KUHELI: PAHELI KI SAHELI

Have you seen charged particles?

In the universe everybody attracts every other body towards themselves.
Why?

Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other. Why?
 ELECTROSTATICS

SHRI J.P.NAYAK PGT (PHYSICS) KV NO.1 BALASORE

SUMMARY

1. Electric and magnetic forces determine the properties of atoms, molecules

and bulk matter.

2. From simple experiments on frictional electricity, one can infer that there
are two types of charges in nature; and that like charges repel and unlike
charges attract. By convention, the charge on a glass rod rubbed with silk is
positive; that on a plastic rod rubbed with fur is then negative.

3. Conductors allow movement of electric charge through them, insulators do

not. In metals, the mobile charges are electrons; in electrolytes both positive
and negative ions are mobile.

4. Electric charge has three basic properties: quantisation, additivity and

conservation.
Quantisation of electric charge means that total charge ( q) of a body is always
an integral multiple of a basic quantum of charge ( e) i.e., q = n e, where n = 0, ±1,
±2, ±3, .... Proton and electron have charges + e, –e, respectively. For
macroscopic charges for which n is a very large number, quantisation of charge
can be ignored.
Additivity of electric charges means that the total charge of a system is the
algebraic sum (i.e., the sum taking into account proper signs) of all individual
charges in the system.
Conservation of electric charges means that the total charge of an isolated
system remains unchanged with time. This means that when bodies are charged
through friction, there is a transfer of electric charge from one body to
another, but no creation or destruction of charge.

5. Coulomb’s Law: The mutual electrostatic force between two point charges q1
and q2 is proportional to the product q1q2 and inversely proportional to the
square of the distance r21 separating them
k q1 q2
F21 = force on q2 due to q1 F= 2 , where ˆr21 is a unit vector in the
r
1
direction from q1 to q2 and k = 4 π ϵ is the constant of proportionality.
0
In SI units, the unit of charge is coulomb. The experimental value of the
constant ε 0 is ε 0 = 8.854 × 10–12 C2 N–1 m–2
The approximate value of k is k = 9 × 109 N m2 C–2

6. The ratio of electric force and gravitational force between a proton and an
2
Ke 39
electron is Gm m =2.4 X 10
p e

7. Superposition Principle: The principle is based on the property that the

forces with which two charges attract or repel each other are not affected by
the presence of a third (or more) additional charge(s). For an assembly of
charges q1, q2, q3, ..., the force on any charge, say q1, is the vector sum of the
force on q1 due to q2, the force on q1 due to q3, and so on. For each pair, the
force is given by the Coulomb’s law for two charges stated earlier.

8. The electric field E at a point due to a charge configuration is the force on a

small positive test charge q placed at the point divided by the magnitude of the
charge. Electric field due to a point charge q has a magnitude |q|/4πε0r2; it is
radially outwards from q, if q is positive, and radially inwards if q is negative.
Like Coulomb force, electric field also satisfies superposition principle.

9. An electric field line is a curve drawn in such a way that the tangent at each
point on the curve gives the direction of electric field at that point. The
relative closeness of field lines indicates the relative strength of electric field
at different points; they crowd near each other in regions of strong electric
field and are far apart where the electric field is weak. In regions of constant
electric field, the field lines are uniformly spaced parallel straight lines.

10. Some of the important properties of field lines are:

(i) Field lines are continuous curves without any breaks.
(ii) Two field lines cannot cross each other.
(iii) Electrostatic field lines start at positive charges and end at negative
charges —they cannot form closed loops.

11. An electric dipole is a pair of equal and opposite charges q and –q separated
by some distance 2a. Its dipole moment vector p has magnitude 2qa and is in
the direction of the dipole axis from –q to q.
12. Field of an electric dipole in its equatorial plane (i.e., the plane perpendicular
to its axis and passing through its centre) at a distance r from the centre:
1 P
Eeq = × 2 2 3 /2
4 π ϵ 0 (r + a )

13. Dipole electric field on the axis at a distance r from the centre:
1 2 Pr
Eax = ×
4 π ϵ 0 ( r −a 2) 2
2

14. The 1/r3 dependence of dipole electric fields should be noted in contrast to
the 1/r 2 dependence of electric field due to a point charge.

