Electric Potential and Capacitance

1) The electrostatic potential V at any point (x, y, z) in

3 1
space is given by V  4x 2  8y 2 z2 . Then
a) The y and z components of the electrostatic field at any
point are zero
b) The electric field Intensity at any point is given by
1
1
E  8xi 12y 2 j k
2 z

c) The x-component of electric field intensity at a point

(2, 0, 2) is  8i
d) The y-component of electric field intensity at a point
(2, 4, 4) is  4k
Answer: (b)
Solution:
3 1
Given V  4x 2  8y 2 z2

dV   E.dr

 E   V
 V V V
E i j k
x y z

   3
   1
E
x
 
4x 2 i 
y
  8y 2  j   z 2  k
  z  
1 1
3 1
E   8xi  8 y 2 j  z 2 k
2 2

2) An electric field is expressed as E  4i  8j . The

potential difference VA  VB between two points A and B
whose position vectors are given by rA   i  3j and
rB  2i  4 j  5k is

a) + 10V b) – 10V c) – 20V d) + 20V

Answer: (b)
Solution:
Given E  4i  8j

dV   E  dr
VA  x2 y2 
  dV     E x dx   E y dy 
VB  x1 y1 
 2 4

VA  VB     4dx   8dy 
 1 3 

   4  2   1   8  4  3 

  20V

3) Three charges +q, -q and -q are kept at the vertices of

an equilateral triangle of 10cm side. The potential at the
midpoint in between -q, -q if q  10C is

a) 18  105 V b)  25  6  105 V

c) 18  105 V d)  25  6  105 V

Answer:(b)
Solution:
 V  V1  V2  V3

1  q 
V1  V2 
40 a
2
From Diagram,
AB2  BD2  AD2

3a
 AD 
2
1 q
V3 
40  3 a 
 
 2 
1 2q

40 3 a

1   2q  1   2q  1 2q
V  
40 a 40 a 40 3 a

2q  1 
  1  1
 40  a  3 


2q  1 
  2
 40  a  3 
 2  9 109 10 106
 2 0.5773  2
10 10

 18105   1.422 

  25.6  105 V

4) Two thin rings each having a radius 2R are placed at

distance ‘d’ apart with their axes coinciding. The charges
on the two rings are +2q, -2q. The potential difference
between the rings is

2q  1 1  q  1 1 
a)   b)   
40  2R 4R  d 
2 2 0  2R 4R  d 
2 2
 

2q  1 1  2q  1 1 
c)    d)   
40  2R 4R  d 
2 2 0  2R 4R  d 
2 2

Answer:(b)
Solution:
 2q  1 1 
V1    
40  2R 4R  d 
2 2

 2q  1 1 
V2    
40  2R 4R  d 
2 2

V  V1  V2

2q  1 1  2q  1 1 
      
40  2R 4R  d  40  2R
2 2
4R  d 
2 2

2  2q  1 1 
   
40  2R 4R  d 
2 2


q  1 1 
   
0  2R 4R 2  d 2 

5) A non-conducting ring of radius 0.5 m carries a total

charge of 3.33  1010 C distributed non – uniformly in its
circumference producing an electric field ‘E’ everywhere
l 0
in space. The value of the integral   E  dl  (l = 0 being
l 

centre of the ring) in volt is

a) + 6V b) + 2V c) – 6V d) – 2V
Answer: (a)
Solution:
Given,
r  0.5m

q  3.33  1010 C
0
V    E dx


1 q
E
40 r 2
0
1 q
V   dr

40 r 2

1 q
V
40 r

9  109  3.33  1010


0.5

 18  3.33  101

 18  0.333
 1
 18 
3
V  6Volt

6) A field of 200V/m is directed at 30o to positive x-axis.

Find VBA if OA  2m and OB  4m

 
a) 200 3  2 V  
b) 200 2  3 V

c) 200  2  3  V d) 200  4  3  V

Answer:
Solution:
 
V  E  r
V  E r cos 
  200  4   E  OA  cos30  E  OB cos60
3 1
 200  2 
2 2

V  200  
3  2 Volt

7. Two concentric spherical conducting shells of radii R

and 3R carry charges Q and 3Q respectively. Change in
electric potential on the outer shell when both are
 1 
connected by a conducting wire is  k  
 40 

