point
192. Infinite charges of magnitude q each are lying at x =1, 2, 4,
8... meter on X-axis. The value of intensity of electric field at
point x = 0 due to these charges will be [J & K CET 2004]
(a) 12xl0 9 qN/C
(b) Zero
(c) 6xl0 9 qN/C
(d) 4xl0 9 qN/C
193. A square of side 'a' has charge Q at its centre and charge 'q'
at one of the corners. The work required in moving the
charge 'q' from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner
[UPSEAT 2004]

Zero

(c)

(b)
(d)

Qq

196. Two thin wire rings each having a radius R are placed at a
distance d apart with their axes coinciding. The charges on
the two rings are +q and -q. The potential difference
between the centres of the two rings is
[AIEEE 2005]
(a) Zero

(b)

(c)

(d)

lR2+d2
197. Positive and negative point charges of equal magnitude are
kept at

0,0,

and

0,0, , respectively. The work

done by the electric field when another positive point charge

is moved from (-a, 0, 0) to (0, a, 0) is
[HT-JEE 2007]
(a) Positive
(b) Negative
(c) Zero
(d) Depends on the path connecting the initial and final
positions
198. As per this diagram a point charge +q is placed at the origin
O. Work done in taking another point charge -Q from the
point A [co-ordinates (0, a)] to another point B [co-ordinates
(a, 0)] along the straight path AB is
[CBSE PMT 2005]
(a) Zero

(b)
qQ 1

(d)

199. Two charges q^ and q2 are placed 30 cm apart, as shown in

the figure. A third charge q3 is moved along the arc of a
circle of radius 40 cm from C to D. The change in the
potential energy of the system is

k , where k is

4;re0 a

Qq

194. A pendulum bob of mass 30. 7x10^ kg and carrying a

charge 2xlO~ 8 C is at rest, in a horizontal uniform electric
field of 20000 V/m. The tension in the thread of the
pendulum is (g = 9.8 m / s2]
[UPSEAT 2004]

(a) 3x10" N

(b) 4xlO~ 4 JV

(c)

(d)

195. An infinite line charge produce a field of 7.182xl08N/C at a

distance of 2 cm. The linear charge density is [MH CET 2004]
(a) 7.27xlO"C/m
(b) 7.98x10^ C / m
(c) 7.11xlO- 4 C/m
(d) 7.04x10^ C . - n

[CBSE PMT2005]

(a) 8q2
(b) 8qj

40cm

(c) 6q2
(d)

30 cm B
200. A charged ball B hangs from a silk thread S, which makes
an angle 8 with a large charged conducting sheet P, as
shown in the figure. The surface charge density a of the
sheet is proportional to
[AIEEE 2005]
(a) sin 0
(b) tantf
(c) cos6>

(d) cot 0

Electrostatics 999
201. Two point charges +8q and -2q are located at x = 0

208.

and x = L respectively. The location of a point on the xaxis at which the net electric field due to these two point
charges is zero is
[AIEEE 2005; BCECE 2006]

(a) 8L

A hollow conducting spherical shell of radius R is charged

with Q coulomb. The amount of work done for moving any
charge q from the centre to the surface of the shell will be
[DCE 2006]

(b) 4L

(b) Zero

(c) 2 L
Qq

Qq

(d)

202. Consider E: = xi + j and E^ = xy2i + x 2 y j; then

(a) Only El is electrostatic, (b) Only E2 is electrostatic

What is not true for equipotential surface for uniform electric

field
[AFMC 2006]

(c) Both are electrostatic

(a) Equipotential surface is flat

[RPMT 2001]

209.

(d) None of these

(b) Equipotential surface is spherical

203. Two insulating plates are b6th uniformly charged in such a

way that the potential difference between them is
V2 - Vj = 20V. (i.e. plate is at a higher potential). The
plates are separated by d i= O.lm and can be treated as
infinitely large. An electron is released from rest on the inner
surface of plate 1. What is its speed when it hits plate 2

C, me =9..LlxlO~ 31 /cg)

(c) Electric lines are perpendicular to equipotential surface

(d) Work done is zero
210.

Figure shows a triangular array of three point charges. The

electric potential V of these source charges at the midpoint P
of the base of the triangle is
[VITEEE 2006]

[AIEEE 2006]

(a) 7.02xl0 12 m/s

O.lm

(b) 1.87xlOm/s
(c) 32xlO- 19 m/s

0.3m

(d) 2.65xl0 6 m/s

ql =

204. Two spherical conductors A and B of radii 1 mm and 2 mm are

separated by a distance of 5 cm and are uniformly charged. If
the spheres are connected by a conducting wire then in
equilibrium condition, the ratio of the magnitude of the electric
fields at the surfaces of sphetes A and B is
[AIEEE 2006]

(a) 1 : 2

(b) 2 : 1

1 :4

(d) 4 : 1

205. The potential on the hollow sphere of radius 1 m is 100 volt. The
potential at 1/4 m from the centre of sphere is [MP PMT 2010]
(a) 1000 volt

(b) 500uo/t

(c) 250uo/t

(d) Ooo/t

0.2 m

(a) 55 JcV

(b) 45 W

(c) 63 kV

(d) 49fcV

211. Charges +q and -q are placed at points A and B

respectively which are a distance 2L apart, C is the midpoint
between A and B. The work done in moving a charge +Q
along the semicircle CRD is
[CBSE PMT 2007]
R

(a)

qQ
4tfe 0 L

(c)

qQ
6;re0 L

(c) Both are +ve but A > B

207. Let V be the electric p tential at a given point. Then the
electric field Ex along x direction at that point is given by
[MP PET 2006]

Vdx
(c)

dV
dx

(b)

(a) A is +ueandB-ue and |A|> |B|

(d) Both are -ve but A >

q 2 = - 2 x l O 6C

0.2 m

= 9xl0 9 Nm 2 C~ 2

206. The spatial distribution o the electric field due to charges

(A,B) is shown in figure. Which one of the following
statements is correct
[AIIMS 2006; Similar HT-JEE 2010]

(b) A is -ve and B +ve;

D
qQ
2;re 0 L

(d) -

qQ
6;re0 L

212. Charge Q is placed on each of (n-1) corners of a polygon of

n sides. The distance of centre of the polygon from each
corner is V, then electric field at centre is
[MP PET 2007]

dx

dx

(c)

(n-l)4;re 0 r 2

(d) Zero

1000

Electrostatics

213. A regular hexagon of side 'a' has a charge Q at each vertex.

Potential at the centre f the hexagon is \K =
[MP PET 2007]

Zero

(c)

12

KQ

(b)

KQ

(d) 6

Volts

214. Charges +2q, + q and +q are placed at the corners A, B

and C of an equilateral triangle ABC . If E is the electric
field at the circumcenttre O of the triangle, due to the
charge +q , then the | magnitude and direction of the
resultant electric field at O is
[Kerala PET 2007]
(a) along AO
(b) 2 along AO
(c)
215.

along BO

220. A long, hollow conducting cylinder is kept coaxially inside

another long, hollow conducting cylinder of larger radius. Both
the cylinders are initially electrically neutral
[IIT-JEE 2007]
(a) A potential difference appears between the two cylinders
when a charge density is given to the inner cylinder
(b) A potential difference appears between the two cylinders
when a charge density is given to the outer cylinder
(c) No potential difference appears between the two
cylinders when a uniform line charge is kept along the
axis of the cylinders
(d) No potential difference appears between the two cylinders
when same charge density is given to both the cylinders
221. The figure below shows the electric field lines due to two
positive charges. The magnitudes EA, B and c of the
electric fields at points A, B and C respectively are related as
[Orissa JEE 2010]

(d) E along CO

N identical drops of me,rcury are charged simultaneously to

10 volt. When combined to form one large drop, the
potential is found to be 40 volt, the value of N is
[Kerala PET 2007; Similar KCET 2007]
(a) 4

(b) 6

(c) 8
(d) 10
216. The electrostatic potential energy between proton and

electron separated by a distance lA is [Kerala PET 2007]

(a) 13.6eV
(b) 27.2eV
(c)

14.4eV

(d) 1.44eV

217. An electric charge 10~3/JC is placed at the origin (0, 0) of

X - Y co-ordinate system. Two points A and B are situated
at (V2,v2) and (2, 0) respectively. The potential difference
between the points A and B will be
[AIEEE 2007]
(a) 9 volt
(b) Zero
(c) 2 volt
(d) 3.5 volt
218. Charges are placed on the vertices of a square as shown. Let
E be the electric field and V the potential at the centre. If the
charges on A and B are interchanged with those on D and C
respectively, then
[AIEEE 2007]
(a)
(b)

E remains unchanged, V changes

>
Both and V change

(c)

E and V remains unchanged

(d) changes, V remains unchanged

219. The potential at a point x (measured in jum) due to some
charges situated on the x-axis is given by V(x)=20 / (x2-^)
Volts. The electric field E atx=4//m is given by
[AIEEE 2007; CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011]

(a) 5/3 Volt I //m and in the -ue x direction

(b) 5/3 Volt / fjm and in the +ve x direction
(c) 10/9 Volt / //m and in the -ve x direction
(d) 10/9 Volt I jUm and in the +vex direction

(a) ^ > B > C

(b) EB>EA> Ec

(c) EA = B > c

(d) E
i_AA >
^E
L.KB = i_
Erc

222. There is a uniform electric field of intensity which is as

shown. How many labelled points have the same electric
potential as the fully shaded point
[Karnataka CET 2010]

O O O
(a) 2
0 + 0
(b) 3
0 0 0
(c) 8
(d) 11
Q O Q
223. The electrostatic potential of a uniformly charged thin
spherical shell of charge Q and radius R at a distance r from
the centre is
[J & K CET 20 1 0]
for points outside and

for points inside

the shell
(b)

for both points inside and outside the shell

(c) Zero for point outside and

for points inside the shell

(d) Zero for both points inside and outside the shell.
224. A negatively charged oil drop is prevented from falling under
gravity by applying a vertical electric field 100 V m":. If the
mass of the drop is 1.6x10 g, the number of electrons
carried by the drop is (g = lOms^ 2 )
(a)

1018

(b) 1015

(c)

106

(d) 109

(e)

1012

[Kerala PET 2010]

225. Identify the false statement.

[Kerala PMT 2010]
(a) Inside a charged or neutral conductor electrostatic field
is zero
(b) The electrostatic fi^ld at the surface of the charged
conductor must be tangential to the surface at any point
(c) There is no net charge at any point inside the conductor
(d) Electrostatic potential is constant throughout the volume
of the conductor
(e) Electric field at the j surface of a charged conductor is
proportional to the slurface charge density
226. Under the action of a givlen coulombic force the acceleration
of an electron is 2.5xl0 2 2 m/s 2 . Then the magnitude of
the acceleration of a proton under the action of same force
is nearly
[AMU (Engg.) 2010]

(a) 1.6xlCT 19 m/s 2

227.

228.

(b) 9.1xl03V/s2

(c) 1.5xl0 19 m/s 2

(d) 1.6xl0 2 7 m/s 2
An electron initially at rest falls a distance of 1.5cm in a
uniform electric field of magnitude 2xl0 4 N/C. The time
taken by the electron to fall this distance is
[AMU (Engg.) 2010]
(a) 1.3xl0 2 s
(b) 2.1xl(T12s
(c) 1.6xl(T10s
(d) 2.9xlCT 9 s
Consider an electric field E = E0 x, where E0 is a constant.
The flux through the shaded area (as shown in the figure)
due to this field is
[IIT-JEE 201 1]

(0, 0, 0)

-^L-

229. Four electric charges +q, + q,-q and -q are placed at the
corners of a square of ide 2L (see figure). The electric
potential at point A, midway between the two charges +q
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2011]
-rq\ 9

3qQ

(d)

232. The Value (in vacuum) of energy density at a place in a

region of electric field intensity E, due to it, is given by
[MP PET 2011]

(a)

0E2

(b) (d) -^

(c)

233. Two conducting spheres of radii 3 cm and 1 cm are

separated by a distance of 10 cm in free space. If the
spheres are charged to same potential of 10 V each, the
force of repulsion between them is
[Kerala PET 2011]
(a) (I]xlO- 9 N
V J1

(b) |'|

(c)

(d)

fIjxlO- 9 N

(e)

234. The electric field created by a point charge falls with distance
r from the point charge as
[MP PET 2010]
(a) r

(b) 4
r2

t ~~Q

+<?% I

(I

^ero
2qf

3qQ
4;re0 a

(0, a, 0)

(b) V2E0a2
(d)

(b)

(a, a, a)

(a, 0, a)

(a) 2E0a2

231. Three charges, each +q, are placed at the corners of an

isosceles triangle ABC of sides BC and AC, 2a. D and E are
the mid points of BC and CA. The work done in taking a
charge Q from D to E is
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011]
(a) Zero
A

/,

235. Two large vertical and parallel metal plates having a

separation of 1cm are connected to a DC voltage source of
potential difference X. A proton is released at rest midway
between the two plates. It is found to move at 45 to the
vertical JUST after release. Then X is nearly [IIT JEE 2012]

Q
2q

4^-0 L
1

(a) lxlQ- 5 V

(b) lx!0~ 7 V

(c)

(d) lxlO- 10 V

lxlO- 9 V

2q

230. The electric potential V at any point (x, y, z), all in meters in
space is given by V = 4x volt. The electric field at the point
(1, 0. 2) in volt/meter, is
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011]
(a) 16 along positive X-a ds
(b) 8 along negative X-a> is
(c) 8 along positive X-ax
(d) 16 along negative X-axis

Electric Dipole

'

An electric dipole when placed in a uniform electric field E

will have minimum potential energy, if the positive direction
of dipole moment makes the following angle with E
[CPMT 1981; MP PMT 1987]
(a) 7t
(c) Zero

(b) 7tl2
(d)

1002 Electrostatics
A given charge is situated at a certain distance from an
electric dipole in the end-on position experiences a force F.
If the distance of the charge is doubled, the force acting on
the charge will be
[MNR 1986; BHU 2006; Similar VITEEE 2008]
(a) 2F
(b) F / 2
(c) F/4
(d) F / 8
The electric potential at a point on the axis of an electric
dipole depends on the distance r of the point from the
dipole as [CPMT 1982; MP PMT 1996, 2002;UPSEAT 2001;
MP PET 2001, 05; RPMT 2005]
1

10.

(b) Inversely proportional to r3

(c) Directly proportional to r2
(d) Inversely proportional to r2
11.

An electric dipole has a pair of equal and opposite point

charges q and -q separated by a distance 2x. The axis of the
dipole is defined as
[J & K CET 2008]

(a)

(b) -4

(a) Direction from positive charge to negative charge

(b) Direction from negative charge to positive charge

(c)

(d) ~ 4

(c) Perpendicular to the line joining the two charges drawn

at the centre and pointing upward direction

An electric dipole of moment p is placed in the position of

stable equilibrium in uniform electric field of intensity E. It is
rotated through an angle ffhom the initial position. The
potential energy of electric dipole in the final position is
[MP PET 1993, 2011]
(a) pEcos#
(b) pEsintf
(c)

pE(l-cos<?)

(d)

(d) Perpendicular to the line joining the two charges drawn

at the centre and pointing downward direction
12.