15. In a uniform electric field E, a dipole experiences a torque τ given by

τ = p × E, but experiences no net force.

16. The flux Δφ of electric field E through a small area element ΔS is given by
Δφ = E.ΔS,
The vector area element ΔS is ΔS = ΔS ˆn where ΔS is the magnitude of the
area element and ˆn is normal to the area element, which can be considered
planar for sufficiently small ΔS. For an area element of a closed surface, ˆn is
taken to be the direction of outward normal, by convention.

17. Gauss’s law: The flux of electric field through any closed surface S is 1/ε0
times the total charge enclosed by S. The law is especially useful in determining
electric field E, when the source distribution has simple symmetry:
(i) Thin infinitely long straight wire of uniform linear charge density 
λ
E= ń
2 π ϵ0r
where r is the perpendicular distance of the point from the wire and ˆn is the
radial unit vector in the plane normal to the wire passing through the point.
(ii) Infinite thin plane sheet of uniform surface charge density σ
σ
E= ń
2 ϵ0
where ˆn is a unit vector normal to the plane, outward on either side.
MCQ (ONE MARK)

1. The electric flux through a closed Gaussian surface depends upon

(a) Net charge enclosed and permittivity of the medium

(b) Net charge enclosed permittivity of the medium and the size of the Gaussian surface.

(c) Net charged enclosed only

(d) Permittivity of the medium only.

ANS: a

2. Electric field at the surface of a black box indicates that the net outward flux
through the surface of the box is 8x10 3 Nm2/C. What is the net charge inside the
box?

(a) 7 C (b) 0.7 C (c) 7 µC (d) 0.07 µC

ANS: d

3. Electric field outside the shell is given by

(a) q/4πε0r2 (b) q/4πε0r (c) q/8πε0r2 (d) q/8πε0r

ANS: a

4. When an electric dipole of dipole moment p is placed in uniform electric field (E)
then at what angle between P and E the value of torque will be maximum?

(a) 900 (b) 00 (c) 1800 (d) 450

ANS: a

5. In general, metallic ropes are suspended on the carriers taking inflammable

materials. The reason is

(a) to control the speed of the carrier

(b) to keep the centre of gravity of the carrier nearer to the earth

(c) to keep the body of the carrier in contact with the earth.

(d) none of these

ANS: C
6. Two charges of equal magnitudes kept at a distance r exert a force F on each
other. If the charges are halved and distance between them is doubled, then the new
force acting on each charge is

(a) F/8 (b) F/4 (c) F/16 (d) 4F

ANS: C

7. The electric field inside a spherical shell of uniform surface charge density is

(a) zero

(b) constant, less than zero

(c ) directly proportional to the distance from the centre

(d) none of the above

ANS:a

8. Let F1 be the magnitude of the force between two small spheres, charged to a
constant potential in free space and F 2 be the magnitude of the force between them in
a medium of dielectric constant k. Then F1/F2 is

(a) 1/k (b) k (c) k2 (d) 1/k2

ANS:b

9. Electric field at a point varies as r0 for

(a) an electric dipole

(b) a point charge

(c ) a plane infinite sheet of charge

(d) a line charge of infinite length

ANS:C

10. An electric dipole placed in a non-uniform electric field will experience

(a) only a force

(b) only a torque

(c ) both force and torque

(d) neither force nor torque

ANS:C
11. The electric field 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

(a) directly proportional to r

(b) inversely proportional to r

(c ) directly proportional to r2

(d) inversely proportional to r2

ANS: b

12. The magnitude of electric field intensity E is such that, an electron placed in it
would experience an electrical force equal to its weight is given by

(a) mge

(b) mg/e

(c ) e/mg

(d) e2g/m2

ANS:b

13. Which of the following statement is correct? The electric field at a point is

(a) Always continuous

(b) Continuous if there is a charge at that point.

