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Electric Charge:
The intrinsic property of material objects that make it possible for them to exert electrical force and to respond
to electric force is known as electric charge. The SI unit of electric charge is coulomb (C) and it is a scalar
quantity.
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 1
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Methods of charging:
We can charge objects by the following methods
(1) Charging by Friction
(2) Charging by Conduction
(3) Charging by Induction
Charging 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.
(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 tiers of an aircraft get electrified therefore special material is used to
manufacture them.
Charging by Conduction:
When two conductors, one charged and another uncharged are contact with each other. Then the charge
(whether ve or + v e ) under its own repulsion will spread over both the conductors. Thus the conductors will
be charged with the same sign. This is called as charging by conduction (through contact). If two identical
metallic spheres are taken, one having charge Q and another uncharged then bringing them in contact the
charge on both the spheres will be equally divided.
Charging by induction
The process of charging a neutral body by bringing a charged body near it without making contact between
the two bodies is known as charging by induction.
Let us perform an experiment involving the following steps to understand charging by induction
Bring two metal spheres, A and B, supported on insulating stands, in contact as shown in figure below.
2 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Separate the spheres by a small distance while the glass rod is held near sphere A, as shown below.
Remove the rod. The charges on the spheres A and B rearrange themselves as shown in figure below.
ELECTROSCOPE
Electroscope is a simple device that can be used to test the presence of an electric charge.
Construction and working of Electroscope: A pair of thin strips (or leaves) made of gold is suspended
from a small metallic rod in an insulating enclosure; the rod is connected to a metal ball on top the enclosure.
When the metal ball is charged (by bringing the charged rod near the ball), the charge spreads out over the
metallic parts including strips, and the two strips separate due to repulsion between the like charges on them.
However, when a charged rod is brought near the ball of the electroscope, the strips separate even when
there is no contact between the charged rod and the electroscope Also, when the distance between the
charged rod and the electroscope is increased again, the strips drop back, showing that no charge has
transferred from the rod to the electroscope.
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 3
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Coulombs law
The force of repulsion or attraction between two objects due to the nature or signs of their charges is called
electrostatic force. The equation giving the electrostatic force for charged particles is obtained by
Coulombs law.
According to Coulombs law the magnitude F of the electrostatic force exerted by one point charge q1 on
another point charge q2 is directly proportional to the product of magnitudes |q1| and |q2| of the two charges
and inversely proportional to the square of the distance r between them.
or
| q1 || q2 |
F=k
r2
or in vector form
| q || q |
F = k 1 2 2 r
r
9 2 2
Where k = 9 10 Nm /C (SI units)
r = unit vector along an axis extending through the two point charges.
The electrostatic force is directed along the line joining the charges. It is attractive if the charges have unlike
signs and repulsive if the charges have like signs.
Let q1 and q2 be two point charges separated by a distance r in vacuum , then according to Coulombs law,
magnitude of force on charge q2 due to q1 ( F21 ) is given as
kq q
| F21 |= 12 2
r
F21 is always directed from q1 to q2, that is
r
F21 =| F21 | r where r =
r
Therefore,
kq q r kq q 1 q1q2
| F21 |= 12 2 = 13 2 r = r
r r r 4 0 r 3
Where k = 1/ 40 is the proportionality constant, 0 being the permittivity of free space. If the charges are
placed in a medium other than vacuum with absolute permittivity m , then we have
1 q1q2
F= r
4m r 3
m = r 0 , where r is called the relative permittivity or dielectric constant of the medium. The numerical value
1
of 0 = 8.854 1012 C2 / Nm2 Thus = 9 109 Nm2 / C2 in SI units.
40
4 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Two equal balls having equal positive charge q coulombs are suspended by two insulating strings of
equal length. What would be the effect on the force when a plastic sheet is inserted between the two?
[1/2014]
Plot a graph showing the variation of coulomb force (F) versus 2 , where r is the distance between
1
r
the two charges of each pair of charges : (1 C, 2 C) and (2 C, -3 C).Intercept the graphs obtained.
[2/2011]
Principle of Superposition
The electrostatic force obeys the principle of superposition. According to the principle of superposition,
the total force acting on a charged particle due to n number of charged particles surrounding it, is equal to the
vector sum of the forces exerted by individual charge particles.
If we have n charged particles, they interact independently in pairs, and the force on any one of them, say
charge particle 1, is given by the vector sum
F1.net = F12 + F13 + F14 + ... + F1n
Where F12 ,F13 ,F14 ,F15 ...,F1n are the force acting on particle 1 due to the presence of the particles 2, 3, 4, 5,.n.