An electric dipole of moment p is placed at the origin along

the x-axis. The electric field at a point P, whose position
vector makes an angle Mwith the x-axis, will make an angle
with the x-axis, where tana = tan<? [MP PMT 1994]

-pEcosff

An electric dipole is kept in non-uniform electric field. It

experiences
[DCE 2001; AHMS 2003; AIEEE 2006]
(a) A force and a torque
(b) A force but not a torque
(c) A torque but not a force
(d) Neither a force nor a torque
An electric dipole consist ng of two opposite charges of

(a) a
(c)
13.

9 +a

(b) 0
(d) 9 + 2a

An electric dipole is placed along the x - axis at the origin

O . A point P is at a distance of 20cm from this origin
such that OP makes an angle with the x-axis. If the
3

2xlO~ 6 C each separated by a distance of 3cm is placed

electric field at P makes an angle 9 with the x-axis, the

value of 6 would be
[MP PMT 1997]

in an electric field of 2xl0 5 N/C. The maximum torque on

the dipole will be [MP PMT 1987; Similar Kerala PMT 2007]

(a)

(a)

(b) 12xlCT 3 Nm

(c)

(d) 24xlO" 3 Nm

An electric dipole of moment p is placed normal to the

(c)

-2pE

14.

On qx

15.

(b) ;
(d) None of these

ton-'l--

Electric charges q,q,-2q are placed at the corners of an

(a) q/

(b) 2q/

(c)

(d) 4q/

V3q/

The torque acting on a dipole of moment P in an electric

field is

(d) On-2-

The ratio of electric field and potential (E/V) at midpoint of

electric dipole, for which separation is /
[MP PET 2008]

(b)

equilateral triangle ABC of side / . The magnitude of

electric dipole moment of the system is
[MP PMT 1994]

(d) Zero

Two equal and opposite charge (+q and - q) are situated at

x distance from each other, the value of potential at very far
point will depend upon
[MP PET 2009]
(a) Only on q
(b) Only on x

n
-

(d)

lines of force of electric intensity E , then the work done in

deflecting it through an angle of 180 is
[BVP 2003; Similar CBSE PMT 2006]
(a) pE
(b) +2pE
8.

The electric field due to a dipole at a distance r on its axis is

[MP PMT 1993; RPET 2001; MP PET/PMT 2002;
BCECE 2003; Pb. PMT 2004; MP PET 2007]
(a) Directly proportional to r3

16.

[MP PMT 1994; CPMT 2001; J & K CET 2008; '

Similar DCE 2009]

(a) P - E

(b) P x E

(c) Zero

(d) E x P

The electric field at a point on equatorial line of a dipole and

direction of the dipole moment
[MP PET 1995]
(a) Will be parallel
(b) Will be in opposite direction
(c) Will be perpendicular
(d) Are not related

Two opposite and equal charges 4xlO~* coulomb when

placed 2xlO~ 2 cm away, form a dipole. If this dipole is
placed in an external electrjic field 4xl0 8 newton'coulomb,
the value of maximum torque and the work done in rotating
it through 180 will be
[MP PET 1996]
(a) 64xlO^Nmand64x|o^J

18.

19.

20.

21.

(c) 64xlO^Nm and 32x10^

(d) 32xlO^Nmand64xJO- 4 J
If Ea be the electric field strength of a short dipole at a point
on its axial line and Ee thbt on the equatorial line at the
same distance, then
[MP PET 1999, 2007; RPMT 2002; J & K CET 2004]
(a) Ee = 2Ea
(b) E0 = 2Ee
(d) None of the above
(c) Ea = Ee
An electric dipole is placed n an electric field generated by a
point charge
[MP PMT 1999]
(a) The net electric force oh the dipole must be zero
(b) The net electric force on the dipole may be zero
(c) The torque on the dipqle due to the field must be zero
(d) The torque on the dipole due to the field may be zero
A point Q lies on the perpendicular bisector of an electrical
dipole of dipole moment />. If the distance of Q from the
dipole is r (much larger than the size of the dipole), then
electric field at Q is proportional to
[CBSE PMT 1998; JIPMER 2001, 02]
(b) p and r2
(a) p l and r 2
(d) p and r3
(c) p2 and r3
If the magnitude of intensity of electric field at a distance x
on axial line and at a distance y on equatorial line on a
given dipole are equal, ther) x : y is
[EAMCET 1994]

(a) 1:1
22.

23.

24.

(b)

27.

(c)
28.

29.

25.

The distance between H T and C/ ions in HC! molecule is

1.28 A. What will be the potential due to this dipole at a
distance of 12 A on the axil of dipole
[MP PMT 2002]
(b) 1.3V
(a) 0.13V
(d) 130V
(c) 13V

(b) 0 and 90

p-r

(b)

k.

(d)

k.

pxr

An electric dipole has the magnitude of its charge as q and

its dipole moment is p . It is placed in a uniform electric
field E . If its dipole moment is along the direction of the
field, the force on it and its potential energy are respectively
[CBSE PMT 2004]
(a) 2 q - E and minimum
(b) q - E and p - E
(d) q - E and maximum

The electric field due to an electric dipole at a distance r

from its centre in axial position is E . If the dipole is rotated
through an angle of 90 about its perpendicular axis, the
electric field at the same point will be
[J & K CET 2005]

(a) E
(d) 2E
30.

What is the angle between the electric dipole moment and

the electric field strength due to it on the equatorial line
[AFMC 2005]
(a) 0
(b) 90
(c) 180
(d) None of these

31.

For a dipole q = 2xlO" 6 C and d = 0.01m. Calculate the

maximum torque for this dipole if E = 5 x 105 N / C
[RPMT 2003]
(a) lxlO~ 3 Nm" 1

32.

(b) 10xlO~ 3 Nm

(c) 10xlO~ 3 Nm
(d) lx!0 2 Nm 2
A molecule with a dipole moment p is placed in an electric
field of strength E. Initially the dipole is aligned parallel to
the field. If the dipole is to be rotated to be anti-parallel to
the field, the work required to be done by an external
agency is
[UPSEAT 2004]
(a) -2pE
(b) -pE

(c) pE
33.

(d)

k.

(c) Zero and minimum

(d) 20.5xlO 7 N/C

(c) 13.1 x II11 N/C
Electric potential at an ecjuatorial point of a small dipole
with dipole moment P (r, distance from the dipole) is
[MP PMT 2001]
P
Zero
(b)

4;rf0r3

90 and 180

(c) 90 and 0
(d) 0 and 180
The value of electric potential at any point due to any
electric dipole is
[MP PMT 2004]
(a)

9.28xlO 7 N/C

2P

The potential at a point due to an electric dipole will be

maximum and minimum when the angles between the axis
of the dipole and the line joining the point to the dipole are
respectively
[MP PMT 2002]

(a)

(b) 1:V2

(c) 1:2
(d) #2:1
An electric dipole in a uniform electric field experiences
(When it is placed at an angle tfwith the field) [RPET 2000]
(a) Force and torque both
(b) Force but no torque
(c) Torque but no force
(d) No force and no torque
The electric intensity due to a dipole of length 10 cm and
having a charge of 500/rt ', at a point on the axis at a
distance 20 cm from one of the charges in air, is
[CBSE PMT 2001]
(a) 6.25xlO 7 N/C

26.

(d)

2pE

An electric dipole of moment p placed in a uniform electric

field E has minimum potential energy when the angle
between p and E is
(a) Zero

(c)

[UPSEAT 2004]

(b)
(d)

1004 Electrostatics
A region surrounding a stationary electric dipoles has

40.

[MP PET 1994; Similar Gujarat CET 2007]

104 MT1. If it experiences a torque of 10-/2 Nm, the

(a) Magnetic field only

(b) Electric field only
(c) Both electric and magnetic fields
(d) No electric and magnetic fields
35.

Two electric dipoles of moment P and 64 P are placed in

opposite direction on a line at a distance of 25 cm. The
electric field will be zero at point between the dipoles whose
distance from the dipole of moment P is
[MP PET 2003]

(c.)
36.

41.

10cm

(d)

13

cm

42.

When an electric dipole P is placed in a uniform electric

38.

(b) 2xlQ- 34 Nm

(c)

(d) O.SxlO34 (T2 N^rrf 1

18xlO"26Nm

The direction of electric field intensity (E) at a point on the

equatorial line of an electric dipole of dipole moment (p) is

(a) 90

(b) 0

(a) Along the equatorial line towards the dipole

(b) Along equatorial line away from the dipole
(c) Perpendicular to the equatorial line and opposite to (p)

(c)

(d) 45

(d) Perpendicular to the equatorial line and parallel to (p)

180

Two charges +3.2x 1C 9C and -3.2xlO-9C kept 2.4 A

apart forms a dipole. If it is kept in uniform electric field of
intensity 4xl0 5 uolt/m then what will be its electrical energy
[MP PMT 2003]
in equilibrium

(e) Along the axial line in the direction of (p)

(a) +3xlO- 23 J

(b) -3xlO-23J

A water molecule has an electric dipole moment

6.4xlO~ 30 cm when it is in vapour state. The distance in
metre between the centre of positive and negative charge of
the molecule is
[DUMET 2009]

(c) -6xlCr 23 J

(d) -2xlO-23J

(a) 4xl(T10

An electric dipole coincides on Z-axis and its mid point is on

origin of the co-ordinate system. The electric field at an axial

43.

44.

point at a distance z from origin is E jz) and electric field at

45.

Ew

[Gujarat CET 2007]

EM
(a) 1

(b) 4

(c) 3

(d) 2

Three point charges +c, -2q and +q are placed at points

(x=0, y=a, z=0), (x=0, y=0, z=0) and (x=a, y=0, z=0)
respectively. The magnitude and direction of the electric dipole
moment vector of this charge assembly are
[CBSE PMT 2007; AIIMS 2008]

(a) V2qa along + y direction

(b) V2qa along the line joining points (x=0, y=0, z=0)
and (x=a, y=a, z=0)

(c) qa along the line joining points (x=0, y=0, z=0) and
(x=a, y=a, z=0)
(d) V2qa along + x direction

(b) 4xlQ- n

(c) 4xHT12
(d) 4xlO~ 13
The electric dipole moment of an electron and a proton 4.3
nm apart is
[DUMET 2010]

(a) 6.88xlO~28cm

an equatorial point at a distance y from origin is E(y) Here

39.

(a) 2xlO- 34 C 2 AT 1 m

[Kerala PMT 2008]

field E then at what angle between P and E the value of

torque will be maximum
[MP PET 2002]

37.

potential energy of the dipole is

[Kerala PET 2008]
(a) 0.245 J
(b) 2.45 J
(c) 0.0245 J
(d) 245.0 J
(e) 24.5 J
A sample of HCl gas is placed in an electric field of
3xl0 4 NC"1. The dipole moment of each HCl molecule is
6xlO~ 3 0 cxm. The maximum torque that can act on a
molecule is
[VITEEE 2008]

, . 25
(b) cm

5 cm

An electric dipole of length 1 cm is placed with the axis

making an angle of 30 to an electric field of strength

(b) 2.56xlO" 2 9 c 2 /m

(d) Ilxl0- 4 6 c 2 /m
(c) 3.72xHT 14 c/m
The electric field and the potential of an electric dipole vary
with distance r as
[J & K CET 2010]
1 1
(a) - and
(c)

(b)

-and~
r

1
,1
and
j

46.

An electric dipole of moment p is placed in a uniform

electric field E . Then
(i)

[Kerala PMT 2010]

>
The torque on the dipole is px E .

> >
(ii) The potential energy of the system is p.E .

(in)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

The resultant force on the dipole is zero.

(i), (ii) and (iii) are correct
(i) and (iii) are correct and (ii) is wrong
Only (i) is correct
(i) and (ii) are correct (iii) is wrong
(i), (ii) and (iii) are wrong

Consider the following statements about electric dipole and

select the correct ones
51 : Electric dipole morhent vector p is directed from the
negative charge to Hie positive charge.
52 : The electric field of a dipole at a point with position
vector f depends on | r | as well as the angle

3.

An electric charge q is placed at the centre of a cube of side

a. The electric flux on one of its faces will be
[MP PMT 1994, 95; DCE 1999, 2001; AIIMS 2001;
RPET 2003; MP PET 2003; CBSE PMT 2003; UPSEAT 2004]

(a)

(b)

between r and p

S3

1
1
The electric dipole potential falls off as and not as

S4

In a uniform electric field, the electric dipole

Total electric flux coming out of a unit positive charge put in

air is
[MP PET 1995, 2008]

experiences no net forces but a torque ? = p x .

[AMU (Med.) 2010]

48.

(a) S2, S3andS4

(b) S3andS4
(c) S2andS3
(d) All four
A dipole of electric dipole moment p is placed in a uniform
electric field of strength E. If 6 is the angle between positive
directions of p and , then the potential energy of the
electric dipole is largest when 0\s
[Kerala PET 2011]
jt
a 4
(d) Zero
(c) n
2
(e) n
3
An electric dipole of morrtent 'p' is placed in an electric field
of intensity ''. The dipole acquires a position such that the
axis of the dipole makes an angle d with the direction of
the field. Assuming that the potential energy of the dipole to
be zero when Q =90, the torque and the potential energy
of the dipole will respectively be
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2012]
(a) psin 0 , -pEcos0\) pEsin 0 , -2pEcos0
(c) psin<9, 2pEcos<?
(d) pE cos 0 , -pE cos 0

[Haryana CEE 1996]

(a) Zero

2.

[MP PMT/PET 1998; Kerala PMT 2006; KCET 2006]

8e

A point charge +q is placed at the centre of a cube of side

L. The electric flux emerging from the cube is
[CBSE PMT 1996; AIEEE 2002; BCECE 2003;
MP PET 2006; WB-JEE 2010]

[CPMT 1975; RPMT 2002; KCET 2004]

(b) 7fR2IE

(a)
(c)

IOC

en
6qL2

(a) Zero

(b) Zero

(d)

(b) -a(d)

10.

(c)

__

A charge q is placed at the centre of the open end of

cylindrical vessel. The flux of the electric field through the
surface of the vessel is
[MNR 1998]

formed by six surfaces x == + a/2, y = a/2, z = a / 2 . The

electric flux through this cubical surface is
[IIT-JEE 2009]

-2C

(b)
(d) Zero

(c)

(c) (7t?lrtR\IE
(d) Zero
A disk of radius a/4 having a uniformly distributed charge 6C
is placed in the x-y plane with its centre at (-a 12, 0,0). A
rod of length a carrying a'uniformly distributed charge 8C is
placed on the x-axis from |x = a / 4 to x = 5a/4. Two point
charges -7C and 3C are placed at (a14, -a/4,0) and
(-3a/4, 3a/4, 0), respectively. Consider a cubical surface

(a)

(b) PE

(c) 4PE
(d) 6PE
Eight dipoles of charges of magnitude e are placed inside a
cube. The total electric flux coming out of the cube will be

A cylinder of radius R and length L is placed in a uniform

electric field parallel to the cylinder axis. The total flux for
the surface of the cylinder1 is given by
(a) 2*f?2

(b) ^
(d) 4^

From this we can conclude that

[MP PMT 1995]
(a) E is necessarily zero on the surface
(b) E is perpendicular to the surface at every point
(c) The total flux through the surface is zero
(d) The flux is only going out of the surface
A cube of side / is placed in a uniform field E, where
E = Ei . The net electric flux through the cube is

Electric Flux and Gauss's Law

1.

