PHYSICS

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
DEFINITIONS and LAWS
1.Define charge and give its properties.
2.Define electric field.Is it scalar or a vector?Give it’s unit.
3.Define electric flux.Is it a scalar or a vector ?Write it’s formula and unit.
4.Define electric dipole.
5.Define electric dipole moment.Is it a scalar or a vector.Give it’s unit.
6. Define electric field intensity. Write its SI unit.Is it a scalar or vector.
7.State quantization of charge.
8.State coulomb’s law. Write the expression for coulomb’s law in vector form.
9. State Gauss's Law in Electrostatics.
DERIVATIONS
1.Find the net force acting on a charge placed in the vicinity of n charges.
2.Find the net electric field due to a system of charges at a point P.
3. An electric dipole is held in a uniform electric field.Show that the net force acting on it is zero and hence derive the
expression for the torque acting on the electric dipole.What is the condition for stable and unstable equilibrium?
4.Prove gauss law using coulomb’s law.
5.Use Gauss' law to derive the expression for the electric field (E) due to a straight uniformly charged infinite line of
charge density λ (C/m).Plot the variation of E with r.
6.(a)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. (b) How is the field directed if (i) the sheet is positively charged, (ii) negatively
charged?
7.Derive an expression for the electric field intensity at a point on the (a)axial point (b) equatorial line of an electric
dipole of dipole moment p and dipole length 2a. What is the direction of this field?
8.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. Draw a graph showing the variation of electric field with r, for r>R and r<R.
9.Use Gauss’s law to derive the expression for the electric field between two charged parallel sheets with surface
charge densities +σ and –σ.
DIAGRAMS
1.Plot the variation of electric field with distance for an electric dipole.
2.Plot the variation of coulomb’s force Vs r for (i)two positive charges (ii) two negative charges (iii) a negative and
positive charge.
3. Plot the variation of coulomb’s force Vs 1/r2 for (i)two positive charges (ii) two negative charges (iii) a negative and
positive charge.
4.Depict the electric field lines for (i)an isolated positive charge (Q > 0) (ii)isolated negative charge (Q < 0) (iii)an electric
dipole (iv)two like charges.
5. A positive point charge +q is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conducting plate. Sketch electric field line originating
from the point on the surface of the plate.
6. If the dipole were kept in a uniform external electric field E0, diagrammatically represent the position of the dipole in
stable and unstable equilibrium and write the expressions for the torque acting on the dipole in both the cases.

NUMERICALS
1.Two concentric spherical shells of radii R and 2R are given charges Q1 and Q2 respectively.The surface charge
densities on the outer surfaces are equal.Determine the ratio Q 1 : Q2 .
2.A point charge situated at a distance r from a short electric dipole on its axis experiences a force F.If the distance of
the charge is 2r,then what will the force on the charge be?
3.Two identical electric dipoles are placed along the diagonals of a square ABCD of side √2 m.Obtain the magnitude
and direction of net electric field at the centre of the square.

4.The distance of a far off point on the equatorial plane of an electric dipole is halved.How will the electric field be
affected for the dipole?
5.Given a uniform electric field ⃗E=2×103 î N/C. Find the flux of this field through a square of side 20 cm, whose plane is
parallel to the y-z plane. What would be the flux through the same square, if the plane makes an angle of 300 with the
x-axis?
6. Two-point charges +4μC and +1μC are separated by a distance of 2m in air. Find the point on the line-joining charges
at which the net electric field of the system is zero.
7. Two point charges qA =3μC and qB = −3μC are located 20 cm apart in vacuum
(a) What is the electric field at the midpoint O of the line AB joining the two charges?
(b) If a negative test charge of magnitude 1.5×10-9 C is placed at this point, what is the force experienced by the test
charge?
8. Three point charges q,-4q and 2q are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle ABC of side 'l'. Obtain the
expression for the magnitude of the resultant electric force acting on the charge q.
9. The electric field components in the following figure are Ex =αx, Ey =Ez = 0 ; in which α = 100 N/Cm.Calculate : (i)the
electric flux through the cube (ii)the charge within the cube.Assume that a = 0.1 m
10. Two point charges having equal charges separated by 1m distance experience a force of 8N. What will be the force
experienced by them, if they are held in water, at the same distance? (Given, Kwater=80 )
11. Two charges Q1 and Q2 are placed in vacuum at a distance d and the force acting between them is 5 units. If a
medium of dielectric constant 2 is introduced around them, what will be the net force now?
12. An electric dipole with dipole moment 4×10-9 C m is aligned at 300 with the direction of a uniform electric field of
magnitude 5×104 NC-1. Calculate the magnitude of the torque acting on the dipole.
13.In a region, the intensity of an electric field is given by ⃗E=2î+3ĵ+k̂ in NC-1. Then what will be the electric flux through
a surface ⃗S=10î m2 in the region?
14. A right circular cylinder of length ′a′ and radius ′r′ has its centre at the origin and its axis along the x-axis so that one
face is at x=+a/2 and the other at x=−a/2, as shown in the figure. A uniform electric field is acting parallel to the x-
axis such that E=E0 î for x>0 and E=−E0 î for x > 0.Find out the flux (i) through the flat faces, (ii) through the curved
surface of the cylinder. What is the net outward flux through the cylinder and the net charge inside the cylinder?

