1 Electrostatics

CHAMPIONS LECTURE SERIES

P-LS
Physics Lecture Series

Chapter :- Electrostatics-7
P-046
Time : 2 Hrs
XII Integrated & Normal Batches

Lecture Planning & Flow

No. Lecture Contents Homework of the lecture
I Basic History of attraction when two things were rubbed, For JEE Main/AIPMT/CET
What is charge, Properties of charge,Polarity phenom- Aspirants
enon, Coulombs Law (Definition), Define Point Charge,
Solve Abhyaas - V (Level-I) with
Properties of Coulomb’s Law, Principle of superposition.
Detailed analysis and solutions
Problems solving.
(Don’t just write the answer) on
II Modern notion of Interaction between the charges, plane white sheet of paper and
Introduction to electric field, Quantification of Elec- submit.
tric Field, Principle of superposition in electric field,
Standard questions (field due to infinite and finite line For JEE Advanced Aspirants
charge, ring, infinite plane) ,Introduction of Charge
density. Electric Field lines of point charge, two Solve Abhyaas - V (Level-I &
different, line charge, configuration of plates. Level-II) with Detailed analysis
III Properties of conductor, Electrostatic pressure on and solutions (Don’t just write
conductors, Concept of Induced charge, Examples- the answer) on plane white sheet
Conductor with cavity, Introduction of potential, of paper and submit. &
Equi-potential surfaces, Conservative nature of electric Abhyaas-V
forces, Problems of co-centric shells, Concept of Earthing,
Problems of co-centric shells with earthing and different For Olympiad Aspirants
geometries, Above mentioned homework

IV Electric field as gradient of potential, Introduction of

Concept of electrostatic energy, Energy in co-centric
shells, Concept of Escape Velocity.
V Introduction to Dipole, Field of dipole, its interaction
with external electric field, force, torque Problems related
to dipole.
VI Introduction of flux, Gauss Theorem, Proof of Gauss
Theorem, Problems on Gauss Theorem, Finding of
electric field by using gauss theorem.

VII Application of Gauss Law and Self Energy.

Has the student completed the homework of the previous lecture ?

Any other comments ? STAMP

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IIT- JEE/Physics 2

Self Energy of a Charged Body

We’ve discussed whenever a system of charges is assembled, some work is done and this
work is stored in the form of electrical potential energy of the system. Consider a metal
sphere of radius R charged with a charge Q. We will discuss about the work done needed
to charge this sphere or in other words we will now calculate the amount of work done in
assembling the charge Q on this sphere.

Figure shows a conducting sphere of radius R. In the process of charging this sphere gradually we bring charge
to the sphere from infinity in steps of elemental charges dq. The charge on sphere opposes the elemental charge
being brought to it. At an intermediate step of charging we consider that upto this instant sphere has collected a
charge q, due to which it has attained a potential ‘given as
Kq
V=
R
If in this state a charge dq is brought from infinity to its surface, the work done in the process can be given as
dW = dqV

⇒ Kq
dW = dq
R
Total work done in charging the sphere can be given by integrating the above elemental work in transporting dq
within limits from O to Q which is given as
Q
Ka
=
W ∫=
dW ∫ R
dq
0

KQ 2
⇒ W=
2R ....(1)

Equation - ...(1) gives the total work done in charging the sphere of radius R with a charge Q.

We’ve discussed in article for field energy density that in space wherever electric field exist, in region field energy
is stored of which energy density is given as

1
u= ∈0 E 2 J m 3
2
In above case we can see when the sphere was uncharged there was no electric
field in its surroundings. But when it is fully charged, electric field exist in its
surrounding from ifs surface to infinity. We can calculate the field energy
associated with this charged conducting sphere in its surrounding space.
We’ve studied that electric field due to a charged sphere with charge Q,
at its exterior points at a distance x (x > R) varies as

KQ
E=
x2
As this electric field is non uniform (varying with x), we directly multiply the field
energy density with the vol which field exist. To calculate the total field energy ass with this sphere, we consider an
elemental spherical sh radius x and width dx as shown in figure. The vol space enclosed within this shell is

dV= 4 πx 2 .dx

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 3 Electrostatics

Thus field energy stored within the volume of this el shell is given as
1
dU= ∈0 E 2 .dV
2
2
1  KQ 
⇒ dU = ∈0  2  × 4 πx 2 dx
2 x 

2
KQ
⇒ dU = dx
2x 2

Thus total field energy associated with the sphere can be calculated by integrating the above expression from
surface of sphere to infinity as electric field inside the sphere is zero. So total field energy in the surrounding space
of sphere is
∞
KQ 2
=
U ∫=
dU ∫R 2x 2 dx