(c) discontinuous only if there is a negative charge at that point.

(d ) discontinuous if there is no charge at that point.

ANS:d

14. A positron and an electron are located in a uniform electric field, they will
experience

(a) forces equal in same direction

(b) forces equal in magnitude only

(c ) equal acceleration in opposite directions

(d ) accelerations equal in magnitude only

ANS:b
15. Which statement is true for Gauss’s law?

(a) All the charges whether inside or outside the Gaussian surface contribute to the electric
flux.

(b) Electric flux depends upon the geometry of the Gaussian surface.

(c) Gauss’s theorem can be applied to non-uniform electric field

(d ) The electric field over the Gaussian surface remains continuous and uniform at every
point.

Ans:d

16. When a glass rod rubbed with silk is brought near the gold leaf electroscope, the
leaves diverge. What is the nature of charge on the leaves?

(a) Negative

(b) zero

(c) positive

(d) either positive or negative

Ans:c

17. If F1 is the electrostatic force on q1 due to q2 and F2 is the electrostatic force on

q2 due to q1, then

(a) F1=F2

(b) F1=F2=0

(C ) F1 is not equal to F2

(d) F1= -F2

ANS:d

18. Number of electrons present on a body having a charge of 10 µC are

(a) 62.5x1013

(b) 6.25x1014

(c ) 6.25x1013

(d) 6.25x10-14
ANS: C

19. Two point charges 2 µC and -4 µC are kept at distance r between them in air. The
ratio of magnitude of forces acting on them will be

(a) 2:1

(b) 1:2

(c ) 1:1

(d ) 4:1

ANS: c

20. Considering a spherical Gaussian surface enclosing a point charge, if the radius of
the surface becomes double, then the electric flux will

(a) get increased (b) remain the same

(c ) get decreased (d ) Both a and c

ANS:b

21. A method for charging a conductor without bringing a charged object in contact
with it is called

(a) electrification (b) magnetisation

(c ) electromagnetic induction (d) electrostatic induction

ANS: d

22. The conservation of electric charge implies that

(a) Total charge of the entire universe remains constant (b) Charge cannot be created

(c) Charge cannot be destroyed ( d) none of these

ANS: a

23. There are two kinds of charges- positive charge and negative charge. The property which
differentiates the two kinds of charge is called

(a) amount of charge (b) polarity of charge

(c ) Strength of charge ( d) field of charge

ANS: b
SECTION-B (2 MARKS)

1. Define electric field intensity. Write its SI unit. Write the magnitude and direction
of electric field intensity due to an electric dipole of length 2a at the midpoint of the
line joining the two charges.

ANS: Electric field intensity at a point is defined as the electric force experienced by a
unit positive charge placed at that point. Its SI unit is N/C. The magnitude of electric field
at the mid-point of the dipole is 2q/4πε 0a2. Its direction is from q to –q.

2. Define the term electric dipole moment. Is it a scalar or a vector? Write its SI
unit.

ANS: Electric dipole moment is the product of magnitude of either charge and separation
between them. It is a measurement of the strength of electric dipole. It is a vector quantity
and its direction is from –q to +q. Its SI unit is Coulomb. Meter (C-M)

3. Define electric flux. Write its SI unit. 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 of the surface change? Give reason

ANS: The total number of electric field lines passing through a given surface when surface
is held normal to the direction of electric field lines is called electric flux. It is the dot
product of electric field and area vector. Its SI unit is Nm 2/C.

As electric flux does not depend upon the shape and size of the closed surface, the electric
flux coming out of the surface will remain same as long as the charge enclosed by it remains
same.

4. Two point electric charges of unknown magnitude and sign are placed at a distance d
apart. The electric field intensity is zero at a point not between the charges but on
the line joining them. Write two essential conditions for this to happen.

ANS: The two essential conditions are:

(a) two charges are of opposite sign

(ii) two charges have different magnitudes( The charge of smaller magnitude will be nearer
to the point where the total electric field intensity is zero.)

5. An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve. That is a field line cannot have
sudden breaks. Why is it so?