(a) e0
(c) (4pe0)^

For a given surface the Gauss's law is stated as a E ds = 0 .

(b,f

49.

(d) -2-

It is not convenient to use a spherical Gaussian surface to

find the electric field due to an electric dipole using Gauss's
theorem bemuse
[AMU 2000]
(a) Gauss's law fails in this case
(b) This problem does not have spherical symmetry
(c) Coulomb's law is more fundamental than Gauss's law
(d) Spherical Gaussian surface will alter the dipole moment

12.

According to Gauss' Theorem, electric field of an infinitely

long straight wire is proportional to [RPET 2000; DCE 2000]
(a) r
(b) 1/r2
(c) 1/r3
(d) 1/r
Electric charge is uniformly distributed along a long str&lght
wire of radius 1mm. The charge per cm length of the wire is
Q coulomb. Another cylindrical surface of radius 50 cm and
length 1m symmetrically encloses the wire as shown in the
figure. The total electric flux passing through the cylindrical
surface is
[MP PET 2001; Kerala PET 2011]

17.

A sphere of radius R has a uniform distribution of electric

charge in its volume. At a distance x from its centre, for
x < R , the electric field is directly proportional to
[MP PMT 1994; AIIMS 1997; BCECE 2005]

1
(c)

18.

(a)

(b)

(d) x 2

The electric intensity due to an infinite cylinder of radius R

and
having charge q per unit length at a distance
r(r > R) from its axis is
[MP PMT 1993; AFMC 2000]
(a) Directly proportional to r 2

(b)

1QOQ

(b) Directly proportional to r3

(c) Inversely proportional to r

1m

(c)

(d)
13.

14.

10Q

(d) Inversely proportional to r 2

19.

100Q

The S.I. unit of electric flux is

[KCET 2001]
(a) Weber
(b) Newton per coulomb
(c) Volt x metre
(d) Joule per coulomb
9i> <?2> <?3 and 94 are point charges located at points as
shown in the figure and S is a spherical Gaussian surface of
radius R. Which of the following is true according to the
Gauss's law
<s
[AMU 2002]

,+ 3 ).dA =

If the electric flux entering and leaving an enclosed surface

respectively is ft and <j>2 the electric charge inside the
surface will be
(a) (ft +
(C)

[AIEEE 2003]
ft,)0

(ft,+ft,)/0

(b) (02 - ft, )f0

(d)

(ft,-ft}/0

20.

What about Gauss theorem is not incorrect [MP PET 2008]

(a) It can be derived by using Coulomb's Law
(b) It is valid for conservative field obeys inverse square
root law
(c) Gauss theorem is not applicable in gravitation
(d) (A)&(B)both

21.

Shown below is a distribution of charges. The flux of electric

field due to these charges through the surface S is
^^~)X

+ 92 + 93

[AIIMS 2003;
Kerala PMT 2011]

(b) d( 1 + 2 + 3 ).dA=(c)

15.

16.

{(,

(q1+q2+q3+q4)

(d) None of the above

Gauss's law should be invalid if
[Orissa JEE 2002]
(a) There were magnetic monopoles
(b) The inverse square law were not exactly true
(c) The velocity of light were not a universal constant
(d) None of these
The inward and outward electric flux for a closed
surface in units of N-m2/C are respectively 8x10

22.

(a) 4xl0 3 C
(-4xl0 3 )

3q/0

(b) 2q/0

(c)

q/0

(d) Zero

Consider the charge configuration and spherical Gaussian

surface as shown in the figure. When calculating the flux of
the electric field over the spherical surface the electric field
will be due to
[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2004]

(a) 92

,-'''

(c) All the charges

and 4xl0 3 . Then the tptal charge inside the surface

is [where 0 = permittivfity constant]
[MP PMT 2002; KCET 2003]

(a)

(d) +qj and -ql

23.

Gauss's law is true only if force due to a charge varies as

[MP PMT 2004]

(b) -4xl0 3 C
(d) -4xl0 3 f 0 C

~~\) Only the positive

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Electrostatics 1007
24.

An electric dipole is put1 in north-south direction in a sphere

filled with water. Which Statement is correct [MP PET 1995]

29.

(b) Electric flux is coming out of sphere

(c) Electric flux entering into sphere and leaving the sphere
are same
(d) Water does not permit electric flux to enter into sphere
Two infinite plane parallel sheets separated by a distance d
have equal and opposite uniform charge densities a.
Electric field at a point between the sheets is [MP PET 1999]

30.

(a) Zero
(b)
(c)

point

charge

causes

an

(b) -1.0xl0 3 Nm 2 1C

(c) -3.0xl0 3 Nm 2 /C

(d) -2.0xl0 3 Nm 2 1C

Charge +Q on
insulating support

;;_-_V-V----P
x
SP = r
OP=x

(a)

Gaussian
surface A
Gaussian
surface B

if q
0

.}

w \leo

' !
28.

(b)

(a) 0.33x10" NCT

32.

(d)

33.

E
*
'

(a) Zero

(b) EL2

(c)

(d) EL2/ 2

EL 2 /(2f 0 )

(d)

200 Vm

The total electric flux through a cube when a charge 8q is

placed at one corner of the cube is
[Kerala PMT 2009; J & K CET 2010]

(a) 0q

paper. A uniform electric field E (volt/m), also in the plane

of the paper, is limited only to the lower half of the square
surface, (see figure), fhe electric flux is SI units associated
with the surface is
[CBSE PMT 2006, 10]

"
'

40 Vm

J--

A square surface of side L meteres is in the plane of the

(b)

The electric charges are distributed in a small volume. The

flux of the electric field through a spherical surface of radius
10 cm surrounding the total charge is 20 Vm. The flux over
a concentric sphere of radius 20 cm will be
[J & K CET 2008; DCE 2009]
(a) 20 Vm
(b) 25 Vm
(c)

(c) 0
(d) None of the above
An infinitely long thin straight wire has uniform linear charge
density of cm" 1 . Then, the magnitude of the electric
o
intensity at a point 18 cm away is (Given
[EAMCET 2009]
0 =8.8xlO- 12 C 2 NrrT 2 }

(d) 6.32 x 103 CN'1 rrr2

A hollow cylinder has ai charge q coulomb within it. If (j> is the

electric flux in units of volt-meter associated with the curved
surface B, the flux linked with the plane surface A in units of
volt-meter will be
[CBSE PMT 2007; AIIMS 2008]
B

31.

l&NrrfCr1

(c) 6.32 x 103 Nm2 CH

27.

of

The adjacent diagram shows a charge +Q held on an

insulating support S and enclosed by a hollow spherical
conductor. O represents the centre of the spherical
conductor and P is a point such that OP = x and SP = r.
The electric field at point P will be
[AMU PMT 2009]

The electric flux for Gaussian surface A that enclose the charged
particles in free space is (given q t = -14 nC, q2 = 78.85 nC,
q3 = - 56 nC)
[KCET 2005]

(a)

flux

(a) 3.0xl0 3 Nm 2 /C

(d) Depends upon the location of the point

26.

electric

-1.0xl0 3 Nm 2 C" 1 to pass through a spherical Gaussian

surface of 10.0 cm radius centred on the charge. If the
radius of the Gaussian surface were three times, how much
flux would pass through the surface
[Gujarat CET 2007]

(a) Electric flux is coming towards sphere

25.

(b) ^-

(d)

34.

Gauss's law is valid for

(a) Any closed surface
(b) Only regular close surfaces
(c) Any open surface
(d) Only irregular open surfaces

[DUMET 2009]

Gauss law of gravitation is

36.

37.

[MP PMT 2009]

(a)

<j"g-ds = m

(b)

(c)

cfg-ds = -4 Grnn

(d) All the above

d g -ds = Gm

Charge motion within the Gaussian surface gives changing

physical quantity
[MP PMT 2010]
(a) Electric field

(b) Electric flux

(c)

(d) Gaussian surface area

Charge

Which of the following is the correct statement of Gauss law

for electrostatics in a region of charge distribution in free
space
[MP PET 2010]

(a)

cJE.ds = 0

(b)

(c)

cJE.ds = p

(d)

A capacitor is charged by using a battery which is then

disconnected. A dielectric slab is then slipped between the
plates, which results in
[NCERT 1980; MP PET 1995;
BHU 1997; Kerala PMT 2011]
(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 acicss the plates,
reduction in the stored energy, but no change in the
charge on the plates
(d) None of the above
The energy of a charged capacitor is given by the expression
( q = charge on the conductor and C = its capacity)
[MP PMT 1989]

cJE.ds = 0p

(a)
38.

39.

The angle subtended by a c rcular disk of diameter 2 cm at a

distance 1000 cm from your eye is
[DUMET 2010]
(a) 0.2

(b) 0.002

(c) 0.11

(d) 0.22

Gauss's law of electrostatics would be invalid if

[AMU (Med.) 2010]
(a) There were magnetic monopoles
(b) The speed of light was not a universal constant
(c) The inverse square law ' was not exactly true
(d) The electrical charge was not quantized

40.

The electrostatic potential inside a charged spherical ball is

-c

2qC

(d)
2F
The earth has Volume 'V and Surface Area 'A' then
[MP PMT 2009]
capacitance would be
A_
V_
(b)
V
A

(d) 12* e 0 -

(c)

0 V
Two conducting spheres of radii Rl and /?2 having charges

Q] and Q2 respectively are connected to each other. There

-24m0r

(b) -6a0r

(c)

-24mQ

(d) -6a0

A series combination of n1 capacitors each of value Cj, is

A charge Q is enclosed by a Gaussian spherical surface of

radius R. if the radius is doubled, then the outward electric
flux will
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2011]
(a) Be doubled

(b) Increase four times

(c) Be reduced to half

(d) Remain the same

*L

(b)

8_

C 2 , is charged by a source of potential difference V, it has the

same (total) energy stored in it, as the first combination has,
The value of C 2 , in terms of C1, is then
[CBSE PMT 2010]

16C,

(b)

nl"2

(c) 16^-<

2C,
nln2

(d) 2 -

BQ

(d) TT-<

Capacitance
The potential energy of a charged parallel plate capacitor
is U0 if a slab of dielectric constant k is inserted between the
plates, then the new potentia energy will be [MP PET 2009]

(b)

[NCERT 1984; MP PMT 2001 ]

No change in the energy of the system
An increase in the energy of the system
Always a decrease in the energy of the system
A decrease in the energy of the system unless QiR2 = Q2Ri

charged by a source of potential difference 4V. When

another parallel combination of n 2 capacitors, each of value

What is the flux through a cube of side 'a' if a point charge

of q is at one of its corner
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2012]

(a)

1.

(b)

(a)

centre; a, fa are constants. Th en the charge density inside the

ball is
[AIEEE2011]

42.

2C

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

given by <j> or +b whefe r is the distance from the

41.

(c)

q,2

In a charged capacitor, the energy resides

[CPMT 1974; KCET 2000]
(a) The positive charges
(b) Both the positive and negative charges
(c) The field between the plates
(d) Around the edge of the capacitor plates
The energy stored in a condenser of capacity C which has
been raised to a potential V is given by
[CPMT 1974; MP PMT 1993; DCE 2002; RPET 2003;
Similar Kerala PMT 2009]

U0k2

(d) U02

(b)
(c)

CV

(d)

2VC

Electrostatics 1009
9.

10.

Capacitors are used in electrical circuits where appliances need

more
[MP PMT 2009]
(a) Current
(b) Voltage
(c) Watt
(d) Resistance
If the circumference of a sphere is 2m, then capacitance of
[MP PMT 2009]
sphere in water would be
(a) 2700 pF
(b) 2760 pF
(c)

11.

2780 pF

(d) 2800 pF

Eight drops of mercury of equal radii possessing equal

charges combine to form a big drop. Then the capacitance
of bigger drop compared to each individual small drop is

19.

A parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates has a

capacitance of 9 pF. The separation between its plates is 'd'.
The space between the plates is now filled with two
dielectrics. One of the dielectrics has dielectric constant
fcj = 3 and thickness d/3 while the other one has dielectric
constant k2 = 6 and thickness 2d/3. Capacitance of the
capacitor is now
[AIEEE 2008]
(a) 45 pF
(b) 40.5 pF
(c) 20.25 pF
(d) 1.8pF
The energy required to charge a parallel plate condenser of
plate separation d and plate area of cross-section A such
that the uniform electric field between the plates is E, is
[CBSEPMT 2008]

[MNR 1987; MP PET 1990; MP PMT 2002, 03;

Pb. PET 2004; J & K CET 2005]

12.

13.

14.

15.

(b) 4 times
(a) 8 times
(c) 2 times
(d) 32 times
tor
is
increased by 2 coulomb, the
If the charge on a capac
energy stored in it increa se by 21%. The original charge on
[WB-JEE 2009]
the capacitor is
(a) IOC
(b) 20 C
(c) 30 C
(d) 40 C
The potential gradient at which the dielectric of a condenser
just gets punctured is called
(a) Dielectric constant
(b) Dielectric strength
(c) Dielectric resistance
(d) Dielectric number
A parallel plate conden; er has a capacitance 50/jF in air
and HQjUF when immersed in an oil. The dielectric constant
[CPMT 1985; J & K CET 2004]
1 fc' of the oil is
(a) 0.45
(b) 0.55
(c) 1.10
(d) 2.20
Separation between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor is
d and the area of each ate is A. When a slab of material of
dielectric constant fc an thickness t(t < d) is introduced
between the plates, its capacitance becomes

e n E2Ad

f
20.

-H
pA

(c)

16.

21.

(d) 0 E 2 / A d

Eight small drops, each of radius r and having same charge

q are combined to form a big drop. The ratio between the
potentials of the bigger drop and the smaller drop is

(c) 2 : 1
(d) 1:8
1000 small water drops each of radius r and charge
q coalesce together to form one spherical drop. The
potential of the big drop is larger than that of the smaller
drop by a factor of
[NCERT 1984; CPMT 1991, 97;
MP PMT 1996; MP PET 2002;
Similar MP PET 1991; MP PMT 1994; RPET 2001]
(a) 1000
(b) 100

22.

(c) 10
(d) 1
Two large metal plates are placed parallel to each other. The
inner surfaces of plates are charged by +a and -a
(Coulomb/m2). The outer surfaces are neutral. The electric
field is
in the region between the plates and
outside the plates.
[MP PET 2008]

, , 2a a

(b)

(c)
(d)

0A

23.

d-tfl-1
I k
V
The capacity of parallel plate condenser depends on
[MP PMT 2000; J1PMER 2002]

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

The
The
The
The

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

The amount of charge

Geometry and size of the conductor
Both (a) and (b)
None of these

17.

EzAd

[CPMT 1983, 89; MP PMT 1989, 94; RPMT 2000]

(a) 8 : 1
(b) 4 : 1

[MP PMT 1989]

(a)

(b) ^

type of metal u sed

thickness of pi, tes
potential applii d across the plates
separation bet\eveen
potential
the plates
to which ?
conductor is raised, depends on
[KCET 2005]

24.

25.