∞
KQ 2  1
⇒ =U ∫ 2 − x 
 R

KQ 2
⇒ U=
2R ....(2)

We can see that this result is same as equation. By this analysis we can conclude that work done in charging a body
is stored in its surrounding in the form of its field energy. This energy is also called “Self Energy” of that body. Once
a body is charged in a given configuration, its self energy is considered as a constant, if the body is displaced or moved
in any manner keeping its shape and charge distribution constant, its self energy does not change. As discussed
above we can say that “Self energy of a charged body is the total field energy, associated with the
electric field due to this body in its surrounding and same is the work done in charging the body
in the given final charge configuration and shape.”

Self Energy of a Uniformly Charged Non-conducting Sphere

We know in outside region of a non-conducting uniformly charged sphere, electric field strength
at every exterior point is as that of a conducting sphere of same radius. Thus field energy in the
surrounding of this sphere from surface to infinity can be given as

KQ 2
U R →∞ =
2R ....(3)
Unlike to the case of conducting sphere, in nonconducting sphere at interior points E ≠ 0 . Thus field energy also
exist in the interior region. This can be calculated by considering an elemental shell inside the sphere as shown in
above figure.
The field energy in the volume of this elemental shell can be given as
2
1  KQ 
dU = ∈0  3  × 4 πx 2 dx
2 R 
KQ 2 4
⇒ dU = x dx
2R 6
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IIT- JEE/Physics 4

Total field energy inside the sphere can be given by integrating the above expression within limits from 0 to R
which is given as
R
KQ 2
U ∫=
2x 6 ∫0
= dU x 4 dx

R
KQ 2  x 3 
⇒ U=  
2R 6  5  0

⇒ KQ 2
U 0 →R =
10R ....(4)

Thus total self energy of this sphere can be given by sum of inside and outside field energies as given by
equation-(3) and (4) so we have
=
U self U 0 →R + U R →∞

KQ 2 KQ 2
=
U self +
10R 2R

3 KQ 2
U self =
5 R ....(5)
Equation-(5) gives the total field energy associated with a uniformly charged non conducting sphere. Same is the
amount of work done in charging an uncharged sphere to the state of uniformly volume charged sphere. Students
can calculate the work in bringing elemental charges dq from infinity to a uniformly charged non conducting sphere
from 0 to Q and verify that result will be same as given in equation-(5).

Total Electrostatic Energy of A System of Charges

When a system of two or more charged bodies are brought close to a given state of charge configuration then work
is done by an external agent in two ways. First is the work done in charging to bodies to their respective charges
which we call self energy of objects and another work will be done bringing the bodies close to a given separation
which is called interaction energy of the system. Total electrostatic potential energy a system of charges can be
given by sum of the above work done given as

U=∑ self energy of all charged bodies + ∑ Interaction energy of all pairs of charged bodies.

Let us consider some cases to understand this concept. Figure shows two uniformly charged non-conducting
spheres of radius R1 and R2 and charged with charges Q1 and Q2 respectively separated by a distance r. If we find
the total electrostatic energy of this system, we can write as

=
U U self + U Interaction

3KQ12 3KQ 22 RQ1Q 2

U= + +
5R1 5R 2 r
....(6)

First and second terms in above equation-(6) are the self energies of the two
spheres and third term is the interaction energy of the system of two spheres as
given by equation of interaction energy of the system of two charges. Next article
will also explain this concept in more detail for understanding it better.

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 5 Electrostatics

Electrostatic Energy of a System of a Conducting Sphere & a Concentric Shell

Figure shows a solid conducting sphere and a concentric shell of radii a and b respectively charged uniformly with
charges q1 and q2. The total energy of this system can be given as

Utotal = Self energy of inner sphere

+ Self energy of outer shell

+ Interaction energy of the two shell

Kq12 Kq 22 Kq1q 2
= + +
2a 2b b ....(7)

Similar to the previous article, in this case also first and second terms of the equation-(7) are the self energies of
the inner sphere and outer shell respectively and the third term is the interaction energy of the two.

As we’ve already discussed that the electrostatic potential energy is always stored in a system in form of field energy
so in this case we can also calculate the total energy by calculating the total field energy associated with the system.

Total Field Energy of a System of Conducting Sphere & a Concentric Shell

In the situation shown in Figure we can state that the electric field inside the sphere
at points x < a at every point electric field is zero so no field energy exist inside this
region. In the region from x = a to x = b the electric field exist only due to the charge
on conducting sphere and in outer region where x > b, electric field exist due to the
charges of both sphere as well as that of the shell.