ANS: An electrostatic field line is the path of movement of a positive test charge. A moving
charge experiences a continuous force in an electrostatic field, So an electrostatic field line
is always a continuous curve.
6. Explain why two electric field lines never cross each other at any point.

ANS: Two electric field lines can never cross each other because if they cross, there will be
two directions of electric field at the point of intersection; which is impossible.

7. Depict the orientation of the electric dipole in (a0 stable, (b) unstable equilibrium in
a uniform electric field.

ANS: (a) Stable equilibrium, ϴ=00, electric dipole moment is parallel to the electric field

(b) Unstable equilibrium, ϴ=1800, electric dipole moment is antiparallel to the electric field.

8. State Gauss’s law in electrostatics. “Gauss’s law in electrostatics is true for any
closed surface, no matter what its shape or size is”. Justify it

ANS: The electric flux through a closed surface is 1/ε 0 times the charge enclosed by the
surface. Mathematically, φ=charge enclosed/ε 0

Justification- According to Gauss’s theorem, the electric flux through closed surface
depends only on the net charge enclosed by the surface and not upon the shape or size of
the surface. For any arbitrary shape of the surface enclosing a charge the outward flux is
the same as that due to a spherical Gaussian surface enclosing the same charge.

9. Write the four basic properties of charge

ANS: a. conservation of charge

b. additive property

c. quantitation of charge

d. like charges repel while unlike charges attract each other.

10. Write the properties of electric field lines.

ANS: a.The electric field lines do not form any closed loops

b. No two electric field lines can intersect each other

c. Electric field lines start from positive charge and end at negative charge.

d. The tangent drawn at any point on the field line gives the direction of electric field
strength at that point

e. The electric field lines have a tendency to contract lengthwise and separate from each
other laterally.
11. Define electric dipole and write net charge on electric dipole

ANS: A system containing two equal and opposite charges separated by a finite distance is
called an electric dipole. Net charge on an electric dipole is zero

SECTION-C(3 MARKS)

1. The electric field E due to any point charge near it is defined as E= limit
(F/q) where q tends to zero the test charge and F is the force acting on it.
What is the physical significance of limit (q 0) in this expression? Draw the
electric field lines of point charge Q when Q>0 and Q<0

ANS: The physical significance of limit (q 0) is the point test charge q

produces its own electric field; hence it will modify the electric field
strength to be measured. Therefore, the test charge used to measure the
electric field must be too small.

When Q>0, field lines radially outward and when Q<0, field lines radially
inward.

Q
-Q

2. A spherical conducting shell of inner radius r 1 and outer radius r2 has a

charge Q. A charge q is placed at the centre of the shell.

(a) What is the surface charge density on the inner surface and outer surface
of the shell?
(b) Write the expression for the electric field at a point x>r 2 from the centre
of the shell.

ANS: Surface charge density on the inner surface = -q/4πr12

Surface charge density on the outer surface= (Q+q)/4πr 22

(b) Electric field at distance x =E(x) = (Q+q)/4πε 0x2

3. Write Coulomb’s law in vector form. Also show that it obeys Newton’s
third law of motion.

HINT: F=(Q1Q2/4πε0r2) r, here bold letters are vectors

F12 Q1 Q2 F21

To show that F12=F21

4. An electric dipole is held in a uniform electric field. Using suitable

diagram, show that it does not undergo any translator motion, and derive
an expression for the torque acting on it .

HINT: Force on q= qE and force on –q = -qE, As forces are equal in magnitude

and opposite in direction, therefore net force=0 .

To derive expression of torque τ=PXE

SECTION-D( 5 MARKS)

1. Find an expression for the electric field strength at a distant point

situated (i) on the axis (ii) along the equatorial line of an electric dipole.