,zero
e0

(d) zero,

The capacitance of a spherical condenser is 1//F . If the

spacing between the two spheres is 1 mm . then the radius of
the outer sphere is
[CPMT 1989]
(a) 30cm
(b) 6m
(c) 5cm
(d) 3m
A
500 f f capacitor is charged at a steady rate of
100 //C / second . The potential difference across the
capacitor will be 10 V after an interval of
[MP PET 2008]
(a) 5 sec
(b) 25 sec
(c) 20 sec
(d) 50 sec
When air in a capacitor is replaced by a medium of
dielectric constant K, the capacity
[CPMT 1972, 82, 90;
NCERT 1990; MP PMT 1993; MP PET 1994; KCET 1994]
(a) Decreases K times
(b) Increases K times
(c) Increases K 2 times
(d) Remains constant

1010 Electrostatics
64 drops each having the capacity C and potential V are
combined to form a big idrop. If the charge on the small
drop isq , then the charge | on the big drop will be

27.

28.

(a)

2q

(c)

16q

34.

capacitor of 900 pF as shown in figure (b), then the total

energy of system is
[VITEEE 2008]
* +

[CPMT 1971; MP PET 1985; MP PET/PMT 1988;

Similar AFMC 2006]
(b) 4q

(d) 64q

The capacity of a parallel plate capacitor increases with the

[AFMC 1995; MH CET (Med.) 1999]
'a) Decrease of its area
(b) Increase of its distance
(c) Increase of its area
(d) None of the above
Two parallel plate of area A are separated by two different
dielectrics as shown in fic^re. The net capacitance is
[Orissa JEE 2008]

d/2

4d

" 900pF

(a)

35.

36.

d/2

900pF

!b : 900pF

+ - 100 v

3d
(b)

The energy stored in the capacitor as shown in the figure (a)

is 4.5xl0^ 6 J. If the battery is replaced by another

(a) 4.5xlQ- 6 J

(b) 2.25xlO" 6 J

(c) Zero

(d) 9-xKr6 J

A capacitor of capacity C has charge Q and stored energy is

W. If the charge is increased to 2Q, the stored energy will be
[MP PET 1990]
(a) 2W
(b) W/2
(c) 4U/
(d) IV / 4
Between the plates of a parallel plate condenser, a plate of
thickness tj and dielectric constant /q is placed. In the rest
of the space, there is another plate of thickness 2 and
dielectric constant /c2
condenser will be

29.

The capacity of a spherical conductor in MKS system is

[MP PMT 2002; SimHar RPMT 2005; MP PMT 2006]

Ae0

""-r

(c)

(d)
30.

31.

32.

33.

37.

Can a metal be used as a medium for dielectric [DPMT 1999]

(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Depends on its shape
(d) Depends on dielectric
The capacitance C of a capacitor is
[i & K CET 2008; DUMET 2010]
(a) Independent of the charge and potential of the
capacitor
(b) Dependent on the charge and independent of potential
(c) Independent of the geometrical configuration of the
capacitor
(d) Independent of the dielectric medium between the two
conducting surfaces of the capacitor
The respective radii of the two spheres of a spherical
condenser are 12 cm and 9 cm. The dielectric constant of
the medium between them is 6. The capacity of the
condenser will be
[MP PET 1993]
(a) 240 pF
(b) 240 f f
(c) 240 F
(d) None of the above
A capacitor of capacitance alue 1 n F is charged to 30 V
and the battery is then disconnected. If it is connected across
a 2// F capacitor, the energy lost by the system is

The potential difference across the

[MP PET 1993]

38.

A Ifcj
fc, fcz

(d)

(b) 450 fjj

(c) 225 ft]

(d) 150 fjj

(e) 100/J

A cylindrical capacitor has charge Q and length L. If both

the charge and length of the capacitor are doubled, by
keeping other parameters fixed, the energy stored in the
capacitor
[VITEEE 2008]
(a) Remains same
(b) Increases two times
(c) Decreases two times
(d) Increases four times
64 identical spheres of charge q and capacitance C each are
combined to form a large sphere. The charge and capacitance of
the large sphere is[WB-JEE 2008; Similar AMU (Engg.) 1999]
(a) 64q,C
(b) 16q,4C
(c) 64q,4C

(d) 16q,64C

39.

Consider a parallel plate capacitor with plates 20 cm by 20

cm and separated by 2 mm. The dielectric constant of the
material between the plates is 5. The plates are connected to
a voltage sources of 500 V. The energy density of the field
between the plates will be close to
[AMU PMT 2009]
(a) 2.65J/m 3
(b) 1.95 J/m3

40.

A condenser of capacity C is charged to a potential

difference of Vl. The plates of the condenser are then

(c) 1.38J/m3

(d)

0.69J/m3

connected to an ideal inductor of inductance L . The current

through the inductor when the potential difference across the
condenser reduces to V, is
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2010]

(a)

(b)

[Kerala PET 2008]

(a) 300 fjj

kz

(d)

L
C(V 2

Electrostatics 1011

42.

C,V,U and Q are capacitance, potential difference, energy

stored and charge of parallel plate capacitor respectively.
The quantities that increases when a dielectric slab is
introduced between the plates without disconnecting the
battery are
[Kerala PET 2009]
(a) V a n d C
(b) V a n d U
(c) U a n d Q
(d) V a n d Q
(e) U but not Q
There is an air filled IpF Parallel plate capacitor. When the
plate separation is doubled and the space is filled with wax,
the capacitance increases 1o 2pF. The dielectric constant of
wax is
[Haryana CEE 1996; MNR 1998; KCET 2005;
Similar AMU 1995]

43.

(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 6
(d) 8
The capacity and the erergy stored in a parallel plate
condenser with air between its plates are respectively C0 and
IV 0 . If the air is replaced Dy glass (dielectric constant = 5)
between the plates, the capacity of the plates and the energy
stored in it will respectively be

(a) 5C0,5W0

/i \1

(b)

49.

As shown in the figure, a very thin sheet of aluminium is

placed in between the plates of the condenser. Then the
capacity
|
[AIEEE 2003]
Al strip

50.

51.

(a) Will increase

(b) Will decrease

(c) Remains unchanged

(d) May increase or decrease

An air capacitor is charged with an amount of charge q and

dipped into an oil tank. If the oil is pumped out, the electric
field between the plates of capacitor will
[DCE 2009]
(a) Increase
(b) Decrease
(c) Remain the same
(d) Become zero
The outer sphere of a spherical air capacitor is earthed. For
increasing its capacitance
[MP PET 1991]
(a) Vacuum is created between two spheres

5C00, -

(b) Dielectric material is filled between the two spheres

(c) The space between two spheres is increased

44.

w^

(d) The earthing of the outer sphere is removed

Force of attraction between the plates of a parallel plate

capacitor is
[AFMC 1998]

52.

(b) -4
(c)
45.

(d)

A capacitor of capacity C is connected with a battery of

potential V in parallel. Tie distance between its plates is
reduced to half at once, ajssuming that the charge remains
the same. Then to charge the capacitance upto the potential
V again, the energy given by the battery will be

53.

[MP PET 1989]

(a) C V 2 / 4
46.

47.

48.

(b) C V 2 / 2

(c) 3CV 2 /4
(d) CV2
N identical spherical drops3 charged to the same potential
V are combined to form a big drop. The potential of the
new drop will be
[MP PMT 1990, 2001;
KCET 2000 ; Kerala PET 2002; RPMT 2006]
(b) V / N
(a) V
(d) VxN 2 '' 3
(c) VxN
A parallel plate capacitor i charged. If the plates are pulled
apart
[DCE 2009]
(a) The capacitance increc ses
(b) The potential difference increases
(c) The total charge i
(d) The charge and potential difference remain the same
A 6fjF capacitor is cha ged from 10 volts to 20 uolts .
Increase in energy will be
[CPMT 1987, 97; Pb. PET 2002; BCECE 2004]
(b) gxlO^J
(a) 18xlO~ 4 J
(d)
(c) 4.5xlO~ 4 J

54.

55.

The plates of parallel plate capacitor are charged upto 100V.

A 2mm thick plate is inserted between the plates. Then to
maintain the same potential difference, the distance between
the plates is increased by 1.6mm. The dielectric constant of
the plate is
[MP PMT 1991]
(a) 5

(b) 1.25

(c) 4

(d) 2.5

Force acting upon a charged particle kept between the

plates of a charged condenser is F. If one plate of the
condenser is removed, then the force acting on the same
particle will become
[MP PMT 1991]
(a) 0

(b) F / 2

(c) F

(d) 2F

Two metallic charged spheres whose radii are 20cm and

10cm respectively, have each 150micro-cou/omb positive
charge. The common potential after they are connected by a
conducting wire is
[MP PMT 1991]
(a) 9xl0 6 uo/ts

(b) 4.5xl06 uo/ts

(c) l.SxlO 7 volts

(d) 13.5xl06uo/ts

A parallel plate air capacitor has a capacitance C. When it is

half filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant 5, the
percentage increase in the capacitance will be
[Kamataka GET 2006]

(a) 400%
(b) 66.6%
(c) 33.3%
(d) 200%

1012 Electrostatics
A frictionless dielectric plate S is kept on a frictionless table
T. A charged parallel plate capacitance C (of which the
plates are frictionless) is kept near it. The plate S is in
between the plates. When the plate S is left between the
plates
[CPMT 1988]

63.

64.

57.

(a) It will remain stationary on the table

(b) It is pulled by the capacitor and will pass on the other end
(c) It is pulled between the plates and will remain there
(d) All the above statements are false
Pick out the false statement from the following

65.

[Kerala PMT 2011]

(a) The direction of eddy current is given by Fleming's right

hand rule
(b) A choke coil is a pure inductor used for controlling
current in an a.c circt it
The energy stored in a conductor of capacitance C

66.

,2

having a charge q is

2C

(d) The magnetic energy stored in a coil of self-inductance

1 y
L carrying current is -t-L/

58.

59.

60.

(e) Induction coil is a powerful equipment used for

generating high voltages
A capacitor with air as the dielectric is charged to a potential
of 100 volts. If the spaa between the plates is now filled
with a dielectric of dielectric constant 10, the potential
difference between the plates will be
[MP PET 1992]
(a) 1000 volts
(b) 100 volts
(c) 10 volts
(d) Zero
The distance between the circular plates of a parallel plate
condenser 40mm in diameter, in order to have same
capacity as a sphere of radius 1 metre is
[MP PET 1992]
(a) 0.01 mm
(b) 0.1 mm
(c) 1.0 mm
(d) 10 mm
When a slab of dielectric material is introduced between the
parallel plates of a capacitor which remains connected to a
battery, then charge on p|ates relative to earlier charge

67.

[MP PMT 1994; MP PET 1997; KCET 2002)

68.

61.

Is less
Is same
Is more
May be less or mo depending on the nature of the
material introduced
The capacitance of a metallic sphere will be I/if, if its radius
is nearly
[MP PMT 1992; UPSEAT 1999; MH CET (Med.) 2001]

62.

(a) 9km
(b) 10m
(c) l . l l m
(d) 1.11 cm
Energy stored in capacito r and dissipated during charging a
capacitor bear a ratio
[MP PMT 2010]
(a) 1:1
(b) 1 : 2
(c) 1:1/2
(d) 2 : 1

(a) All the energy supplied is stored in the capacitor

(b) Half the energy supplied is stored in the capacitor
(c) The energy stored depends upon the capacity of the
capacitor only
(d) The energy stored depends upon the time for which the
capacitor is charged
A capacitor is kept connected to the battery and a dielectric
slab is inserted between the plates. During this process
[MP PMT 1994]

[MP PET 1992]

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

The capacitance of a parallel plate condenser does not

depend on
[MP PET 1994]
(a) Area of the plates
(b) Medium between the plates
(c) Distance between the plates
(d) Metal of the plates
Between the plates of a parallel plate condenser there is
1mm thick paper of dielectric constant 4. It is charged at
100 volt . The electric field in volt / metre between the
plates of the capacitor is
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) 100
(b) 100000
(c) 25000
(d) 4000000
The electric field between the two spheres of a charged
spherical condenser
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) Is zero
(b) Is constant
(c) Increases with distance from the centre
(d) Decreases with distance from the centre
The distance between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor
is d . A metal plate of thickness d / 2 is placed between the
plates. The capacitance would then be
[MP PMT 1994]
(a) Unchanged
(b) Halved
(c) Zero
(d) Doubled
An uncharged capacitor is connected to a battery. On
charging the capacitor

69.

(a) No work is done

(b) Work is done at the cost of the energy already stored in
the capacitor before the slab is inserted
(c) Work is done at the cost of the battery
(d) Work is done at the cost of both the capacitor and the
battery
The capacitance of an air capacitor is 15//F the separation
between the parallel plates is 6mm . A copper plate of 3mm
thickness is introduced symmetrically between the plates.
The capacitance now becomes
[MP PMT 1995]
(a) 5/JF
(b) 7.5/zF
(c)

70.

22.5/uF

(d)

3Q/uF

An air capacitor is connected to a battery. The effect of

filling the space between the plates with a dielectric is to
increase
[MP PMT 1995]
(a) The charge and the potential difference
(b) The potential difference and the electric field
(c) The electric field and the capacitance
(d) The charge and the capacitance

Electrostatics 1013
71.

A light bulb, a capacijor and a battery are connected

together as shown here, with switch S initially open. When
the switch S is closed, which one of the following is true

77.

[MP PMT 1995]

The capacity of a condenser in which a dielectric of

dielectric constant 5 has been used, is C. If the dielectric is
replaced by another with dielectric constant 20. the capacity
will become
[MP PMT 1996]

(a

C_

,c)f

78.

72.

73.

74.

(a) The bulb will light up for an instant when the capacitor
starts charging
(b) The bulb will light up when the capacitor is fully charged
(c) The bulb will not ligr^t up at all
(d) The bulb will light up and go off at regular intervals
The potentials of the two plaies of capacitor are + 10V and 10 V. The charge on 0ne of the plates is 40 C. The
capacitance of the capacilor is
[AFMC 2005]
(a) 2F
(b) 4 F
(c) 0.5 F
(d) 0.25 F
The diameter of each pla te of an air capacitor is 4cm . To
make the capacity of thijs plate capacitor equal to that of
20cm diameter sphere, t le distance between the plates will
be
[MP PET 1996]
"3
(a) 4xlO~ 3 m
(b) IxKT-m
(c) 1cm
(d) lxlO~ 3 cm
A spherical condenser ha& inner and outer spheres of radii
a and b respectively. Th^ space between the two is filled
with air. The difference between the capacities of two
condensers formed when outer sphere is earthed and when
inner sphere is earthed will be
[MP PET 1996]
(a) Zero
(b)
(c)

75.

4/zz-nfa

80.

(d)

b-a
The expression for the cajpacity of the capacitor formed by
compound dielectric placed between the plates of a parallel
plate capacitor as shown in figure, will be (area of plate
[MP PET 1996]
= A)
(a)

79.

^
.