15.(a)How many electrons are present in 1 coulomb of charge?

(b)Is the force acting between two point electric charges q1 and q2 kept at some distance in the air,attractive or
repulsive when (a)q1,q2 > 0 (b) q1,q2 < 0
16.Given the electric field in the region ⃗E = 2x î, find the net electric flux through the cube and the charge enclosed by it.
THEORY BASED AND JUSTIFICATION QUESTIONS
1.Draw a relevant diagram of gold leaf electroscope experiment and explain the purpose of it.
2.A glass rod is rubbed with silk,identify the polarity of charge in glass rod and silk.
3. A plastic rod is rubbed with silk,identify the polarity of charge in glass rod and silk.
4.Differentiate between the behaviour of conductor and an insulator.
5.Differentiate between coulomb’s force and gravitational force.
6.Explain the process of charging by conduction
7.Write the significance of electric field.
8.List the properties of electric field lines.
9.Why to electric field lines never intersect each other?
10.Why are electric field lines continuous curves?
11.What is the physical significance of an electric dipole?
12. "Gauss's law in electrostatics is true for any closed surface, no matter what its shape or size is." Justify this
statement with the help of a suitable example.
13. Why do electrostatic field lines not form closed loops.
14. A spherical rubber balloon carries some charge distributed uniformly over its surface. The balloon is blown up to
increase in its size. How does the total electric flux coming out of the surface change?
15. (a) An electric dipole is kept first to the left and then to the right of a negatively charged infinite plane sheet having a
uniform surface charge density. The arrows p1 and p2 show the directions of its electric dipole moment in the
two cases.

Identify for each case, whether the dipole is in stable or unstable equilibrium. Justify each answer.
(b) Next, the dipole is kept in a similar way (as shown), near an infinitely long straight wire having uniform negative
linear charge density

Will the dipole be in equilibrium at these two positions? Justify your answer.
16. How does Coulomb force between two points charges depend upon the dielectric constant of the intervening
medium?
17. Does the charge given to a metallic sphere depend on whether it is hollow or solid? Give reason for your answer.
18. What is the unit of permittivity?
19. The given 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 at which point will the electric field be
greater ?
THEORY BASED AND JUSTIFICATION QUESTIONS
1.A type of electroscope that consists of two gold leaves and is used for detecting the electrical charge
of the body and for the classification of its polarity is known as gold leaf electroscope.For the
detection of charge, the object that needs to be tested is touched with the metal cap. If the leaves
diverge, the body is said to be charged, and if there is no change in the leaves of the electroscope,
then the body is uncharged.
To test the polarity of unknown object :
A positively charged body is brought near the metal cap. Then an unknown body is brought
near the metal cap. If the leaves diverge further, we can conclude that the unknown body has a
positive charge. If the leaves come closer to each other, then the charge of the unknown body is
negative.

2.The glass rod losses electron and becomes positive charge.The silk gains electron and becomes
negatively charged.
3.The plastic rod losses electron and become positive charge.The silk gains electron and becomes
negatively charged.
4.Conductors : Has a lot of free electrons.They allow the passage of electricity through them.
Insulators : Has no free charges.They resist the passage of electricity through them.
5.
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE COULOMB’S FORCE
It is always attractive It can be attractive or repulsive
It does not depend upon the medium It depend upon the medium
It is weaker than Coulomb’s force It is stronger than coulomb’s force.