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 5
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
ELECTRIC FIELD
The electric field is a vector field around a charged object due to which another charged objects experiences
electric forces. To measure the electric field at any point we place a test charge at that place and calculate the
force on it. The force on unit positive test charge is represented as electric field at that point.
Test Charge: A test charge is a charge having magnitude so small that placing it at a point has a negligible
effect on the field around the point.
Electric field E at point P due to the charged object is defined as
F
E=
q0
F = q0E
Thus, the magnitude of the electric field E at point P is E = F/q0 and the direction of E is that of the force F
that acts on the positive test charge. The SI unit for the electric field is the Newton per coulomb (N/C) or
volt/meter.
Electric field due to a point charge
To find the electric field due to a point charge (or a charged particle) q at any point at distance r from the point
charge, we put a positive test charge q0 at that point. From Coulombs law, the electrostatic force acting on q0
is
1 qq0
F= r
40 r 2
The direction of F is directly away from the point charge if q is positive, and directly toward the point charge if
q is negative. The electric field vector is
F 1 q
E= = r
q0 40 r 2
Where q is the source charge, r is the relative position vector giving the position of the observation location
relative to the source charge, r is the unit vector in the direction of r , and | r | is the magnitude of r and is the
distance from the source location to the observation location.
Electric Field Due to system of charges
We can find the net, or resultant electric field due to more than one point charge. If we place a positive test
charge q0 near n point charges q1, q2.., qn, then the net force F0 from the n point charges acting on the test
charge is
F0 = F01 + F02 + ... + Fon.
Therefore, from Eq. , the net electric field at the position of the test charge is
F F02 F0n
E= 01
+ + ... + = E1 + E2 + ... + En.
q0 q0 q0
Here, E is the total electric filed at a point where the test charge is located, and E1,E2.....En are the individual
fields at the location of the test charge due to charges q1, q2..qn, respectively.
6 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
2. For a combination of positive and negative charge, electric field lines start from a positive charge and end at a
negative charge.
3. Tangent drawn at any point on the electric line of force represents the direction of electric field at that point
4. No two field lines can cross each other because it is physically impossible for an electric field to have two
directions simultaneously. If two electric field lines intersect each other a point P then it implies that at point P
we can draw two tangents to the two electric field lines, which further means that at point P we have two
different directions of the electric field vector, which is not possible. Hence, the assumption that two electric
field lines can intersect is false.
5. Electric field lines contract longitudinally (i.e. attraction between two charges of opposite sings) and expand
laterally (i.e. repulsion between like charges).
6. The density of electric field lines at any point represents the strength of the electric field at that point.
In the above figure density of electric field line is more at point a than point b so strength of electric field is
more at point a.
5. Electric field lines do not form closed loop because electric field is conservative in nature.
Why do the electrostatics field lines not form closed loops. [1/2014]
Why do the electric lines never cross each other? [1/2014]
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 7
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
ELECTRIC FLUX
Electric flux is a measure of the number of electric field lines crossing a given area.
The number of electric field lines crossing a surface normally is known as electric flux.
Even though the electric flux is a scalar, it has positive as well as negative values. If the angle between
the electric field vector and the area vector is acute, the flux is positive. In other words, if the electric field lines
are emanating from the surface, the flux is considered positive. However if the electric lines are entering in to
the surface, the angle between the electric field vector and the area vector would be obtuse and the flux is
negative.
Normally, the electric field will not be constant. In such type of cases, the electric flux can be obtained by
dividing the whole surface into small parts and integrating over the area.
E = EdA
Here, the value of E is at the surface and not at any point in space. This kind of integration carried out at
different points of surface is called surface integral.
ELECTRIC DIPOLE
A system of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance form an electric dipole. Examples
of electric dipole are HCI, HF, and H2O.
Figure shows an electric dipole which consists of two charges +q and q separated by a very small distance
2a. Here, 2a is known as dipole length and is equal to the separation between the two charges of electric
dipole.
Electric dipole moment: It is equal to the product of the magnitude of either of the charges and the dipole
length. The electric dipole moment is a vector quantity and mathematically
p =| q | 2a
Where p is the electric dipole moment, |q| is the magnitude of the either of the charges, and 2 a is dipole
length. SI unit of dipole moment is coulomb-meter (Cm). Direction of electric dipole moment is from q to +q
point charge.