0A

82.

d1+dz+d3

(a) First flows from A to B and then from B to A

(b) First flows from B to A then from A to B
(c) Always flows from B to A
(d) Always flows from A to B
A parallel plate condenser with a dielectric of dielectric constant
K between the plates has a capacity C and is charged to a
potential V volts. The dielectric stab is slowly removed from
between the plates and then reinserted. The net work done by
the system in this process is
[AIEEE 2007]
(a) i(K-l)CV 2

(b) CV 2 (K-1)/K

(c) (K-l)CV2

(d) Zero

A charge of 10~9C is placed on each of the 64 identical

drops of radius 2cm. They are then combined to form a
bigger drop. Find its potential
[MP PET 1997]
(b) 7.2xl0 2 V

(c) 1.44xl02V
(d) 1.44xl03V
To increase the charge on the plate of a capacitor means to
(a) Decrease the potential difference between the plates
(b) Decrease the capacitance of the capacitor
(c) Increase the capacitance of the capacitor
(d) Increase the potential difference between the plates.
The plates of a parallel plate capacitor of capacity 50//C
are charged to a potential of 100 volts and then separated

[MP PET 1997; JIPMER 2000]

K-C/2-l

76.

2C

from each other so that the distance between them is

doubled. How much is the energy spent in doing so

(c)

(d)

(d)

[Gujarat CET 2007]

-f-

(b)

4C

An insulator plate is passed between the plates of a

capacitor. Then the displacement current [UP CPMT 2006]

(a) 7.2xl0 3 V
81.

(b)

AKi

AK2

AK

The intensity of electric fiel d at a point between the plates of

a charged capacitor
[MP PMT 1996]
(a) Is directly proportional to the distance between the
plates
(b) Is inversely proportional to the distance between the
plates
(c) Is inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between the plates
(d) Does not depend upon the distance between the plates

(a) 25xlO~ 2 J
83.

(b) -12.5xHT2J

(c) -25xlO- 2 J
(d) 12.5xlO-2c7
Two spherical conductors each of capacity C are charged
to potentials V and -V . These are then connected by
means of a fine wire. The loss of energy will be
[MP PMT 1997]

(a) Zero

a/2

(d) 2CV2

1014 Electrostatics
The area of the plates of a parallel plate condenser is A
and the distance between the plates is 10mm. There are
two dielectric sheets in it, one of dielectric constant 10 and
thickness 6mm and the other of dielectric constant 5 and
thickness 4mm . The capacity of the condenser is
[MP PMT 1997]
12
Sn
(b) =:>
35 c
5000
0A
(d) 1500 QA

85.

86.

87.

the plates is filled with a liquid of dielectric constant 5. The

charge that flows now from battery to the capacitor is
[MP PMT 1997]
(a) 120//C
(b) 699//C
(c) 480//C
(d) 24//C
A parallel plate capacitor is first charged and then a
dielectric slab is introduced between the plates. The quantity
that remains unchanged is
[MP PMT/PET 1998]
Charge Q
(b) Potential V
Capacity C
(d) Energy U
A 2fJF capacitor is charged to lOOuo/f and then its plates
are connected by a conducting wire. The heat produced is

(a)

1J

(b)

0.1J

(c)

0.01J

(d) 0.001J

[MP PMT 1999]

(b)

2d
(c)

89.

cV2

C22 V2
2d2

(d)

Two metal spheres of capacitance Cj and C2 carry some

charges. They are put in contact and then separated. The
final charges Ql and Q2 on them will satisfy
[MP PMT 1999]

QL=CL
(b) ^- = -2Q2 C2

Q2
P,
90.

(d) ^ < ^

A parallel plate condenser with oil between the plates

(dielectric constant of oil K = 2 ) has a capacitance C . If the
oil is removed, then capacitance of the capacitor becomes
[CBSE PMT 1999; MH CET 2000]

V2C

91.

(a) 1.8xlO-10C

93.

(b)

2C

What is the area of the plates of a 3F parallel plate

capacitor, if the separation between the plates is 5mm
[AIIMS 1998; Pb. PET 2000; BHU 2002]

(a) 1.694xl09m2
(c) 9.281 x!0 9 m 2

(b) 1.8xlO~ 8 C

(c) 1.8xlO~ 20 C
(d) None of these
The capacity of a parallel plate condenser is 10//F without
dielectric. Dielectric of constant 2 is used to fill half the
distance between the plates, the new capacitance in f is
(a)

94.

[ISM Dhanbad 1994]

10

[EAMCET (Engg.) 1995]

(b) 20

(c) 15
(d) 13.33
The energy stored in the condenser is
[EAMCET (Engg.) 1995; CPMT 2000; CBSE PMT 2001]

(a) QV
(c)

95.

96.

(b)

-QV

-<

2 C
A battery is used to charge a parallel plate capacitor till the
potential difference between the plates becomes equal to the
electromotive force of the battery. The ratio of the energy
stored in the capacitor and the work done by the battery will
be
[AIEEE 2007]
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 1/4
(d) 1/2
Two identical charged spherical drops each of capacitance C
merge to form a single drop. The resultant capacitance is
[AFMC 1993]

The force between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor of

capacitance C and distance of separation of the plates d
with a potential difference V between the plates, is

CVZ

A parallel plate capacitor has circular plates of 0.08m

radius and 1.0xlO~ 3 m separation. If a P.O. of 100 volt is
applied, the charge will be

An air capacitor of capacity C = WjuF is connected to a

constant voltage battery of 12 V. Now the space between

[MP PET 1999; Pb. PET 2003; Similar KCET 1992;

JIPMER 2000; Orissa JEE 2003; UPSEAT 2004]

88.

92.

(b) 4.529xl0 9 m 2
(d) 12.981 x 109 m2

(a) Equal to 2C
(b) Greater than 2C
(c) Less than 2C but greater than C
(d) Less than C
97. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor with air as
medium is 3{f. With the introduction of a dielectric medium
between the plates, the capacitance becomes 15//F. The
permitivity of the medium is
[Kerala PMT 2007]
(a) 5
(b) 15
(c) O^xlO-^C^-'m-2
(d) 8.854x10-" C2^1-2
98. The radius of a metallic sphere if its capacitance is 1/9F, is
[KCET 1999; Pb. PET 2001]
(a) 106m
(b) 107m
(c) 109m
(d) 108m
99. The ratio of charge to potential of a body is known as
[CPMT 1999; MH CET 2001; Pb. PMT 2004]
(a) Capacitance
(b) Conductance
(c) Inductance
(d) Resistance
100. If the capacity of a spherical conductor is 1 picofarad, then
its diameter, would be
[Pb. PMT 1999]
(a) 1.8xl0 3 m
(b) 18xlQ- 3 m
(c) l.SxlO- 5
(d) 18xlO- 7 m
101. A parallel plate air capacitor is charged to a potential
difference of V. After disconnecting the battery, distance
between the plates of the capacitor is increased using an
insulating handle. As a result, the potential difference
between the plates
[KCET 1999; CBSE PMT 2006]
(a) Decreases
(b) Increases
(c) Becomes zero
(d) Does not change

102. A lOpF capacitor is connected to a 50 V battery. How much

electrostatic energy is stored in the capacitor
[KCEl| 1999; AFMC 2000; MH CET 2000]

(a) 1.25X10-8./
(b) 2.5xlO-7J
(c) S.SxlO^J
(d) 4.5xlCT2J
103. Two protons A and B ai e placed in space between plates of
a parallel plate capacit charged upto V volts (See fig.)
Forces on protons are F, and FR, then
[RPET 1999]
FA>FB

(b) FA<FB
(c)

FA=FB

AB

(d) Nothing can be saic

104. If a slab of insulating material 4xl(T 3 m thick is introduced
between the plates ofj a parallel plate capacitor, the
separation between plates has to be increased by
3.5xl(T3m to restore the capacity to original value. The
dielectric constant of the hiaterial will be [AMU (Med.) 1999]
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
105. When a dielectric material is introduced between the plates
of a charged condenser then electric field between the plates
[Pb. PMT 1999, 2004]
(a) Decreases
(b) Increases
(c) Remain constant
(d) First (b) then (a)
106. A parallel plate capacitor has a plate separation of 0.01 mm
and use a dielectric (whose dielectric strength is 19 KV/mm)
as an insulator. The max mum potential difference that can
be applied to the terminals of the capacitor is

111. The capacity of a parallel plate condenser is 15//F , when

the distance between its plates is 6 cm. If the distance
between the plates is reduced to 2 cm, then the capacity of
this parallel plate condenser will be
[AFMC 2000; CBSE PMT 2001]
(a) 15/jF
(b) 30//F

(c) 45//F

112. When we touch the terminals of a high voltage capacitor,

even after a high voltage has been cut off, then the capacitor
has a tendency to
[AFMC 2000]
(a) Restore energy
(b) Discharge energy
(c) Affect dangerously
(d) Both (b) and (c)
113. In a capacitor of capacitance 20//F , the distance between
the plates is 2mm. If a dielectric slab of width 1mm and
dielectric constant 2 is inserted between the plates, then the
new capacitance is
[BHU 2000]
(a) 2/jF
(b) 15.5//F
(c) 26.6//F

charges 10~2 C and 5 x l O ~ 2 C respectively. If they are

connected by a conducting wire, the final charge on the
smaller sphere is
[CBSE PMT 1995]
(a) 3xlO" 2 C
109.

(b) lxlO~ 2 C

(c) 4xlO' 2 C
(d) 2xlO~ 2 C
A variable condenser is permanently connected to a 100 V
battery. If the capacity is changed from 2//F to 10//F,
then change in energy is edjual to
[BHU 2000]
(a) 2xlO~ 2 J

(b) 2.5xlO~ 2 J

(c) 3.5xKT 2 J

(d) 4xlO" 2 J

110. A parallel plate capacitor having a plate separation of 2 mm

is charged by connecting it to a 300 V supply. The energy
density is
[BHU 2004]
(a) 0.01J/m3
(b) 0.1J/m3
(c) 1.0 J/m3
(d) 10 J/m3

(d) 32//F

114. What is the value of capacitance if the thin metallic plate is

introduced between two parallel plates of area A and
separated at distance d
[MP PMT 2010]

(a)

e0 A

(b)

(d)
d
2d
115. The capacity of a parallel plate capacitor w'th no dielectric
substance but with a separation of 0.4 cm is 2ff. The
separation is reduced to half and it is filled with a dielectric
substance of value 2.8. The final capacity of the capacitor is
(c)

[AMU (Engg.) 1999]

(a) 190V
(b) 290V
(c) 95V
(d) 350V
107. A 40 jif capacitor in a defibrillator is charged to 3000 V.
The energy stored in the capacitor is sent through the
patient during a pulse of c uration 2ms. The power delivered
to the patient is
[AHMS 2004]
(a) 45/clV
(b) 90 kW
(c) 180 kW
(d) 360 kW
108. Two metallic spheres of radii 1cm and 2cm are given

(d) 60//F

[CBSE PMT 2000]

(a) ll.2ff
(b) 15.6//F
(c) 19.2//F
(d) 22.4/F
116. Two insulated metallic spheres of 3[f and 5/zF capacitances
are charged to 300V and 500V respectively. The energy
loss, when they are connected by a wire is
[CPMT 1999; Pb. PMT 1999, 2001; KCET 2000]
(a) 0.012 J
(b) 0.0213 J

(c) 0.0375 J
(d) 3.75 J
117. Two conducting spheres of radii 5 cm and 10 cm are given
a charge of 15//C each. After the two spheres are joined by
a conducting wire, the charge on the smaller sphere is
[AMU (Engg.) 2001]

(a) 5fjC
(b) 10//C
(c) 15//C
(d) 20juC
118. In a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C, a metal sheet
is inserted between the plates, parallel to them. If the
thickness of the sheet is half of the separation between the
plates. The capacitance will be
[KCET 2001]
(a) C/2
(b) 3C/4
(c) 4C
(d) 2C
119. While a capacitor remains connected to a battery and
dielectric slab is applied between the plates, then
[KCET 2001]

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

Potential difference between the plates is changed

Charge flows from the battery to the capacitor
Electric field between the plates increases
Energy store in the capacitor decreases

1016 Electrostatics
120. A body of capacity 4//F is charged to 80V and another
body of capacity 6 // F is charged to 30V. When they are

.
,
.
,
128. Work done by an external agent in separating the parallel
plate capacitor is
[AIEEE 2002]

connected the energy lost by 4 ju F capacitor is

CV

(b) -|c2V

[EAMCET 2001]

(a) 7.8 mJ
(b) 4.6 mJ
(c) 3.2 mJ
(d) 2.5 mJ
121. The capacity of the conductor does not depend upon
[BHU 2001]

12

(a) Charge
(b) Voltage
(c) Nature of the material (d) All of these
A solid conducting sphere of radius Rl is surrounded by
another concentric hollow conducting sphere of radius R2.
The capacitance of this assembly is proportional to
[MP PET 2001; UPSEAT 2001]

(a)

(b)

! +R2

(d)

R2+Rl
R1R2

(c)

(b)
(d)

between the plates. If the charge on the capacitor plate is

Ifj C , the force on each capacitor plate is[Orissa JEE 2002]
(a) 0.5 N

(b) 0.05 N

(c) 0.005 N

(d) None of these

130. A parallel plate capacitor has plate area A and separation d.

It is charged to a potential difference V0. The charging
battery is disconnected and the plates are pulled apart to
three times the initial separation. The work required to
separate the plates is
[Kerala PET 2002]
(b)

(a + b)

b-a

124. The energy stored in a condenser is in the form of

[J & K CET 2004]

(a) Kinetic energy

(b) Electrostatic potential energy
(c) Elastic energy
(d) Magnetic energy
125. A capacitor is used to store 24 watt hour of energy at 1200
volt. What should be the capacitance of the capacitor
[Kerala (Engg.) 2001]

(a) 120 mF
(b) 120 ff
(c) 24 ff
(d) 24 mF
126. The mean electric energy density between the plates of a
charged capacitor is (here q= charge on the capacitor and
A- area of the capacitor!plate)
[MP PET 2002]

(a) r^r

(d) None of these

129. A parallel plate capacitor has an electric field of 105 V / m

R2 -

123. Two spherical conductors A and B of radius a and b (b > a)

are placed in air concentrically B is given charge + Q
coulomb and A is grounded. The equivalent capacitance of
these is
[MP PMT 2001]
ab
b-a

(0 icV 2

(b) -Ar

(c)

2d

3d

131. The electric field between the plates of a parallel plate

capacitor when connected to a certain battery is EQ . If the
space between the plates of the capacitor is filled by
introducing a material of dielectric constant K without
disturbing the battery connections, the field between the
plates shall be
[AMU (Med.) 2002]
(a) K0

(b)

(d) None of the above

132. If the distance between parallel plates of a capacitor is
halved and dielectric constant is doubled then the
capacitance [BHU 2001; CBSE PMT 2002; MH CET 2003]
(a) Decreases two times

(b) Increases two times

(c) Increases four times

(d) Remains the same

133. Putting a dielectric substance between two plates of

condenser, capacity, potential and potential energy
respectively
[AFMC 2002]
(a) Increase, decrease, decrease
(b) Decrease, increase, increase
(c) Increase, increase, increase
(d) Decrease, decrease, decrease

(d) None of the above

127. A charge of 40//C is givep to a capacitor having capacitance
C=10//F. The stored energy in ergs is
[CPMT 2002]
80x10^
(b) 800
(d) 8000
80

134. A thin metal plate P is inserted half way between the plates
of a parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C in such a way
that it is parallel to the two plates. The capacitance now
becomes
[Orissa JEE 2002]
(a) C

(b) C/2

(c) 4C

(d) None of these

Electrostatics 1017
135. If there are n capacitors in parallel connected to V volt
source, then the energy stored is equal to
[AIEEE 2002]

cv

143.