6.When a charged object is brought in contact with a neutral object,charge is shared between the two
objects and the uncharged object gets charged.
7. The accelerated motion of q1 gives rise to electromagnetic waves. These waves travel at a speed of
light and reach the charge q2 and causes a force on it. This accounts for the time delay in the force
experienced by q2 excerted by q1.
8.Properties of electric field lines :
 For an isolated positive charge,field is in the radially outward direction.
 For an isolated negative charge,field is in the radially inward direction.
 Two electric field lines never intersect each other.
 The tangent drawn at a point,gives the direction of electric field at that point.
 They do not form closed loops.
 They are continuous curves without breaks.
9.If two electric field lines intersect each other, then at the point of intersection, there will be two
tangents giving rise to two different directions of electric field.This is physically impossible.
10. An electrostatic field line is a continuous curve because a charge experiences a continuous force
when placed in an electrostatic field. The field line cannot have sudden breaks because the charge
moves continuously and does not jump fom one point to another.
11.Polar molecules possess permanent dipole moment and can give rise to interesting properties and
applications in the presence and absence of electric field.
12.Gauss law depends only on the charge enclosed and doesn’t depend on position of charge inside
the closed surface.It is because electric field is always inversely propotional to square of the
distance.
13. For forming a closed loop,electric field lines should start and end at the same point which means
positive and negative charges should exist at the same point.Both positive and negative charges
cannot exist at the same point, so electric field lines cannot form closed loops.
14.When the balloon is blown up,the size increases but the electric flux is independent of the
size.Hence the electric flux remains unchanged.
15.(a)In case 1: θ = 0 and hence the system is in stable equilibrium.
In case 2 : θ = 180 and hence the system is in unstable equilibrium.

(b)The electric field due to an infinitely long wire is inversely proportional to r.Hence it is a non uniform
field.When an electric dipole is placed in this field,it will experience a net force.
Hence in both the cases,the system is in unstable equilibrium.
16.Coulomb’s force decreases when a dielectric is placed between them.
𝐹𝑣𝑎𝑐
Fmed = 𝑘

17.No,because the charges will reside only on the surface of a metallic conductor.
18.N-1 m-2C 2
19.EA >EB
 CHAPTER 2
ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
DEFINITIONS and LAWS
1.Define Electrostatic potential.Is it a scalar or vector?Give its unit.
2.Define electrostatic potential energy.Give its unit.
3.Define Equipotential surface.
4.Define Capacitance.On what factors does it depend.
5.Define polarization of dielectric.
DERIVATIONS
1.Derive the expression for electric potential at a point P at a distance r from a point charge.
2.Derive the expression for electric potential at any point along the axial line of an electric dipole.What is the potential at
a point on the equatorial line?
3.Derive the expression for the potential energy of an electric dipole of dipole moment p in an uniform electric field
4.Derive the expression for capacitance of an air filled parallel plate capacitor.
5.Derive the expression for capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor filled with a dielectric material of dielectric constant
(a)partially filled (b)Completely filled.
6. Derive the expression for capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor filled with a conducting slab (a)partially filled
(b)Completely filled.
7.Derive the expression for capacitance of a combination of parallel plate capacitors connected in series and parallel.
DIAGRAMS
1.Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an electric dipole.Locate the points where the potential due to the dipole is
zero.
2.Plot a graph comparing the variation of potential V and electric field E due to a point charge q as a function of distance
r from the point charge.
3.Draw an equipotential surface in a uniform electric field.
4.Two charges 3 µC and -3 µC are placed at points A and B 2cm apart.Depict an equipotential surface of the system.
5.Draw equipotential surfaces :
(i)In case of a single point charge.
(ii)In a constant electric field in Z-direction.
(iii)In case of like charges.

NUMERICALS
1.Two charges 3 × 10-8 C and –2 × 10-8 C are located 15 cm apart. At what point on the line joining the two charges is
the electric potential zero? Take the potential at infinity to be zero.
2. Figures 2.8 (a) and (b) show the field lines of a positive and negative point charge respectively.

(a) Give the signs of the potential difference VP – VQ ; VB – VA .

(b) Give the sign of the potential energy difference of a small negative charge between the points Q and P; A and B.
(c) Give the sign of the work done by the field in moving a small positive charge from Q to P.
(d) Give the sign of the work done by the external agency in moving a small negative charge from B to A.
(e) Does the kinetic energy of a small negative charge increase or decrease in going from B to A?
3. A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area as the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor but has a
thickness (3/4)d, where d is the separation of the plates. How is the capacitance changed when the slab is inserted
 between the plates?
4. A parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates has a capacitance of 8 pF (1pF = 10 -12 F). What will be the
capacitance if the distance between the plates is reduced by half, and the space between them is filled with a
substance of dielectric constant 6?
5. In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 6 × 10-3 m2 and the distance
between the plates is 3 mm. Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor. If this capacitor is connected to a 100 V
supply, what is the charge on each plate of the capacitor?
6. Explain what would happen if in the capacitor given in previous question, a 3 mm thick mica sheet (of dielectric
constant = 6) were inserted between the plates, (a) while the voltage supply remained connected. (b) after the
supply was disconnected.
7. A 600pF capacitor is charged by a 200V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected to another
uncharged 600 pF capacitor. How much electrostatic energy is lost in the process?

THEORY BASED AND JUSTIFICATION QUESTIONS

1.Why is the potential inside a hollow spherical charged conductor constant and has the same value as on its surface?
2.A point charge is placed at a point as shown in the figure. Is the potential difference V A-VB positive, negative or zero?