An electric dipole consists of two charges +q and q; therefore, according to the superposition principle, the
electric field due to an electric dipole at a point will be equal to the vector sum of the electric field due to the
two individual charges.
8 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Let P be any point at distance r from the center O of the dipole on which the electric field is to be determined.
Now, the electric field at point P due to +q charges at point A will be
1 q
EA = Along AP
4 0 ( AP ) 2
1 q
= P .
4 0 ( r a ) 2
=
1
q
4 0 ( r + a ) 2
P . ( )
The net electric field at point P due to both the charges (or dipole) according to the principle of superposition
will be
EP = EA + EB
1 q q
= P
4 0 ( r a )2 ( r + a )2
q 4 ar
= P
4 0
( )
2
r a2
2
2 qa 2r
= P .
4 0
( )
2
r a2
2
2k p r
EP =
(r )
2
2
a2
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 9
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Let P be any point on the equatorial line of the electric dipole at a distance r from the center of the dipole. The
electric field at point P due to charge q at point A is
1 q
EA = ( alongPA ) .
4 0 ( AP ) 2
kp
E=
(r )
3/2
2
+ a2
The direction of the net electric field E will be along PX as shown in Fig, and it will be opposite to dipole
moment.
10 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
If point P is very far as compared to the dipole length, then r >> a, so r + a r ; hence, the net electric field
2 2 2
Derive the expression for the electric field of a dipole at a point on the equatorial plane of the dipole.
[1.5/2013]
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 11
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
12 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
-2
The SI unit of surface charge density () is Cm . Let dS be a small surface on surface S as shown in Fig. The
charge dq on surface dS is dq = dS. Let a test charge q0 be placed in the vicinity of the surface charge
distribution such that the distance between the test charge and the surface dS is r. The force on q0 due to dq
expressed as
q dq q dS
dF = 0 r = 0 r
40 r 2
40 r 2
Therefore that total force on qo due to the entire surface distribution of charge can be calculated by integrating
the above expression as
q
F = 0 2 rdS
4 0
Sr
The SI unit of volume charge density ( ) is Cm . Let dV be a small volume on the given volume distribution.
-3
The charge dq on the small volume dV is dq = dV. Let a test charge qo be placed in the vicinity of the volume
charge distribution. The force on q0 due to dq is expressed as
q dq q0 dv
dF = 0 r= r
4 0 r 2 4 0 r 2
Therefore, the total force on q0 due to the entire volume distribution of charge can be calculated by integrating
the above expression
q
F = 0 3 r dv
40 v r
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 13
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
GAUSSS LAW:
Gausss law establishes a relationship between the net flux of an electric field through a closed surface (a
Gaussian surface) to the net charge qenc that is enclosed by that surface. This relationship is
qenc
=
0
We know that the electric flux is given by the expression
= E ds
Substituting the value of flux in above equation, we get the following simplified expression for Gausss law :
q
EdS = enc
0
According to Gausss law the total electric flux enclosed inside a closed surface is 1/0 times the charge
enclosed within the surface. Mathematically, Gausss law is expressed as
q
(ElectricFlux) =
E.ds = enc
0
Above equations hold only when the net charge is located in vacuum or in air. In Equations the net charge q is
the algebraic sum of all the enclosed positive and negative charges, and it can be positive, negative, or zero.
In calculations, we include both the sign and the magnitude of the enclosed charge because the sign tells us
about the net flux through the Gaussian surface.
Charge outside the Gaussian surface, no matter how large or how close it may be, is not included in the term
q in Gausss law. The electric field due to a charge outside the Gaussian surface charge enters and leaves
the Gaussian surface.
Proof of Gausss Law:
Let us consider a sphere of radius a enclosing charge q. Let P be any point on the surface of the sphere as
shown in Fig. Charge q is located at the center of sphere.
Suppose O is the center of the sphere. Let us take a small area dS enclosing point P. Then, both the area
vector and the electric field vector at point P point toward the same direction as shown in Fig. The electric field
at point P is given by
1 q
E= 2 a
40 a
Where a is the unit normal vector or the vector or the vector along O P . The electric flux through area
element dS is given by
1 q 1 q 1 q
d = EdS = adS = ( dS ) cos0 = dS
40 a2 40 a2 40 a2
Therefore, electric flux through the closed surface of the sphere is given as
1 q 1 q 1 q
= dS = dS = 4 4a2
40 a 2
40 a2 0 a2
This implies
q
=
0
Hence, Gausss law is verified.