A capacitor of capacitance 6/zF is charged upto 100 volt.

The energy stored in the capacitor is
[BHU 2003; CPMT 2004; MP PMT 2005; RPMT 2006;

(b)

Similar AIIMS 1980, 84; AFMC 1988; MP PET 1994;

MP PMT 2000; MH CET 2002]

(c)

CV2

136. If n drops, each of capa citance C, coalesce to form a single

big drop, then the ratio of the energy stored in the big drop
to that in each small drop will be
[UPSEAT 2002; Kerala PET 2010]

137.

(a) n : l

(b) n 1 / 3 :l

(c) ns/3 : 1

(d) n 2 : !

(c) 2 : 1

(d)

1:1

138. 64 small drops of mercury, each of radius r and charge q

coalesce to form a big drop. The ratio of the surface density
of charge of each small drop with that of the big drop is
[KCET 2002]

1 :64

(b) 64 : 1

4:1

(d) 1 : 4

139. Capacitance (in F) of a spherical conductor with radius 1m

[AIEEE 2002]
(a) l.lxlO- 10

(b)

(c) 9xlQ-9

(d) 10-3

(c) 0.03 Joule

(d) 0.3 Joule

144. A parallel plate air capacitor is charged and then isolated.

When a dielectric material is inserted between the plates of
the capacitor, then which of the following does not change

(a) Electric field between the plates

Another uncharged sphere of radius 20 cm is allowed to

touch it for some time. After that if the sphere are separated,
then surface density of charges, on the spheres will be in the
ratio of
[AIIMS 2002]

(b) 1:3

(b) 0.06Jou/e

[Orissa JEE 2003; MP PET 2006]

A conducting sphere of radius 10cm is charged 10//C.

(a) 1 : 4

(a) 0.6 Joule

140. On increasing the plate separation of a charged condenser,

the energy
[Kerala PMT 2004]
(a) Increases

(b) Decreases

(c) Remains unchanged

(d) Becomes zero

141. The energy required to charge a capacitor of 5//F by

connecting a d.c. source of20fcVis
[Pb. PMT 2002]

(b) Potential difference across the plates

(c) Charge on the plates
(d) Energy stored in the capacitor
145. Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor becomes 4/3 times
its original value if a dielectric slab of thickness t = d/2 is
inserted between the plates (d is the separation between the
plates). The dielectric constant of the slab is
[KCET 2003]

(a) 8

(b) 4

(c) 6

(d) 2

146. An air filled parallel plate capacitor has capacity C. If

distance between plates is doubled and it is immersed in a
liquid then capacity becomes twice. Dielectric constant of
the liquid is
[BCECE 2004]

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

147. A spherical drop of capacitance 1 f f is broken into eight

drops of equal radius. Then, the capacitance of each small
drop is
[KCET 2004]

(a) !>

(b) 8//F

(c) -//F

(d)

148. The work done in placing a charge of 8 x 10 18 coulomb on

a condenser of capacity 100 micro-farad is
[AIEEE 2003]

(a) lOfcJ

(b) 5kJ

(a) 32xlO~ 32 Joufe

(b) 16xlO~ 32 Joule

(c) 2kJ

(d) 1 kJ

(c)

(d) 4xlO- 10 Joute

3.1xlO~26Jou/e

142. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is 12/zF. If the

distance between the plates is doubled and area is halved,
then new capacitance will be

149. 64 drops of mercury each charged to a potential of 10V.

They are combined to form one bigger drop. The potential
of this drop will be (Assume all the drops to be spherical)

[MH CET 2002; Similar RPMT 2005]

[MP PET 2003; Similar MP PET 1997]

(a) 8/zF

(b) 6/f

(a) 160V

(b) 80V

(c) 4//F

(d)

(c) 10 V

(d) 640V

3ff

1018 Electrostatics
150. A spherical drop of mercury having a potential of 2.5 V is
obtained as a result of merging 125 droplets. The potential
of constituent droplets wou d be
[Orissa JEE 2003]
(a) 1.0 V
(b) 0.5V
(c) 0.2V
(d) 0.1V
151. A parallel plate capacitor of capacity C0 is charged to a
potential V0
(i) The energy stored in the capacitor when the battery is
disconnected and the separation is doubled El
(ii) The energy stored in the capacitor when the charging
battery is kept connected and the separation between
the capacitor plates is doubled is E2. Then El IE2 value
is
[EAMCET 2003]
(a) 4
(b) 3/2
(c) 2
(d) 1/2
152. A parallel plate capacitor carries a charge q. The distance
between the plates is doubled by application of a force. The
work done by the force is
[MP PET 2003]
(a) Zero

(b) ^-

c*

153. As in figure shown, if a capacitor C is charged by connecting

it with resistance R, then energy is given by the battery will
be
[MP PMT 2003]

158. The net charge on capacitor is

[MP PMT 2010]
(a) 2q
(b) q/2
(c) 0
(d) ~
159. A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential V. The
flux of the electric field through a closed surface enclosing
the capacitor is
[MP PET 2010]
CV
2CV
(b)
(c)

CV

(d) Zero

160. n identical droplets are charged to V volt each. If they

coalesce to form a single drop, then its potential will be
[WB-JEE 2010]

(a) n 2/3 V
(b) n 1/3 V
(c) nV
(d) V/n
161. If the charge on a capacitor is doubled, the value of its
capacitance C will be
[DUMET 2010]
(a) Doubled
(b) Halved
(c) Remain the same
(d) None of these
162. A parallel plate capacitor of a capacitance of 1 farad would
have the plate area of about
[DUMET 2010]
(a) 100m2

(b) I/cm 2

(c)

(d) 1000/cm2

100/cm2

163. A capacitor is charged by a battery and the energy stored is

U. The battery is now removed and the separation distance
between the plates is doubled. The energy stored now is

lev2
(b) More than-CV 2

[J & K GET 2010]

(c) Less than -CV2

H'

R
-^VW

'

(d) Zero
154. A capacitor is charged to 200 volt it has 0.1 coulomb
charge. When it is discharged, energy will be [MP PET 2003]

(a) 1J
(b) 4J
(c) 10 J
(d) 20 J
155. When a lamp is connected in series with capacitor, then

U
2

(d) 4Lf
(c 2U
164. A 2//F capacitor is charged as shown in figure. The
percentage of its stored energy dissipated after the switch S
is turned to position 2 is
[IIT-JEE 2011]
1

2
S

[Pb. PMT 2004]

(a) Lamp will not glow

(b) Lamp will burst out
(c) Lamp will glow normally (d) None of these
156. If a dielectric substance is introduced between the plates of a
charged air-gap capacitor. The energy of the capacitor will
[MP PMT 2004]

(a) Increase
(b) Decrease
(c) Remain unchanged
(d) First decrease and then increase
157. Which is known as capacitive time constant [MP PMT 2010]
(a) RIL
(b) RIC
(c)

R/LC

(d)

2ffT

(a) 0%

8ffT

(b)

20%

(c) 75%
(d) 80%
165. A parallel plate condenser has a uniform electric field
E(V/m) in the space between the plates. If the distance
between the plates is d(m) and area of each plate is A(m 2 )
the energy (joules) stored in the condenser is
[CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2011]

(a) e0E2Ad

(b)

(0

(d) 0EAd

E2Ad/e0

166. In the given circuit, a charge of +80//C is given to the

upper plate of the 4fjF capacitor. Then in the steady state,
the charge on the upper plate ;of the 3//F capacitor is
+80//C ?

(c)

HHHH

[IIT-JEE 2012]

HHHHH

(d)
-3,if

2ff~

+32//C
448 //C

Four plates of equal area A are separated by equal

distances d and are arranged as shown in the figure. The
equivalent capacity is

(b) +40 fjC

(d) +80 fjC

Grouping of Capacitors
Two identical capacitors are joined in parallel, charged to a
potential V and then separated and then connected in series
i.e. the positive plate of one is connected to negative of the
other
[NCERT 1982; KCET 1993]
(a) The charges on the free plates connected together are
destroyed
(b) The charges on the free plates are enhanced
(c) The energy stored in the system increases
(d) The potential difference ih the free plates becomes 2V
The condensers of capacity Cl and C2 are connected in
parallel, then the equivalent capacitance is

2e0A

(c) ^P
d

(b)

3e0A

(d) ^
d

Three capacitors each of capacitance C and of breakdown

voltage V are joined in series. The capacitance and
breakdown voltage of the combination will be
[CBSEPMT 2009]

[NCERT 1977; KCET 2000; DPMT 2002; MP PMT 2004]

Cj + C2

(b)

,
3' 3

(b) 3C,^-

f,3V

(d) 3C,3V

Q+C 2
A parallel plate capacitor with air as medium between the
plates has a capacitance of 10/zF . The area of capacitor is
divided into two equal halves and filled with two media as
shown in the figure having dielectric constant fc1=2 and
fc2=4. The capacitance of the system will now be

Co

A parallel plate capacitor is made by stacking n equally

spaced plates connected alternately. If the capacitance
between any two plates is C then the resultant capacitance is
[DPMT 2001; MP PMT 2003; AIEEE 2005; AIIMS 2007]
(a) C
(b) nC
(c) (n-l)C
(d) (n + l)C
Seven capacitors each of papacity 2//F are to be so

[MP PMT 1987; RPET 2001; Similar AFMC 2006;

VITEEE 2006]

(a)

lOff

(b)

20ff

connected to have a equivalent capacity /jF . Which will

(c)

30/zF

be the necessary figure as shown

(d) 40//F

[IIT-JEE 1990]
8.

Three capacitors are connected to D.C. source of 100 volts

shown in the adjoining figure. If the charge accumulated on
plates of C!,C2and C3 are qa, qb,qc,qd.qeandqf
[CPMT 1986]

respectively, then

100-

3ff

(a) qb+qd+q,=C

fa

cd

(b) qb + qd+q{=0

(b)

(c) q a + q c + q e = 5 0 C
(d) qb = qd = qf

100 Vote

ef

lectrostatics
n identical condensers are joined in parallel and are
charged to potential V . Now they are separated and joined
in series. Then the total energy and potential difference of
the combination will be
[MP PET 1993]

15.

In an adjoining figure are shown three capacitors Q , C2

and C3 joined to a battery. The correct condition will be
(Symbols have their usual meanings)
[CPMT 1988, 89]

^ r^
HI 1 1

(a) Energy and potential difference remain same

"1 Cj^i

(b) Energy remains same and potential difference is nV

V3 ' ! Q3

(c) Energy increases n times and potential difference is nV

L3

(d) Energy increases n times and potential difference

remains same

10.

Four capacitors of equal capacitance have an equivalent

capacitance Cj when connected in series and an equivalent

(a)

capacitance C2 when connected in parallel. The ratio

(c) Q, = Q2 + Q3 and V = V1 + V2
(d) Q2 = Q3 and V2 = V3

Q / C 2 is

11.

+ 1,-

(b) Q 1 =Q 2 + Q 3 andV = \/ 1 +V 2 +V3

[WB-JEE2009]

(a) 1/4

(b) 1/16

(c) 1/8

(d) 1/12

Q! = Q2 = Q3 and Vj = V2 = V3 = V

16.

The equivalent capacitance of the combination shown in

figure below is
[MP PET 2010]
|C

Five capacitors of IQfjF capacity each are connected to a

d.c. potential of 100 volts as shown in the adjoining figure.

The equivalent capacitance between the points A and B
will be equal to
[CPMT 1986,
\sWff
(a) 40//F
5/T
A
/^ (b) 20//F

10V

(c)

30ff

(d) 10//F
12.

v~3K~

Wff^\; MP
PM
/*10ff

i nn Ur,u

(a) 2C

(d) None of these

17.

Three capacitors of capacitances 3/zF, 9//F and 18/zF are

the condensers will be

connected once in series and another time in parallel. The

be

13.

C,

will

CPMT 1990; Similar MH CET 2001]

(a) 1 : 15

(b) 15 : 1

(c) 1 : 1

(d) 1 : 3

Two condensers of capacity 0.3/zF and 0.6/zF respectively

are connected in series. The combination is connected
across a potential of6uo/s . The ratio of energies stored by

ratio of equivalent capacitance in the two cases

18.

[MP PMT 1990]

(a) i

(b) 2

(c) I

(d) 4

The charge deposited on 4//F capacitor in the circuit is

12V

[Kamataka CET 2009]

Four condensers each of capacity 4//F are connected as

m..

shown in figure. Vp - VQ = 15 volts . The energy stored in

the system is

14.

(b) C

(a)

2400 ergs

(b)

1800 ergs

(c)

3600 ergs

(d)

5400 ergs

4^P

[CPMT 1976, 89]

19.

(a) 6x10^0

(b) 12xW* C

(c)

(d) SexlO^C

24xlO~ 6 C

In given circuit when switch S has been closed then charge

on capacitor A & B respectively
[MP PET 2008]

Two capacitors each of 1//F capacitance are connected in parallel and are then charged by 200 volts d.c. supply. The
total energy of their charges (in joules) is

AT

[MP PMT 1990, 2002; J & K CET 2006]

'

1
3

T'

(a) 0.01

(b) 0.02

(a) 3q, 6q

(b) 6q,3q

(c) 0.04

(d) 0.06

(c) 4.5 q, 4.5 q

(d) 5q,4q

Electrostatics 1021
Three capacitances of capacity 1 Off, 5//F and 5ff
connected in parallel. The total capacity will be

are

27.

[MP PET/PMT 1988]

21.

10//F
(b) 5ff
(d) None of the above
(c) 20/zF
Three capacitors of capacity C lt C2 C3 are connected in
series. Their total capacity will be

(c)

22.

(c) 2 : 3

j (b) 1 /(Q + C2 + C3)

(CfJ + 2l + C3l Tl

(b) 3 : 4

[MP Board 1977; MP PET/PMT 1988; CPMT 1996]

(a) Q + C2 + C3

Four capacitors of each of capacity 3ff are connected as

shown in the adjoining figure. The ratio of equivalent
capacitance between A and B and between A and C
will be
[Orissa JEE 2011]
A
si
B
(a) 4:3

(d) 3 : 2

(d) None of these

Plates of area A are arranged as shown. The distance

between each plate is d, the net capacitance is

28.

1
T

The capacities of two conductors are Q and C2 and their

respective potentials are Vj and V2 . If they are connected by
a thin wire, then the loss of energy will be given by

[Orissa JEE 2008]

b

[MP PMT 1986]

/" y in
(b)

2(C,+C2)

(b)

2(C1+C2)

2(C1+C2)

29.

(d) ^p
a
23.

Two capacitors connected in parallel having the capacities

Q and C2 are given ' q' charge, which is distributed
among them. The ratio of the charge on Q and C2 will be
[NCERT 1977; MP PET/PMT 1988]

CL

A parallel plate condenser is filled with two dielectrics as

shown. Area of each plate is A metre2 and the separation
is t metre. The dielectric constants are

25.

Two capacitors of capacities Q and C2 are charged to

voltages V] and V2 respectively. There will be no exchange
of energy in connecting them in parallel, if [MP PET 1989]
b) C* \7 = C* '
(a) C j = C 2

la}

n, ,_>, \

(M

^1 + k2

t=t

C,C2

(d) Cj/C 2

^2'

C]Vo -L

30.

ol *i K2
t
2
Three condensers each of capacitance 2F are put in series.
The resultant capacitance is
[MP PMT 2001; Similar MP PET 2002; Orissa PMT 2004]

6F

1
c.