Total field energy in the electric field associated with the system can be
calculated by considering elemental concentric shell of radius x and width dx as shown
in figure. We can find the field energy in the elemental volume of such elemental shells
in region a < x < b and for region x > b and integrating within the specified limits of
the region. This can be given as
b
1  Kq 
∫a 2 ∈0  x 21  4 πx dx
2
U=

( ) 
2
∞
1  K q1 + q 2
+ ∫ ∈0  4 πr 2 dx
2  r2 
b  

1 2 1 1  1 2 1
=U Kq1  −  + K ( q1 + q 2 )  
2 a b 2 b

1 Kq12 Kq12 Kq12 Kq 22 Kq 22

U= − + + +
2 a 2b b 2b b

Kq12 Kq 22 Kq1q 2
U= + +
2b 2b b
Above equation is same as equation (7)

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IIT- JEE/Physics 6

ABHYAAS - VII

Q-1 A point charge q is placed at the centre of the cubical box. Find,
(a) total flux associated with the box
(b) flux emerging through each face of the box
(c) flux through shaded area of surface.

Q-2 An infinitely long uniform, line charge distribution of charge per unit

length λ lies parallel to the y-axis in the y-z plane at z = 3 a as

2
shown in figure. Find the electric flux due to this line charge through

the rectangular surface ABCD lying in the x-y plane with its centre

at the origin.

Q-3 Two charges +q1 and –q2 are placed at points A and B respectively. A line of force originates from
the charge q1 at an angle a with the line AB. Find at what angle this line will be terminating at the
charge –q2?

Q-4 A point charge q is placed on the top a cone of semi vertex angle θ . Show what the electric flux
through the base of the is given as φ q (1 − cos θ )
base =
2 ε0

Q-5 Find flux through the hemispherical cup due to the charge q placed as shown in figure.

Q-6 Two point charges q and –q are separated by a distance 2 . Find the flux of the electric field strength
vector across a circle of radius R located symmetrically in a plane normal to line joining the charges.

Q-7 A charge q0 is distributed uniformly on a ring of radius R. A sphere of equal radius R is constructed with
its centre on the circumference of the ring. Find the electric flux through the surface of the sphere.


Q-8 An electric field given by E = ( )
4 j + 3 y 2 + 2 ˆj pierces a gaussian cube of side 1m placed at origin such
that one of its corners is at origin and rest of sides are along positive side of coordinate axis. Find the
magnitude of net charge enclosed within the cube.
Q-9 A point charge q is located on the axis of a disc of radius R at a distance b from the plane of the disc
as shown in figure. What should be the radius of the disc if one-fourth of the total electric flux from the
charge passes through the disc.

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 7 Electrostatics

Q-10 Find the electric flux through a cubical surface due to a point charge q placed (a) at centre of one face
(b) corner of the cubical box as shown in figures below, in case (b) find the flux through each face of the
cube.

Q-11 A cube has sides of length L = 0.2m. It is placed with one corner at the origin as shown in figure. The

=
electric field is uniform and given by E ( )
2.5iˆ − 4.2jˆ N C . Find the electric flux through the entire
cube.

Q-12 For a spherically symmetrical charge distribution, electric field at a distance r from the centre of sphere is

E = kr 7ˆr, where k is a constant. What will be the volume charge density at a distance r from the centre
of sphere?

Q-13 A non-conducting spherical ball of radius R contains a spherically symmetric charge with volume charge
n
density ρ =kr , where r is the distance from the centre of the ball and n is a constant. What should be
n such that the electric field inside the ball is directly proportional to square of distance from the centre?
Q-14 An infinite, uniformly charged sheet with surface charge density a cuts through a spherical Gaussian
surface of radius R at a distance x from its center, as shown in the figure. The electric flux φ through
the Gaussian surface is :

Q-15 A soap bubble of radius r is given a charge q uniformly on its surface. As a result of which the radius of
soap bubble slightly. increases. If surface tension of soap solution is T, find the increase in radius of bubble
due to supply of charge q.

Q-16 A soap bubble of radius r and surface tension T is given a potential V. Show that the new radius R of the
bubble is related with the initial radius by the equation

Q-17 The minimum strength of a uniform electric field which can tear a conducting uncharged thin-walled
sphere into two parts is known to be E0. Determine the minimum electric field strength E1 required to tear
the sphere of twice as large radius if the thickness of its walls is the same as in the former case.
Q-18 A point charge q is within an electrically neutral shell whose outer surface has spherical shape (see figure).
Find the potential at the point P lying outside the shell at a distance r from the centre O of the outer
surface.