HINT: To derive Axial electric field= 2p/4πε0r3

Equatorial electric field= -p/4πε0r3

r is the distance of the point from the midpoint of the dipole

2. Using Gauss’s law obtain the expression for the electric field due to a
uniformly charged thin spherical shell of radius R at a point outside the
shell, on the surface of the shell and inside the shell.
Hint: To derive E= Q/4πε0r2 (r>R) Outside the shell

E= Q/4πε0R2 r=R On the surface of the shell

E=0 r<R Inside the shell

3. Using Gauss’s law obtain the expression for the electric field at a point
due to an infinitely long thin uniformly charged straight wire of linear
charge density of λ C /m

Hint: To derive an expression of electric field strength due to an infinitely long

straight charged wire =E = λ/2πε0r

r is the distance of the point from the long straight charged wire.

4. Using Gauss’s law, Prove that the electric field at a point due to a
uniformly charged infinite plane sheet is independent of the distance from
it. How is the field directed if the sheet is (i) positively charged (ii)
negatively charged

Hint: To prove the expression of the electric field = E= σ/2 ε 0

σ is the surface charge density

(i) If σ is positive, electric field points normally outward from the sheet

(ii) If σ is negative, electric field points normally towards the sheet

SECTION-E (ASSERTION-REASON QUESTIONS) 1 MARK

In the following questions a statement of assertion followed by a statement of

reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the following choices.

(a) Assertion and reason both are correct statements and reason is correct
explanation for assertion.

(b) ) Assertion and reason both are correct statements and reason is not
correct explanation for assertion.

(c) Assertion is correct statement but reason is wrong statement.

(d) Assertion is wrong statement but reason is correct statement

1. Assertion- Coulomb force and gravitational force follow the same inverse
square law.

Reason- Both laws are same in all aspects.

ANS: c

2. Assertion- When a body acquires negative charge, its mass decreases

Reason- A body acquires positive charge when it loses electrons

ANS: d

3. Assertion- Surface charge density of an irregularly shaped conductor is non-

uniform

Reason- Surface charge density is defined as charge per unit area.

ANS: a

4. Assertion- Electrostatic field lines start at positive charges and end at

negative charges

Reason- Field lines are continuous curves without any breaks and they form
closed loop.

ANS: c

5. Assertion- Charge is quantised because only integral number of electrons can

be transferred

Reason- There is no possibility of transfer of some fraction of electron

ANS: b

6. Assertion- The charge given to a metallic sphere does not depend on whether
it is hollow or solid.

Reason- Since the charge resides only on the surface of the conductor.

Ans : a

7. Assertion- Total flux through a closed surface is zero if no charge is

enclosed by the surface
Reason- Gauss’s law is true for any closed surface, no matter what its shape or
size is.

ANS:a

CASE BASED QUESTION-1

Electric field strength is proportional to the density of lines of force i.e.,

electric field strength at a point is proportional to the number of lines of force
cutting a unit area element placed normal to the field at that point.

(i) Electric lines of force about a positive point charge are

(a) radially outwards (b) circular clockwise (c) radially inwards (d) parallel
straight lines.

(ii) Which of the following is false for electric lines of force?

(a) They always start from positive charges and terminate on negative charges.

(b) They are always perpendicular to the surface of a charged conductor.

(c) They always form closed loops.

(d) They are parallel and equally spaced in a region of uniform electric field.

iii) Electric lines of force are curved

(a) in the field of a single positive or negative charge (b) in the field of two
equal and opposite charges

(c) in the field of two like charges (d) both (b) and (c).

(iv) Which one of the field lines given below does not exist?
 (v) Where is the electric field maximum? At A, B or C?

CASE BASED QUESTION-2.

Initially an electric dipole (Dipole-moment P) was in stable equilibrium

condition inside a uniform electric field (E). It is rotated by an external
force to displace the dipole by an angel θ and released.

ii. What was the magnitude of potential energy stored in that dipole in its
stable equilibrium condition?

ii. What are the net force and net torque experienced by the electric filed
when it was disturbed by an angle θ?

iii. What will be its kinetic energy when the dipole returns back to its
initial stable equilibrium condition?

iv. if angel θ is small what will be the motion of the dipole?

v. In some special condition the dipole shall execute SHM. What will be
the time period of SHM?

vi. What will be the motion of the dipole in the above condition if the filed
has been non-uniform?