3. “For any charge configuration, equipotential surface through a point is normal to the electric field.” Justify this
statement.
4. No work done in moving a charge from one point to another on an equipotential surface. Why?
5. Why do the equipotential surfaces due to uniform electric field not intersect each other?
6.Why the equipotential surfaces about a single charge are not equidistant?
7.Give the properties of equipotential surface.
8.The graph shows the variation of voltage V across the plates of two capacitors A and B versus increase of charge Q
stored on them.
a. Which of the capacitors has higher capacitance?
b. Give reason for your answer.

9.Distinguish with the help of a suitable diagram, the difference in the behaviour of a conductor
and a dielectric placed in
an external electric field. How does polarized dielectric modify the original external filed?
(Or)
Distinguish with the help of a suitable diagram, the difference in the behaviour of a conductor and a dielectric placed in
an external electric field. How does polarized dielectric modify the original external filed ?
10.Give the difference between polar and nonpolar dielectric materials.
11.Give the difference between electric potential and electric potential energy.
12.Is the potential in the cavity of a charged conductor zero?Justify.
13. Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface ? Give reason.
14. What is the amount of work done in moving a point charge around a circular arc of radius at the centre of which
another point charge is located ?
15. How will the (i) energy stored and (ii) the electric field inside the air capacitor be affected when it is completely filled
with a dielectric material of dielectric constant K ?
16. Why does the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor increase on introduction of a dielectric in between its plates ?
 CHAPTER 2
ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

ANSWER
DEFINITION :

1.Electric potential at a point is the amount of workdone in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point
against the electrostatic forces.It is a scalar quantity.Its unit is volt [V].
2.Potential energy of system of charges is defined as the amount of workdone in assembling the charges in their
positions by bringing them from infinity.Its unit is joules (J).
3.Any surface that has same electric potential at every point on its surface is called equipotential surface.
4. Capacitance of a capacitor may be defined as the ratio of magnitude of charge on its either plate to the potential
difference between them.S.I unit is farad.
The factors on which capacitance depend :
(i)Shape (ii)Size (iii)Medium between the plates
5.When a dielectric is placed in external electric field a net dipole moment is induced in the dielectric.This effect is
known as polarisation.

DIAGRAMS :
1.

The potential at any point on the equatorial plane is zero.

2.

3.
4.

5.(i)

(ii)

(iii)
THEORY BASED / JUSTIFICATION QUESTIONS :
1.The electric inside the hollow conductor is zero.
𝑑𝑉
E = 𝑑𝑟 = 0 .Hence V is constant.
1
2.VA >VB as V 𝛼 𝑟 .

Hence VA – VB is positive.
3.For an equipotential surface ,V1 = V2.
We know that the workdone is,W = q (V1 – V2)
Hence W = 0
Fs Cos θ = 0
Cos θ = 0
θ =900
4. For an equipotential surface ,V1 = V2.
We know that the workdone is,W = q (V1 – V2)
Hence W = 0
5. Because if they do so then at the point of intersection there will be two values of the electric potential, which is not
Possible
𝑑𝑉
6. E =
𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝑉
The distance between the equipotential surface, dr = 𝐸

We know that as the distance increases E will decrease.

From the above equation it is clear that E and dr are inversely propotional.Hence dr will increase with decrease in
E.So the surfaces are not equidistant.
7.(i) No work is done in moving a test charge over an equipotential surface.
(ii) Electric field is always normal to the equipotential surface.
(iii) No two equipotential surfaces intersect each other.
𝑄 1
8.Capacitance = 𝑉 =
slope
1
The capacitor with greater value will have higher capacitance.
slope

Slope of A > Slope of B.

1 1
of B > of A
slope slope

Hence CB > CA
9. In a conductor, in the presence of external electric field the free charge carriers move and charge distribution in the
conductor adjusts itself in such a way that the net electric field within the conductor becomes zero. i,e, E = 0.
In a dielectric, external electric field induces net dipole moment by re-orienting molecules. The electric field due to this
induced dipole moment opposes the external field but does not exactly cancel it. As a result net electric field is
reduced.
E0
E=
K

10. Polar molecules have a net dipole moment.Eg : water

Non-polar molecules do not have a net dipole moment Eg : CO2
11.

12. Potential inside the cavity is not zero. It is constant

13. No, if the field lines are tangential, work will be done in moving a charge on the surface which goes agains the
definition of equipotential surface.
14.The work done is moving a charge along any circular path is zero.
15.Both decreases.
 Uo
(i) U =
K
Eo
(ii) E =
K

16.Electric field between the plates decreases.So potential also decreases.

1
C𝛼 .If V decreases,then C will increase.
V