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IIT- JEE/Physics 8

Q-19 A charge Q is placed at the centre of an uncharged, hollow metallic sphere of radius a,
(a) Find the surface charge density on the inner surface and on the outer surface.
(b) If a charge q is put on the sphere, what would be the surface charge densities on the inner and
the outer surfaces?
(c) Find the electric field inside the sphere at a distance x front the centre in the situations (a) and (b).

Q-20 A charge q is distributed uniformly on the surface of a sphere of radius R. It is covered by a concentric
hollow conducting sphere of radius 2R. Find the charges on inner and outer surface surfaces of hollows
sphere if it is earthed.

Q-21 Three large conducting plates are kept close to each other as shown in the figure. Now all the three plates
A, B, and C are connected by a thin conducting wire. Find the charge (in µC ) on left surface of plate
A at electrostatic equilibrium.

Q-22 There are 4 concentric shells A, B, C and D of radius a, 2a, 4a respectively. Shells B and D are given
charges + q and – q respectively. Shell C is now earthed. Find the potent. difference VA – VC .

Q-23 There are two uncharged identical metallic spheres of radius a, separated a distance d. A charged metallic
sphere (charge q) of same radius is brought and touches sphere 1. After some time it is moved away to a
far off distance. After this, the sphere 2 is earthed. Find the charge on sphere 2.

Q-24 Figure shows two conducting thin concentric shells of radii r and 3r. The outer shell carries charge q
whereas inner shell is uncharged. Find the charge that will flow from inner shell to earth after the switch
S is closed.

Q-25 Initially the conducting shells A and B are at potentials VA and VB. Find the potential of A when sphere
B is earthed.

Q-26 Figure shows three concentric thin conducting spherical shells A, B and C of radii R, 2R and 3R. The
shell B is earthed, A and C are given charges q and 2q respectively. Find the charges appearing on all
the surface of A, B and C.

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 9 Electrostatics

Q-27 Three identical metallic plates are kept parallel to one another at a separation of a and b. The outer plates
are connected by a thin conducting wire and a charge Q is placed on the central plate. Find final charges
on all the surfaces of the three plates.

Q-28 There are two concentric conducting spherical shells of radii r and 2r. Initially a charge Q is given to the
inner shell. Now, switch S1 is closed and opened then S2 is closed and opened and the process is repeated
n times for both the keys alternatively. Find the final potential difference between the shells.

Q-29 An electrometer is charged to 3 kV. Then the electrometer is touched with a neutral metal ball, mounted
on an insulating rod, and then the metal ball is taken away and earthed. The process is done for 10
times, and finally the electrometer reads 1.5 kV. After this, at least how many times must the above
process be repeated in order that the electrometer reads less than 1kV?

Q-30 When an uncharged conducting ball of radius r is placed in an external uniform electric field, a surface
charge density σ = σ0 cos θ is induced on the ball’s surface where σ0 is a constant, θ is a polar angle
measured from a direction parallel to external electric field. Find the magnitude of the resultant electric
force acting on an induced charge of the same sign on one half of hemisphere.

Q-31 Find the force with which the two halves of a uniformly charged metal spheres repel each other. Total
unif distributed charge on surface of sphere is Q.

Q-32 Figure (a) shows a shall of radius R having charge q1 uniformly distributed over it. A point charge q is
placed at the centre of shell. Find amount of work required to increase the radius of shell from R to R1
as shown in figure (b).

Q-33 Find the electrostatic energy stored in a cylindrical shell of length 1, inner radius a and outer radius b,
coaxial with a uniformly charged wire with linear charge density λ C m .

Q-34 Three shells are shown carrying charge q1, q2 and q3 and of radii a, b and c respectively. If the middle
shell expands from radius b to b’ (b’ < c). Find the work done by electric field in process.

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IIT- JEE/Physics 10

Q-35 A point charge g is isolated at the centre O of a spherical uncharged conducting layer provided with a
small orifice. The inside and outside radii of the layer are equal to a and b respectively. What amount of
work has to be performed to slowly transfer the charge q from the point O through the orifice and into
infinity.
Q-36 One thousand similar electrified raindrops merge into one so that their total charge remains unchanged.
Find the change in the total electric energy of the drops, assuming that the drops are spherical and that
small drops are at large distance from one another.
Q-37 A point charge q is located at the centre of the spherical layer of uniform isotropic dielectric with relative
permittivity k. The inside radius of the layer is equal to a and the outside radius is b. Find the electrostatic
energy inside the dielectric layer.
Q-38 A solid conducting sphere of radius a having a charge q is surrounded by a concentric conducting spheri-
cal shell of inner radius 2a and outer radius 3a as shown in figure. Find the amount of heat produced
when switch is closed.