14 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Two charges of magnitudes + 4Q and Q are located at points (a, 0) and (-3a, 0) respectively. What is
the electric flux due to these charges through a sphere of radius 2a with its center at the origins?
[1/2013]
A charge q is placed at the center of a cube of side . What is the electric flux passing through each
face of the cube? [1/2012]
2
A hollow cylindrical box of length 1 m and area of cross-section 25 cm is placed in a three dimensional
coordinate system as shown in the figure. The electric field in the region is given by E 50 xi , where E
-1
is in NC and x is in meters. Find [5/2012]
(i) Net flux through the cylinder.
(ii) Charge enclosed by the cylinder.
(a) (b)
Figure (a) shows a section of an infinitely long wire with a uniform positive linear charge density . Let us find
an expression for the magnitude of the electric field E at a distance r from the axis of the wire.
Consider a circular cylinder of radius r and length h, coaxial with the wire as Gaussian surface.
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 15
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
At every point on the cylindrical part of the Gaussian surface, E must have the same magnitude E, and (for a
positively charged wire) it must be directed radially outward. Since 2r is the cylinders circumference and h is
its height, the curved area A of the cylindrical surface is 2rh. The flux of E through this cylindrical surface is
then
= EA cos = E (2rh) cos00 = E (2rh)
There is no flux through the end caps because E , being radially directed, is parallel to the end caps at every
point. The charge enclosed by the surface is h, which means that the Gausss law
q
=
0
Reduces to
h
E ( 2rh ) =
0
Yielding
E=
20r
2K
E=
r
This is the electric field due to an infinitely long, straight line of linear charge density , at a point that is at
radial distance r from the line. The direction of E is radially outward from the line of charge if the charge
is positive, and radially inward if it is negative. Equation also approximates the field of a finite line of
charge at points that are not too near the ends (compared with the distance from the line). The variation of
electric field with radial distance r is shown in figure (b).
A thin straight infinitely long conduction wire having charge density is enclosed by a cylindrical
surface of radius r and length , its axis coinciding with the length of the wire. Find the expression for
flux through the surface of the cylinder. [2/2011]
Further, since the charge is positive, E is directed away from the sheet, and thus the electric field lines pierce
the two Gausss end caps in an outward direction. Because the field liens do not pierce the curved surface,
there is no flux through this portion of the Gaussian surface. Thus, EdA is simply E dA because electric field
and area vector are in same direction; and Gausss law
16 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Becomes
A
(EA + EA ) =
0
Where A is the charge enclosed by the Gaussian surface. This gives
E=
20
Since we are considering an infinite sheet with uniform charge density, this result holds for any point at a finite
distance from the sheet and its vector form E = n where n is unit vector and perpendicular to sheet.
2 0
(A) Using Gausss law, prove that the electric field at a point due to a uniformly charged infinite plane
sheet is independent of the distance from is
(B) How is the field directed if (i) the sheet is positively charged, (ii) negatively charged? [4/2012]
Let the charge enclosed by this sphere be q. then, from Gausss law, we have
q q
EdS = 0 or Edscos0 = 0
That is,
q
Eds = 0
q
E 4r 2 =
0
1 q
E=
4 0 r 2
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 17
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
R
O
E 1
E out
2
Ein=0 r
Using Gauss law deduces the expression for the electric field due to a uniformly charged spherical
conducting shell of radius R at a point (i) outside and (ii) inside the shell.
Plot a graph showing variation of electric field as a function of r > R and r< R. (r being the distance
from the center of the shell). [5/2013]
While travelling back to his residence in the car, Dr. Pathak was caught up in a thunderstorm. It
became very dark. He stopped driving the car and waited for thunderstorm to stop. Suddenly he
noticed a child walking alone on the road. He asked the boy to come inside the car till the thunderstorm
stopped. Dr. Pathak dropped the boy at his residence. The boy insisted that Dr. Pathak should meet
his parents. The parents expressed their gratitude to Dr. Pathak for his concern for safety of the child.
[5/2012]
Answer the following questions based on the above information.
(A) Why is it safer to sit inside a car during a thunderstorm?
(B) Which two values are displayed by Dr. Pathak in his actions?
(C) Which values are reflected in parents response to Dr. Pathak?
(D) Give an example of a similar action on your part in the past from everyday life.
Why should electrostatic field be zero inside the conductor? [1/2012]
18 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
1. In a medium, the force of attraction between two point charges, distance d apart, is F. W hat distance
apart should these kept in the same medium so that the force between then becomes (a) 3F and (b)
F/3?