(b) |F
(d)

[AIIMS 2006]

(a) 3 : 1
(b) 5:2
(c) 2 : 3
(d) 1:1
A capacitor of capacity Q is charged to the potential of V 0 .
On disconnecting with the battery, it is connected with a
capacitor of capacity C2 as shown in the adjoining figure.
The ratio of energies before and after the connection of
switch S will be
(a) (Q + C^/q
(c)

'

(c)

Five capacitors, each of capacitance value C are connected

as shown in the figure. The ratio of capacitance between P
and R, and the capacitance between P and Q, is

(b) C j / f Q + C j j )

k2

[MNR 1985; DCE 1999; AIIMS 2001]

26.

and

respectively. Its capacitance in farad will be

CjC2

(c)

/q

(b) -^
Li

C2

24.

QC2

31.

Two condensers of capacities Iff and 2/jF are connected

in series and the system is charged to 120 volts . Then the
P.O. on Iff

32.

5F

capacitor (in volts) will be

[MP PMT 1987]

(a) 40
(b) 60
(c) 80
(d) 120
Four condensers are joined as shown in the adjoining figure.
The capacity of each is 8//F. The equivalent capacity
between the points A and B will be
(a) 32/zF

(b)
(c)
(d)

2ff
I6ff

_l L

l'
-! I'- ll

n
i HI

1022 Electrostatics
The capacities and connection of five capacitors are shown
in the adjoining figure. The potential difference between the
points A and B is 60 volts . Then the equivalent capacity
between A and B and the charge on 5//F capacitance
will be respectively
9ff
Sff
(a) 44//F;300//C
I i II i ! i
(b)

!6ff;l50fjC

(c)

15//F; 200//C

f Wff

(a)
40.

-B

Three equal capacitors, each with capacitance C are

connected as shown in figure. Then the equivalent
capacitance between A and B is
[MP PET 1985, 89; Similar Orissa JEE 2009]

C^
3

41.

(d)
35.

1 1 _l I
11
ir
c
c

11
~i r
c

3.3//C

(b) 40//C

(c) SOfjC

(a) C
(b) 3C

A 4/zF condenser is connected in parallel to another

condenser of 8//F . Both the condensers are then connected
in series with a I2ff condenser and charged to 20 volts .
The charge on the plate of 4ff condenser is[MP PET 1989]

1
i r^ i rIH

(d) 4/zF;50//C
34.

39.

(d) 240//C

A capacitor having capacitance C is charged to a voltage

V . It is then removed and connected in parallel with
another identical capacitor which is uncharged. The new
charge on each capacitor is now
[MP PET 1990]
(a) CV
(b) CV/2
(c) 2CV
(d) CV/4
Four capacitors are connected in a circuit as shown in the
following figure. Calculate the effective capacitance between
the points A and B
[J & K CET 2008]

II

3C

i/P
3
Oi-.fjr

C2 = 2/zF

Four plates of the same area of cross-section are joined as

shown in the figure. The distance between each plate isd .
The equivalent capacity across A and B will be

II
II

i,A
TB

Jl

[Similar MP PMT 2009]

(b)

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

42.

^-ff

(d)

9ff

Effective capacitance between A and B in the figure shown

is (all capacitance are in ff)
[KCET 2004]

3gA

(a) 21 ff

2d

(b) 23 ff
(d)

3_

c
36.

In the adjoining figure, four capacitors are shown with their

respective capacities and the P.O. applied. The charge and
the P.D. across the 4ff capacitor will be
(a)

600//C; 150 volts

(c) 800//C; 200 volts

4//F

(d) ff
43.

(b) 300//C; 75 volts

38.

(a) Iff

between A and B in the

g^p
g^p
g^p

A-

1 |p| "

(b)

3ff

(c)

2ff

Three identical capacitors are combined differently. For the

same voltage to each combination, the one that stores the
greatest energy is
[MP PMT 1995]
(a) Two in parallel and the third in series with it
(b) Three in series
(c) Three in parallel
(d) Two in series and third in parallel with it
Two capacitors each of capacity 2ff are connected in
parallel. This system is connected in series with a third
capacitor of 12//F capacity. The equivalent capacity of the
system will be
[MP PET 1990; MP PMT 1990; Similar MP PMT 1985]

(c) 4//F

The resultant capacitance

following figure is equal to

4/zF

(d) 580//C; 145 volts

37.

3 _
-ff
14

(b)
(d)

I3ff
3ff

(d) 1.5///F
44.

3/zF

3ff

3ff

In the following circuit, the resultant capacitance between

A and B is 1//F. Then value of C is
[IIT 19771
f.i

32,,P

(b) S/d7
i ^
(c)

23

^7,'

(d) I?,

V*7

"TV
2/f

TV

4/zF

Electrostatics 1023
^^

45.

Two dielectric slabs of constant Kx and K2 have been filled

51.

in between the plates of a capacitor as shown below. What

will be the capacitance of the capacitor

: .;'

^rm-uM^snmp^r-^-T

The total energy stored in the condenser system shown in

the figure will be
[Kamataka GET 2008]

[MNR 1985; MP PET 1999; DCE 2002]

Cj+K2

46.

(b)

2eQA(K1 + K2"|
9
K
V 1 xK 2 J

(c)

20A ( Kj xK 2 l
2 (K, + K2)

T
d/2
4
j/9

"T"
|

Q/

What is the equivalent capacitance between A and B in the

given figure (all are in farad)
[BHU 1997]

53.

HF

(b) F
13

[MP PMT 1992]

H
16

12
47.

52.

71
A condenser having a Capacity of 6/zF is charged to 100 V
and is then joined to an uncharged condenser of 14/zF and
then removed. The rati6 of the charges on 6//F and 14//F
and the potential of 6ff will be
[MP PMT 1991]
6
and 50 volt
(b) and 30 volt
14
6

54.

55.

and 30 volt
(d) and 0 volt
14
6
0.2F capacitor is changed to 600 V by a battery. On

removing the battery, i is connected with another parallel

plate condenser of IF. The potential decreases to
[MNR 1978; MP PET 2002]

49.

(a)

100 volts

(b) 120uo/ts

(c)

300 volts

(d) 600uo/ts

(a) 2250V
(b) 2222V
(c) 2.25xl0 6 V
(d) l.lx!0 6 V
Two identical parallel plate capacitors are connected in
series to a battery of 100 V . A dielectric slab of dielectric
constant 4.0 is inserted between the plates of second
capacitor. The potential difference across the capacitors will
now be respectively
[MP PMT 1992]
(a) 50V, 50V
(b) 80V, 20V
(c) 20V, 80V
(d) 75V, 25V
Four capacitors are connected as shown in the equivalent
capacitance between the points P and Q is
[MP PET 1983; MP PMT 1992; UPSEAT 1999]

(c)
48.

(a) 8//J
(b) 16//J
(c) 2//J
(d) 4//J
A capacitor 4//F charged to 50 V is connected to another
capacitor of 2ff charged to 100 V with plates of like
charges connected together. The total energy before and after
connection in multiples of (10~2J) is
[MP PMT 1992]
(a) 1.5 and 1.33
(b) 1.33 and 1.5
(c) 3.0 and 2.67
(d) 2.67 and 3.0
Two capacitors of 3pF and 6pF are connected in series and
a potential difference of 5000V is applied across the
combination. They are then disconnected and reconnected
in parallel. The potential between the plates is

(a)

4//F

(b)

^rff
4

(d)

%ff
\j

56.

The total capacity of the system of capacitors shown in the

adjoining figure between the points A and B is

(a)

[MP PET 1992; RPET 2001; BVP 2003; AHMS 2010]

(d) 4//F
57.

(c) 6uo/ts

50.

B'

a <r
2/f

The equivalent capacitance between A and B in the figure

is Iff . Then the value of capacitance C is [MP PET 1994]

12V

Minimum number of capacitors of 2ff capacitance each

required to obtain a capacitor of 5//F will be [MP PET 1992]
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Five
(d) Six

3ff

4.5//F

(b) 4 volts

(d) 8 volts

Iff

(b) 2/zF
(c)

[Pantnagar 1987; SCRA 1996; MP PMT 2002;

2ff
Orissa JEE 2009]

In the circuit shown in the figure, the potential difference

across the 4.5/zF capacitor is

(a) volts

Iff

(a)

lAff

(b)

2.5ff

(c)

3.5,F

(d)

1.2/f

1024 Electrostatics
A condenser of capacity Q is charged to a potential V0.

63.

The electrostatic energy stored in it is U0 . It is connected to

Two condensers, one of capacity C and the other of

capacity C/2, are connected to a V-volt battery, as shown

another uncharged condenser of capacity C2 in parallel.

The energy dissipated in the process is

(b)

c,+c -Uo

[MP PMT 1994]

T" I ' . T

C 1 + C -Uo

The work done in charging fully both the condensers is

[CBSE PMT 2007]

(d)

(a)
59.

Three capacitors each of 6ff

[MP PMT 1994]

6ff,18juF

(c) 2ff,12ff
60.

(0 fcv 2

(b)

3ff,l2ff

(d)

2ff,l8ff

the

Similar RPET 1997]

(c)

40//C

(d)

20/jC

Hh

I2ff

2ff

(d) 18

I
I H

65.

I I ^^
C,

s,

1 ' B = 20V
The effective capacitance between the points P and Q of

the arrangement shown in the figure is

1
2/zF
(a)
\

100 capacitors each haying a capacity of 10//F are

connected in parallel and are charged by a potential
difference of 100/cV. The energy stored in the capacitors
and the cost of charging them, if electrical energy costs
108 paise per kWh , will be
[MP PET 1996; DPMT 2001]

Q = 6/zF, C2 = 3//F and

opened and afterwards S2 is closed. What is the charge

SOfjC

here

finally on C2

(b)

2ff

shown

lev/2

battery B = 20V . The switch Sj is first closed. It is then

[MP PET 1996; Pb. PMT 2001; DPMT 2003;

98

(d)

circuit

120//C

(c) 5

62.

In

(a)

(b) 4

61.

64.

Four capacitors are connected in a circuit as shown in the

figure. The effective capacitance in //F between points A
and B will be

(b) -

2CV2

are available. The minimum

and maximum capacitances which may be obtained are

(a)

C/2

(b)

Iff

(c)

2ff

P^

II
2fF

66.

2ff
11

||
II
5ff

Iff
1
11

iI

Ii r^
i

(d)

[MP PET 1997]

9//F

- s;

_J L_
~i
r~
1 ,,P

A capacitor of capacitance 5//F is connected as shown in

(a)

107 joule and 300 paise

the figure. The internal resistance of the cell is O.Sii . The

amount of charge on the capacitor plate is [MP PET 1997]

(b)
(c)

5xl0 6 joule and 300 paise

I
5xl0 6 ;ou/e and 150 paise

(a)

(d)

107 joute and 150 paise

0//C

(b) 5fjC
(c)

Six capacitors each of capacitance of 2/jF are connected as

shown in the figure. The effective capacitance between
A and Bis
L
[Kerala PMT 2008]

IQfjC

(d) 25//C
67.

10.

li

5ff
I1

AAAAJ

~l r^

20.

2.5V
1,
+1*1

Choose the incorrect statement from the following: When

two identical capacitors are charged individually to different
potentials and connected parallel to each other after
disconnecting them from the source
[MP PET 1997]
(a) Net charge equals the sum of initial charges
(b) The net energy stored in the two capacitors is less than
the sum of the initial individual energies

(a) 12//F

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

2/3juF

8/3/f

(c) The net potential difference across them is different

from the sum of the individual initial potential difference
(d) The net potential difference across them equals the sum
of the individual initial potential differences

Electrostatics 1025

ii.
68.

A 10//F capacitor and aj 20//F capacitor are connected in

series across a 200 V supply line. The charged capacitors

74.

as shown in the figure is

are then disconnected frorn the line and reconnected with

their positive plates together and negative plates together
and no external voltage |is applied. What is the potential
difference across each capacitor
[MP PET 1997]
(a)
(c)

69.

400

(a)

(c)

9
400V

75.

(c)

71.

(d)

To obtain
capa> ity from
2/jF each, they will be arranged

C 1+ C 2

(b) 20/zF

(c)

SOfjF

(d) 15//F

73.

(d)

6ff

(c)

A
B
C

(c) 5xKT 9 J

12V

(d) 7xlO~ 9 J
77.

A capacitor of 20ff is charged to 500 volts and connected

in parallel with another capacitor of IQjuF and charged to
200 volts . The common potential is
[BHU 1997, 2004;
MH CET 1999; CBSE PMT 2000; Similar BHU 2002]

78.

(a) 200uo/ts

(b) 300 volts

(c) 400uote

(d) 500 volts

In the given network capacitance, Cl =10//F, C2 =5juF

and C3 = 4// F . What is the resultant capacitance between
A and B

[Pb. PMT 1999; RPMT 2005; MP PET 2006]

(a, 2.2.F

A^X

(b) 3.2//F

(c) 1.2//F

(d) 4.7//F
79.

The equivalent capacitance between A and B is

Iff

The combined capacity of the parallel combination of two

capacitors is four times jtheir combined capacity when
connected in series. This mi'ans that
[EAMCET 1994]
(a) Their capacities are equal
(b) Their capacities are 'JF and 2ff
(d) Their capacities are infinite

^Q

Three plates A, B, C each of area 50 cm2 have separation

(b) 2.1xHT9J

C, = 6ff

(c) Their capacities are 0.

(a) 1.6xlO~9J

[CBSE PMT 1999; Similar AIIMS 2002]

12//F

2C

[SCRA 1996]

What is the effective capacitance between points X and Y

(c)

T1 2C*P

3mm between A and B and 3mm between B and

C The energy stored when the plates are fully charged is

three capacitors of
IMP PMT/PET 1998]

IQjuF

18//F

(b)

and

Iff

[RPET 1997]

T T
76.

(a)

(b)

Q+C 2

(a) All the three in series

(b) All the three in paralle
(c) Two capacitors in series and the third in parallel with
the combination of first two
(d) Two capacitors in parallel and the third in series with
the combination of first two
A 10//F capacitor is charged to a potential difference of
50 V and is connected to another uncharged capacitor in
parallel. Now the common potential difference becomes
20 volt. The capacitance pf second capacitor is

'a) 24/zF

3C

2C

[MP PET 1999; DPMT 2000; Similar CPMT 1991;

MP PET 1992; DPMlt 2001; Similar Orissa JEE 2008]

72.

10//C

The resultant capacitance of given circuit is

(a)

C,

(b)

20//C

(d) Zero

(d) 200V

Two condensers Q and (2 in a circuit are joined as shown

[AMU 1995]

(b) 15//C

in figure. The potential of point A is Vl and that of B is

V2 . The potential of point D will be
[MP PMT 1997]

70.

The charge on a capacitor of capacitance WfjF connected

Iff

Iff
(a) 2//F

(b) 3//F

(c) 5/yF

(d) 0.5//F

[RPMT 1999]

1026 Electrostatic
The capacitance between the points A and B in the given
FAMU
1999:
circuit will be
be
[AMU (Med.\:
(Med.) MH
1999;CET
MH
CET 1999;

87.