Q-39 The figure shows a conducting sphere ‘A’ of radius ‘a’ which is surrounded by a neutral conducting spher-
ical shell B ofradius b’ (> a). Initially switches S1, S2 and S3 are open and sphere ‘ A’ carries a charge Q.
First the switch ‘S1’ is closed to connect the shell B with the ground and then opened. Now the switch
‘S2’ is closed so that the sphere ‘A’ is grounded and then S2 is opened. Finally, the switch ‘S3’ is closed
to connect the spheres together. Find the heat (in Joule) which is produced after closing the switch S3.
[Consider b = 4 cm, a = 2 cm and Q= 8 c]

Q-40 A long cylindrical shell oflength l and radius a is given a uniformly distributed charge Q on its surface.
If the shell is expanded uniformly to a radius b, find the work done by electrical forces in the process of
expansion.
Q-41 In a system of two concentric spherical conducting shells charge q is given to both inner and outer shells
as shown is figure. Inner shell is connected to earth by a switch. Find the amount of heat produced when
switch is closed.

Q-42 Two uniformly charged solid spheres A and B of radii a and b with charges q1 and q2 are kept at a
separation r. Find work done in disassembling the whole system into very small particles and displace
the particles to infinite separation.
Q-43 Two uniformly charged concentric spherical shells are of radii a and b respectively. The charges on the
two shells are q1 and q2. Find the work required in expanding the outer shell of radius b to increase its
radius to infinity.

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 11 Electrostatics

ANSWERS

q q q λL
Q-1 (a) φ = ; (b) φ = ; (c) φ = Q-2
∈0 6 ∈0 24 ∈0 4 ∈0

 q q q
Q-3 β =2 sin −1  1 sin  Q-4 (1 − cos θ )
 q 2 2  2 ε0

q q  1 1 
Q-5 Q-6  − 
2 ∈0 ∈0   2 2
R + 

q0
Q-7 Q-8 3 ∈0
3ε0
q q q
Q-9 3b Q-10 , , ,0
2 ∈0 8 ∈0 24 ∈0

Q-11 zero Q-12 9kε0 r 6

Q-13 1 Q-14
(
π R2 − x2 σ )
ε0

q2 ∈0 V 2 R
Q-15 dr =
96 π 2 ∈0 r 2 ( rPatm + 4T )
Q-16 ( )
P R 3 − r 3 + 4T R 2 − r 2 =( 2
)
E0 1 q
Q-17 E1 = Q-18 V=
2 4 π ∈0 r

σi =
−Q
σ0 =
Q
σi =
−Q (Q + q) E=
1 Q
Q-19 (a) and , (b) 2 and , σ0 = (c) 4 πε0 x 2
4 πR 2 4 πR 2 4 πR 4 πR 2

Q-20 0 Q-21 1 µC

Kq qa
Q-22 Q-23 −
6a 2d
q
Q-24 + charge will flow from inner shell to earth Q-25 VA – VB
3
4
Q-26 Inner surface (A) 0, (B) – q, (C) q
3

4 2
Outer surface (A) q, (B) − q , (C) q
3 3

Q Qb Qb Qa Qa Q
Q-27 Faces (1) , ( 2) − , ( 3) , (4) , (5) − , (6) ,
2 a+b a+b a+b a+b 3

1  Q 
Q-28   Q.29 6
2n +1  4 πε0 r 
πσ02 r 2 σ 2 πR 2
Q-30 Q-31
4 ∈0 2 ∈0

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IIT- JEE/Physics 12

 q  1 1  λ 2l  b
Q-32 W =Kq1  q + 1   −  Q-33 U= n  
 2   R1 R  4 π ∈0  a 

 q  1 1  q 1 1 
Q-34 W = Kq 2  q1 + 2   −  =
Q-35 W  a − b' 
 2  b b'  8 πε 0  

q2 1 1
Q-36 Energy increases by 100 times Q-37
8 πk 2 ∈0 b − a
 
q2
Q-38 16 π ∈ a Q-39
1.8J
0

λ 2l  b 5Kq 2
Q-40 n   Q-41
4 π ∈0  a  8a

3 Kq12 3 Kq 22 Kq1q 2  Kq 2 Kq q 
Q-42 + + − 2 + 1 2 
Q-43
5 a 5 b r  2b b 

“Never let go of that fiery

sadness called desire.”

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