2. Define Coulombs law of electrostatics.
3. Define dielectric constant of a medium.
4. Do you think Coulombs law is in accordance with Newtons third law of motion?
5. How is the force between two charges affected when the dielectric constant of the medium, in which
the charges are held, increases?
6. What is the dimensional formula for 0 ?
7. What do you mean by electric field lines?
8. Draw electric field lines due to a dipole.
9.
10. Four charges of same magnitude and same sign are placed at the corners of a square, each of side 0.1 m.
What is electric field intensity at the center of square?
11. Why is electric field intensity a charge conductor zero?
12. What is the nature of symmetry of field due to a point charge?
13. When an electric line of force is straight?
14. When an electric line of force is curved?
15. An electrostatic line cannot be discontinuous. Why?
16. The electric lines of force do not pass through a closed conductor. Why?
17. Why should a test charge, which is used to measure electric field, be very small?
18. Does a charge experience any force in its own field?
Electric dipole
1. Define electric dipole and electric dipole moment.
2. Is dipole length a scalar or a vector quantity?
3. What is axial line of electrical dipole?
4. What do you mean by equatorial line of electric dipole?
5. What happens to an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric field?
6. When is an electric dipole in stable equilibrium in an electric field?
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 19
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
SAT QUESTIONS
Electric charge and its properties
1. Can a charged body attract another uncharged body? Explain.
2. List any two differences between charge and mass.
3. Distinguish between conductors and insulators. Give examples.
4. How many electrons must be given to a body so that it could acquire a charge of 4.0 pC?
5. ***Two identical metallic spheres, having unequal opposite charges are plac ed at a distance 0.9 m
apart in air. After bringing them in contact with each other, they are again placed at the same
distance apart. Now the force of repulsion between them is 0.025 N. Calculate the final charge on
each of them.
20 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 21
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
6. Calculate the electric field intensity at a point on the axial line of a dipole at 20 cm from the center.
The dipole is made of 10 C charges separated by 1 cm.
7. Charge q 1 = +6.0 nC is on y-axis at y = +3 cm and charge q 2 = -6.0 nC is on y-axis at y = -3 cm.
Calculate force on a test charge q 0 = 2 nC placed on x-axis at = 4 cm.
8. Two unlike charges, each of 1000 C, are separated by 2 m in air. Calculate the electric field at the
center of the line joining them, and at a point at equal distances of 4 m from each charge.
4
9. An electric dipole when held at 30 with respect to a uniform electric field of 10 N/C experiences a
-26
torque of 9 x 10 Nm. Calculate dipole moment of the dipole.
-3
10. An electric dipole of length 10 cm having charge 6x10 C, placed at 30with respect to a uniform
electric field experiences a torque of magnitude 6 3 Nm. Calculate (a) magnitude of electric field and
(b)the potential energy of dipole.
6
11. An electric dipole is placed at an angle of 60 with an electric field of intensity 10 N/C. It
experiences a torque equal to 83 Nm. Calculate the charges on the dipole, if dipole length is 2 cm.
12. Two point charges q 1 = +0.2 C and q 2 = +0.4 C are placed 0.1 m apart. Calculate the electric field at
(a) midpoint between the charges and (b) a point the line joining q 1 and q 2 such that it is 0.05 m
away from q 2 and 0.15 m away from q 1 .
-11
13. A dipole consisting of an electron and a proton separated by a distance of 5 x 10 m is situated in a
5
uniform electric field of intensity 4 x 10 N/C at an angle of 30 with the field. Calculate the dipole
moment and the torque acting on it.
Gausss law and its application
1. State and prove Gausss law, of electrostatics.
2. Using Gausss law, derive an expression for the electric field intensity at any point near a uniformly
charged thin wire of charge/length = C/m.
3. Apply Gausss theorem to find an expression for the electric intensity at any po int charge.
4. Derive coulombs law from gausss law.
5. Use gausss law to derive expression for electric field at point due to a uniformly charged spherical
shell.
6. Using gausss law, derive an expression for infinite plane sheet of charge.
-6
7. A large plane sheet of charge having a surface charge density of 5 x 10 lies in xy plane. Find the
electric flux through a circular area of radius 0.1 m if the normal to the circular area makes an angle
of 60 with the z-axis.
8. Two large thin metal plates are parallel and close to each other. On their inner faces the plates have
-12 2
surface charge density of opposite sign and of magnitude 17.0x10 C/m . W hat is the electric field
E (a) to the left of the plates, (b) to the right of the plate, and (c) in b etween the plates?