3kQ kQ 2kQ
a) zero b) c) d)
2R R R
Answer:(a)
Solution:
1 Q kQ
V1   
40 R R

1 3Q kQ
V2   
40 3R R

V  V1  V2  0 (zero)
8. A conducting disc of radius 2R rotates about its axis
with an angular velocity ''  '' . Then the potential
difference between the centre of the disc and its edge is
(no magnetic field is present)
2mR 22 mR 22 4mR 22
a) zero b) c) d)
e 2e e
Answer:(b)
Solution:
 
V   E. dr eE  mr2

mr2
2R
V  e
dr
0

2R
m  r 2 
2
  
e  2 0

m2
  4R 2
2e
2mR 22
V
e
9. The following diagram represents a semi-circular wire
of linear charge density   0 cos  where  0 is a positive
 1 
constant. The electric potential at ‘O’ is  k  
 40 

k 0
a) zero b) k  0 c) 20k d)
2
Answer:
Solution:
dQ    dl 

 0 cos  R  d 

1  0 R cos d
dV  
40 R

2
1
 dV   40  0 cos d

2

0
 sin /2
 /2
V
40
 0     
  sin  sin   
40  2  2 
2 0
V  2k 0
40

10. for an infinite line of charge having linear charge

density '  ' lying along x-axis, the work done in moving a
charge q from C to A along CA is

   
a) l n3 b) b) ln2 c) l n 2 d) ln4
20 40 20 40

Answer: (a)
Solution:

E , For a small displacement
 0
2  y
 
dr   dxi  dy j 
dW  E  dr



20 y

j   dxi  dy j 

dW   dy
 20  y

a

 dW    dy
3a  0
2  y


 l n y 3a
a
W
20


W l n3
20

11. Two charges each “Q” are released when the distance
between them is “d”. Then the velocity of each charge of
mass “m” each when the distance between them is 4d is
Q Q Q Q
a) b) c) d)
80 md 16 0 md 4 0 md 0 md

Answer: (b)
Solution:
1 1 1 Q2
mv  mv 
2 2

2 2 40 (4d)

1 Q2
mv  2
40 4d

Q2
v  2

160   md 
Q2
v
160 (md)

Q
v
160 md

12. 2q and 3q are two charges separated by a distance of

12cm on x-axis. A third charge q is placed at 5cm on y-
axis as shown in diagram. Find the change in potential
energy of the system if 3q is moved from initial position
to a point on x-axis in circular path
 q2 6q 2 18q 2 3q 2
a) b) c) d)
4 0 40 (91) 40 (91) 4 0

Answer: b
Time:
Solution:
dV  V2  V1

1 q2 1 q2
  
40 (7) 40 13

r2  7cm  12cm  5cm

r1  52  122  169  13cm

q2  1 1 
 dV    
40  7 13 

q2  6 

40  91 
 6q 2
dV 
40 (91)

13. Two circular loops of radii 5cm and 9cm respectively

are put such that their axes coincide and their centres are
12cm apart. Charge of 4C is spread uniformly on each
loop. Find that potential difference between the centres of
loops

a) 284 kV b) 71 kV c) 142 kV d) 586 kV

Answer: (a)
Time:
Solution:
Given R1  5cm R 2  9cm and x  12cm
 1  q1 q2 
V1    
40  R1 R 2  x 
2 2


 6 6

9  4  10 4 10 
V1  9  10  

5 10 2
  
92  122 102 

1 1 
 9  4  103     102
 5 15 
36  4
  105
15

 9.6 105 V

1  q2 q1 
V2    
40  R 2 R1  x 
2 2


 6 6

9  4  10 4 10 
 9 10   

9 102
  
52  122  102 

1 1 
 9  109  4  104   
 9 13 

36  105  22

117
 6.769 105 V
V  V1  V2  9.6 105  6.769 105

 2.83 105 Volt

 284 kV

14. Determine the potential difference Va-Vb between the

points a and b shown in the diagram

a) – 8V b) + 8V c) – 4V d) + 4V
Answer: (a)
Solution:
Let V1 and V2 be the potential difference across 2μf and
4μF
V1  V2  12

charges are same so,

2V1  4V2
2V2  V2  12
V2  4V
V1  8V
V1  Vb  Va
 Va  Vb  8V

15. Plates of area A are arranged as shown. The distance

between each plate is “d”, the net capacitance is
 A o 4A o 6A o 5A o
a) b) c) d)
d d d d
Answer:
Solution:

Since 1 and 2 are in series which gives combined

capacitance as c/2 3 Q 4 are in series which gives
combined capacitance as c/2
Finally equivalent capacitance is equal to “C’’, so
A o
C
d