Pb. PET 2002; BCECE 2005]

(a) 1//F
(b) 2//F
(c) 3//F

81.

(d) 4 " F
I
l.5ff
The equivalent capacitance of three capacitors of
capacitance Cj, C2 and C3 are connected in parallel is 12
units and product Cj.C2.C3 =48 unit. When the capacitors
Cj and C2 are connected in parallel, the equivalent
capacitance is 6 units. Then the capacitances are

88.

A 10 ff capacitor is charged to a potential difference of

1000 V. The terminals of the charged capacitor are
disconnected from the power supply and connected to the
terminals of an uncharged 6/zF capacitor. What is the final
potential difference across each capacitor [Kerala PMT 2005]
(a) 167V

(b) 100 V

(c) 625V

(d) 250V

Two capacitors A and B are connected in series with a

battery as shown in the figure. When the switch S is closed
and the two capacitors get charged fully, then
[MP PET 2000]
-B

[KCET 1999]

82.

(a) 2 , 3 , 7
(b) 1.5,2.5,8
(c) 1,5,6
(d) 4,2.6
In the circuit shown in figure, each capacitor has a capacity
of 3ff . The equivalent capacity between A and B is

10 V
(a) The potential difference across the plates of A is 4V and
across the plates of B is 6V

[MP PMT 2000; WB-JEE 2010]

( a)\*

(b) 3ff
(c)

6//F

(c) The ratio of electrical energies stored in A and B is 2 : 3

(d) The ratio of charges on A and B is 3 : 2

(d) 5ff

83.

(b) The potential difference across the plates of A is 6V and

across the plates of B is 4V

H
- -i

r~
-ff

[AMU (Engg.) 2000]

In the figure, three capacitors each of capacitance 6 pF are

connected in series. The total capacitance of the
combination will be
[MH CET 2000; CPMT 2001]

2ff

(a) 9xKT 1 2 F

89.

What is the effective capacitance between A and B in the

following figure

(b) 2//F

84.

Ad

86.

(a) 2.4xHT 4 C
(b) 4.8xlO~ 4 C
(c) 7.2x10^ C
(d) 9.6xlQ- 4 C
Ten capacitor are joined in parallel and charged with a
battery up to a potential V. They are then disconnected from
battery and joined again in series then the potential of this
combination will be
[RPET 2000]
(a) V
(b) 10V
(c) 5V
(d) 2V
In the circuit here, the steady state voltage across capacitor
C is a fraction of the battery e.m.f. The fraction is decided
by
[AMU (Engg.) 2000]
(a)

only

(b)

and R2 only

(c)

[ and R3 only

(d) 2xlO~ 1 2 F
90.

Equivalent capacitance between A and B is

[DCE 2001]

(a) 8/1 F
(b) 6//F
(c) 26 //F

91.

Four identical capacitors are connected as shown in

diagram. When a battery of 6 V is connected between A and
B, the charge stored is found to be 1.5 fjC. The value of Cl
is
AT
[Kerala PMT 2005]

(a) 2.5 ff
-A-

(b) 15 ff

(d) R j , R2 and R3

C^Q

\\h

(c) 3xlO- 12 F

A potential difference of 300 volts is applied to a

combination of 2.0/zF and 8.0//F capacitors connected in
series. The charge on the l.Qff capacitor is [MP PMT 2000]

85.

Oo

(b) 6x]Q- 1 2 F

(c) 1.5//F
(d) 2.5//F

L-]

Hi

(c) 1.5 ff
(d) 0.1 ff

92.

A parallel plate capacitor with air as the dielectric has

capacitance C. A slab of dielectric constant K and having the
same thickness as the separation between the plates is
introduced so as to fill ohe-fourth of the capacitor as shown
in the figure. The new capacitance will be
[Kamataka CET 2007]

97.

[EAMCET 2001]

98.

(b) (K + 2)
(c)

93.

(*?+!)

(a) 25 J

(b) 200 J

(c) 125 J

(d) 150 J

A parallel plate capacitor has capacitance C. If it is equally

filled with parallel layers of materials of dielectric constants
Kj and K2 its capacity becomes Cl. The ratio of Cl to C is

<>f

[MP PMT 2001]

Three capacitors of capacitance 3/jF. 10//F and 15/zF are

connected in series to a voltage source of 100V. The charge
on 15 f f is
[Pb. PMT 1999; AHMS 2000; CPMT 2001;
Similar MP PMT 1996; RPMT 1999; Pb. PMT 2001]
(a) 50 fjC
(b) 100//C

(c) 200/XT
94.

A 20F capacitor is charged to 5V and isolated. It is then

connected in parallel with an uncharged 30F capacitor.
The decrease in the energy of the system will be

(d) 280/A:

(a) 25 ff

(b) 20 ff

K=4

(c) 40 ff

Two identical capacitors each of capacitance 5 //F are

charged to potential 2 fcV and 1 kV respectively. The -ve
ends are connected together. When the +ve ends are also
connected together, the loss of energy of the system is
[Kamataka CET 2007]

(a) 160 J

(b) OJ

(c) 5J

(d) 1.25J

100. The equivalent capacitance between A and B is

I

(d) 5/zF
95.

-K

(d)
99

Consider a parallel plate capacitor of 10//F (micro-farad)

with air filled in the gap Between the plates. Now one half of
the space between the plates is filled with a dielectric of
dielectric constant 4, as s hown in the figure. The capacity of
the capacitor changes to
[AFMC 2001; MP PET 2001]

(b)

(a)

c c c
HMh-If

The combination of caplacitors with Cj = 3fi F, C2 = 4// F

and C3 = 2ju F is charged by connecting AB to a battery.

Consider the following statements
I. Energy stored in C = Energy stored in C2 + Energy
stored in C3
II. Charge on Cj = Charge on C2 + Charge on C3
III. Potential drop acros s G! = Potential drop across C2 =
Potential drop across C3
[AMU (Med.) 2001]
Which of these is/are correct
C3
(a) I and II

[Pb. PMT 2002]

(a) C/4

(b) 3C/4

(c) C/3

(d) 4C/3

101. The effective capacity between A and B in the figure given is

3//F

[Kerala PMT 2002]

. jfcG=

(b) II only

(c) I and III

A-Jh

2ff

(d) HI only

96.

Two capacitors

43

= 2,iF and C 2 = 6 / / F in series, are

Ih

3/uF

24
(b) -

connected in parallel tola third capacitor C3 = 4 / / F . This

arrangement is then cornected to a battery of e.m.f. = 2V,
as shown in the figure. How much energy is lost by the
[MP PET 2001]
battery in charging the capacitors
C,
C,
(a) 22xHT b J
I I
If
(b) l l x l O ~ 6 J

(0

12

(d.

102. An electric field is spread uniformly in Y-axis. Consider a

point A as origin point. The co-ordinates of point B are
equal to (0, 2) m. The co-ordinates of point C are (2, 0) m.
At points A, B and C, electric potentials are VA, VB and Vc
respectively. From the following options, which is correct

C3
(d)

2V

[Gujarat CET 2007]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

= VC>VB

103. Two capacitors Cl and C2 = 2C1 are connected in a circuit

with a switch between them as shown in the figure. Initially
the switch is open and C\s charge Q. The switch is
closed. At steady state, the charge on each capacitor will be
[Orissa JEE 2002]

Q. 2Q

Ql I C>

109. The charge on any one of the 2//F capacitors and 1//F
capacitor will be given respectively (in n C ) as
2flP,

(a) 1,2
(b) 2,1
(c) 1,1

(b) Q/3, 2Q/3

(d) 2,2

(c) 3Q/2, 3Q
C2 =

(d) 2Q/3, 4Q/3

104. Three capacitors of 2fjF, 3ff and 6/f are joined in series
and the combination is charged by means of a 24 volt
battery. The potential difference between the plates of the
6/jF capacitor is
[MP PMT 2002]
(a) 4 volt

(b) 6 volt

(c) 8 volt

(d) 10 volt

110. When two identical capacitors are in series have 3/uF

capacitance and when parallel 12//F. What is the
capacitance of each
[DPMT 2002]
(a) 6//F

(b) 3juF

(c) 12//F

(d) 9//F

111. In the circuit as shown in the figure the effective capacitance

between A and 6 is
[KCET 2003]

105. Two capacitors of capacitances 3//F and 6juF are charged

to a potential of 12 Veach. They are now connected to each
other, with the positive plate of each joined to the negative
plate of the other. The potential difference across each will
be
[KCET 2002]
(a) 6 volt

(b) 4 volt

(c) 3 volt

(d) Zero

106. Two identical capacitors, have the same capacitance C. One

of them is charged to potential Vl and the other to V2 . The
negative ends of the capacitors are connected together. When
the positive ends are also connected, the decrease in energy
of the combined system is

112. Four equal capacitors, each of capacity C, are arranged as

shown. The effective capacitance between A and B is
[MP PET 2003]

[IIT-JEE (Screening) 2002; Similar KCET 2007]

-V22)
(b)

(c) 4 c ( v i- v z)

(d) lc(V 1+ V 2 ) 2

(a)
107. In a given network the equivalent capacitance between A
and B is [Q = C4 = 1 ff, C2 = C3 = 2//F]
[MP PET 2007]

(0

(b)
fC

(d) C

(a) 3 f f
(b)

6ff

(c) 4.5 ff

(d) 2.5/zF
108. A gang capacitor is formed by interlocking a number of plates
as shown in figure. The distance between the consecutive plates
is 0.885 cm and the overlapping area of the plates is 5 cm2.
The capacity of the unit is
[Kamataka CET 2006]

(a) 1.0
(b) 4pF
(c) 6.36 pF
(d) 12.72 pF

113. In the figure shown, the effective capacitance between the

points A and B, if each has capacitance C, is
[MP PET 2003]

Electrostatics 1029
114. Three capacitors each of capacity 4//F are to be connected
in such a way that the affective capacitance is 6 // F . This
can be done by

[CBSE PMT 2003; Similar MP PET 1989]

120. All six capacitors shown are identical, Each can withstand
maximum 200 volts between its terminals. The maximum
voltage that can be safely applied between A and B is
[MP PMT 2004]

(a) Connecting them in parallel

(b) Connecting two in series and one in parallel
(c) Connecting two in parallel and one in series
(d) Connecting all of them in series
115. Three capacitors of capacitance 3//F are connected in a
circuit. Then their maximum and minimum capacitances will
be
[RPET 2003]
(a) 9 / / F , 1//F

(b) 8 / / F , 2//F

(c) 9 / / F , 0//F

(d) 3//F, 2//F

116. A capacitor of capacity Ci is charged upto V volt and then

(a) 1200V

(b) 400V

(c) 800V

(d) 200V

121. The charge on 4 /zF capacitor in the given circuit is .... in //C
[Kerala PMT 2004; Similar Kerala PMT 2006]
LfU

(a) 12
F

connected to an uncharged capacitor of capacity C2 . Then

(b) 24

final potential difference across each will be

(c) 36

5ff
3ff

[MP PET 2000; CBSE PMT 2002; MP PET 2003]

(d) 32

C2V

(d)

j +C 2

I,

'10V
122. Three plates of common surface area A are connected as
shown. The effective capacitance will be [Orissa PMT 2004]

(b)

+C Z

-HI-

II Ir^

117. A series combination of three capacitors of capacities

1//F,2//F and 8//F isjconnected to a battery of e.m.f. 13
volt. The potential difference across the plates of 2//F
capacitor will be

(a, M

(b)

[MP PET 2003; Similar DCE 2003]

IV

(b) 8V

4V

(d) f V

(d)

118. Two capacitors of capacitance 2/f and 3//F are joined in

series. Outer plate first capacitor is at 1000 volt and outer
plate of second capacitor is earthed (grounded). Now the
potential on inner plate ol each capacitor will be

123. The equivalent capacitance between A and B as shown in

the figure is
[Orissa JEE 2010]
.A'^u/jj
|i
jry
1
10 V | ^Qff
B

[MP PMT 2003]

(a) 700Vo/t

(b) 200Vo/t

(a)

(c) 600Voft

(d) 400Vo/t

(c)

119. In the figure a potential of + 1200 V is given to point A and

point B is earthed, what is the potential at the point P
4ff

[MP PMT 2004]

85
3

(b) 30/zF
(d) 75 ff

124. All capacitors used in the diagram are identical and each is
of capacitance C. Then the effective capacitance between
the points A and B is
[Kamataka CET 2010]

B
1

I1
:si i

_i i
ir

H i1

2ff

(a) 100 V

(b) 200V

a) 1.5C

(b) 6C

(c) 400V

(d) 600V

c) C

(d) 3C

11
1 r^ 1 1

125.

n identical capacitors each of capacitance C when

connected in parallel give the effective capacitance 90 /.F
and when connected in series give 2.5 f f . Then the values
of n and C respectively are
[J & K GET 2010]

(a) 6 and 15 ff

(b) 5 and 18 ff

(c) 15 and

(d) 18 and 5 ff

126. The number of ways one can arrange three identical

capacitors to obtain distinct effective capacitances is
[J & K CET 2010]

130.

A network of four capacitors of capacities equal to

Cj = C, C2 = 2C, C3 = 3C and C4 = 4C are connected to a
battery as shown in the figure.

[AIIMS 2010]

II

''V
The ratio of the charges on C2 and C4 is

(b) 6
(d) 3

(c) 4

127. Three capacitors are connected in the arms of a triangle

ABC as shown in figure 5 V is applied between A and B.
The voltage between B and C is
[Kerala PET 2010]

(c)

*;

131. The potential difference between A and B is

6V

^r
16V

(a) 2 V
(c) 3V
(e) 0.5V
128.

A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area

as the plates of a parallel plate capacitor but has a thickness
d. where d is the separation of the plates. The ratio of
41
the capacitance C (in the presence of the dielectric) to the
capacitance C0 (in the absence of the dielectric) is

[OrissaJEE2011]

1
3/xF
T

(a)

13.2V

(b) -13.2V

(c)

-6V

(d) 6V

B
Two equal negative charge - q are fixed at the fixed points
(0, a) and (0, -a) on the Y-axis. A positive charge Q is
released from rest at the point (2a, 0) on the X-axis. The
charge Q will [IIT 1984; Bihar MEE 1995; MP PMT 1996;

[AMU (Med.) 2010]

3K

(a)
(c)

K +3

(b)

(d)

(b) Move to the origin and remain at rest

(c) Move to infinity
(d) Execute oscillatory but not simple harmonic motion

129. The equivalent capacitance between A and B is (in ju F )

3//F
Am

3uF

11

11

Similar DCE 2006]

(a) Execute simple harmonic motion about the origin

[Kerala PMT 2010]

An electric line of force in the xy plane is given by equation

x2 + y2 = 1 . A particle with unit positive charge, initially at
rest at the point x = 1, y = 0 in the xy plane

[IIT 1988]

nr

(a) Not move at all

(b) Will move along straight line
(c) Will move along the circular line of force

(a) 25

_iu

3ff

3ff

_|L_

(d) Information is insufficient to draw any conclusion

A positively charged ball hangs from a silk thread We put a
positive test charge q 0 at a point and measure F / q 0 , then
it can be predicted that the electric field strength E
[CPMT 1990]

(c) 9
(e) 1

(a) > F / q 0

(b) = F/q 0

(c)

(d) Cannot be estimated

< F / q0