-6
9. A spherical conductor of radius 0.1 m has a charge of 3.2 x 10 C distributed uniformly on its
surface. (a) Find the electric field intensity at a point 0.2 m from the center of sphere. (b) Calculate
electric flux per unite surface area of the sphere.
LAT QUESTIONS
1. Explain what is meant by quantization of charge and conservation of charge.
2. Two insulated charged metallic spheres A and B have their centers separated by a distance of 50 cm
-8
in air. Calculate the force of electrostatic repulsion between them if the charge on each is +5.0 x 10
C. the radii of A and B are negligible compared to the distance of separation. W hat is the force of
repulsion if (a) the charge on each is doubled and the distance between them halved and (b) the two
spheres are placed in water? (Dielectric constant of water is 81.)
22 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 23
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Exercise # 2
1. What is the net force on a dipole in a uniform electric field? [2002]
2. Define the term electric dipole moment. Give its unit.
Derive an expression for the torque acting on an electric dipole, when held in a uniform electric field.
[2002]
3. Mention any two properties of electric lines of force. Sketch them for an isolated positive point charge.
[2003]
4. State Gausss theorem. Using Gauss theorem, derive an expression of electric field intensity at any point
inside a hollow charged conducting sphere. [2003]
5. State Gauss theorem in electrostatics. Using this theorem, derive the expression for the electric field intensity
at any point outside a uniformly charged thin spherical shell. [2004]
6. An electric dipole of dipole moment 20 106 cm is enclosed by a closed surface. What is the net flux coming
out of the surface? [2005]
7. Define electric line of force and give its two important properties. [2005]
8. There point charges of + 2 C, 3 C and 3C are kept at the vertices, A, B and C respectively of an
equilateral triangle of side 20 cm as shown in the figure. What should be the sign and magnitude of the charge
to be placed at the mid-point (M) of side BC so that the charge at A remains in equilibrium? [2005]
9. An electric dipole is held in a uniform electric field. (i) Using suitable diagram, show that it does not undergo
any translatory motion, and (ii) derive an expression for the torque acting on it and specify its direction.
[2005]
10. Name the physical quantity, whose SI unit is Newton coulomb . 1
[2006]
11. What is electric flux? Write its SI units.
Using Gausss theorem, deduce an expression for the electric field at a point due to a uniformly charged
infinite plane sheet. [2006]
12. The electric field E due to a point charge at any point near it is defined as E = F/q , where q is the test charge
and F is the force acting on it. What is the physical significance of this expression? Draw the electric field lines
of a point charge Q when (i) Q > 0 and (ii) Q < 0. [2007]
13. Define electric flux. Write its SI units. A spherical rubber balloon carries a charge that is uniformly distributed
over its surface. As the balloon is blown up and increases in size, how does the total electric flux coming out if
the surface change? Give reason. [2007]
14. (a) Using Gauss law, derive an expression for the electric field intensity at any point outside a uniformly
charged thin spherical shell of radius R and charge density C/m2. Draw the field lines when the charge
density of the sphere is (i) positive, (ii) negative.
(b) A uniformly charged conducting sphere of 2.5 m in diameter has a surface charge density of 100 C/m2.
Calculate the
(i) Charge on the sphere
(ii) Total electric flux passing through the sphere [2008]
15. (a) Derive an expression for the torque experienced by an electric dipole kept in a uniform electric field.
(b) Calculate the work done to dissociate the system of three charges placed on the vertices of a triangle as
shown. Here q = 1.6 1010C [2008]
24 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 AARAV CLASSES
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
16. A thin conducting spherical shell of radius R has charge Q spread uniformly over its surface. Using Gausss
law, derive an expression for an electric field at a point outside the shell.
Draw a graph of electric field E(r) with distance r from the centre of the shell for 0 r . [2009]
17. In which orientation, a dipole placed in a uniform electric field is in (i) stable, (ii) unstable equilibrium?
[2010]
18. Figure shows three point charges, +2q, q and +3q. Two charges +2 q and q are enclosed within a surface
S. What is the electric flux due to this configuration through the surface S? [2010]
19. A thin conducting spherical shell of radius R has charge Q spread uniformly over its surface. Using Gausss
law, derive an expression for an electric field at a point outside the shell. [2010]
AARAV CLASSES 11 C 6, Parijat Colony, Mahaveer Nagar III, Kota (Raj.) Ph.09509469541 25