CHAPTER 12

ELECTROSTATICS
MCQs
1. The study of charges at rest under the action of electric forces is called:
(a) Electromagnetics (b) Electrostatics (c) Electricity (d) None of these
2. Which one is sure test for the presence of charges on a body?
(a) Attraction (b) Repulsion (c) Both a and b (d) None of these
3. Coulomb’s force:
(a) Obeys inverse square law (b) Depends on magnitudes of charges
(c) Depends on medium between charges (d) All of these
4. If the magnitude of both charges is doubled and distance between them is halved then electric force
becomes?
(a) 4 times (b) 8 times (c) 16 times (d) 2 times
5. Two point charges placed at a certain distance r in air exert a force F on each other. Then the new
distance at which these charges will experience the same force in a medium of dielectric constant ‘k’ is:
r r
(a) r (b) (c) (d) r k
k k
6. The figure shows three point charges, if the net electric force on the central charge is zero, what is the
value a/b:

2 2 3 3
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3 3 2 2
7. Two point charges exert a force of 20 N when a dielectric of dielectric constant “2” is present between
them. If the dielectric is removed keeping all the other parameters same, what is the force now?
(a) 40 N (b) 20 N (c) 10 N (d) 5 N
8. Two positive charges q1  16 C and q2  4 C are separated by a distance of 3 m. The distance of
zero field spot from smaller charge is:
(a) 1 m (b) 2 m (c) 3 m (d) 4 m
9. The zero field spot in case of two unequal and opposite charge exist:
(a) Between the charges at mid-point (b) Between the charges but closer to smaller charges
(c) Both a and b (d) None of these
10. In photocopier the drum is given __________ charge and toner is given __________ charge:
(a) Positive, Negative (b) Positive, Positive
(c) Negative, Positive (d) Negative, Positive
11. Electric flux passing through a surface area will be half of maximum value when:
(a) A makes 60 with E (b) A makes 30 with E
(c) A makes 45 with E (d) A makes 0 with E
12. Electric field strength between two similar and equally charged Parallel plates is:
  2
(a) 2  (b)   (c)   (d) Zero
13. A dipole is present at the centre of a hollow sphere, the electric flux through the sphere will be:
2q q 
(a)   (b)   (c)   (d) Zero
14. The work done in carrying a unit positive charge from one point to other in electric field keeping the
charge in equilibrium is called:
(a) Electric potential energy (b) Electric potential difference
 (c) Electric field strength (d) None of these
15. The negative of Potential Gradient is called ___________:
(a) Electric Potential (b) Electric intensity (c) Electric Energy (d) None of these
16. If potential difference between two oppositely charged plates is doubled and distance between them is
halved then electric field is:
(a) Doubled (b) Halved
(c) Increased by 3 times (d) Increased by 4 times
17. If a charge of 5 C is moved against an electric field of 10 NC 1 through a distance of 5 m, the P.E gained
by charge is:
(a) 25J (b) 200J (c) 2J (d) 250J
18. The graph which correctly describes the relation between electric potential “V” at a point due to point
charge and distance “r” from point charge is:

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
19. A particle carrying a charge of 10e falls through a potential differences of 5V, the energy gained by it is:
(a) 50 eV (b) 5 eV (c) 3.2 1018 J (d) Both A and C
20. Which one is true about electric and gravitational force?
(a) Both obeys inverse square law (b) Both are attractive forces
(c) Both are conservative force (d) Both a and c
21. In Millikan’s method charge particle is suspended when (FD=drag force, Fe=electric force, Fg=gravitational
force):
(a) FD = Fg (b) Fe = FD (c) Fe = Fg (d) Both a and b
22. Which of following cannot be a possible charge of a droplet in Millikan’s experiment:
19
(a) 8.0 1019 C (b) 5.6 1019 C (c) 9.6 1019 C (d) 4.8 10 C
23. The capacitance of capacitor does not depend on:
(a) Area of plates (b) Distance between plates
(c) Geometry of plates (d) Thickness of plates
24. A capacitor has a capacitance of 10 F when there is a dielectric constant 2 between its plates. If the
dielectric is removed then capacitance becomes:
(a) 20  F (b) 5  F (c) 10  F (d) 40  F
25. The potential difference between capacitor plates is 10 V when these is a dielectric slab with  r  2
between its plates. If slab is removed now potential difference is:
(a) 20 V (b) 5 V (c) 10 V (d) 40 V
26. Because of electric polarization of dielectric:
(a) Surface charges density decreases (b) Electric Intensity decreases
(c) Potential difference decrease (d) All of these
27. A 10 F capacitor is charged to a potential difference of 50 V and is connected to another uncharged
capacitor in parallel. Now the common potential difference becomes 20 V. The capacitance of second
capacitor is:
(a) 20  F (b) 10  F (c) 30  F (d) 15  F
28. How the capacitors of 2  F capacitance each are connected to have an equivalent capacitance of 3  F
?
(a) All in series (b) All in parallel
(c) Two in series and one in parallel (d) Two in parallel and one is series
29. The effective capacitance between A & B in given circuit is:

3C
(a) C (b) 2C (c) 3C (d)
2
30. Which one is not the expression of energy stored in a capacitor?
1 1 1 Q2 1
(a) CV 2 (b) QV (c) (d) E 2 o r
2 2 2 C 2
31. A capacitor stores __________ energy in its _________ field.
(a) Gravitational Potential, Gravitational (b) Electric Potential, Electric
(c) Magnetic Potential, Magnetic (d) None of these
32. If the electric field strength is doubled, the energy stored in capacitor becomes:
(a) Double (b) Half (c) Remains same (d) Four times
33. If a dielectric slab of dielectric constant  r is placed between plates of a charged capacitor, the energy
stored:
(a) Decreases (b) Increases (c) Remains same (d) None of these
34. In the charging circuit of a capacitor if the value of capacitance is increased, then capacitor charges:
(a) Slowly (b) Rapidly (c) At same speed (d) None of these
t
35. “ ”has the dimensions same as that of:
RC
(a) Time (b) Strain (c) Frequency (d) Capacitance
36. Capacitance of a capacitor is increased by decreasing:
(a) Area of plates (b) Medium
(c) Distance between plates (d) None of these
37. Two metallic spheres of radius 2cm and 4cm get equal quantity of charge. Which has greater surface
charge density:
(a) 2nd sphere (b) Both have same (c) First sphere (d) None of these
38. As 1 Ohm  1 farad = 1 second. For M  pF  :
(a) Second (b) ms (c)  s (d) Ms
39. Electric potential at a point due to a point charge is:
1 q q 1 1 q
(a) (b) K 2 (c) q (d)
4 0 r r 4 0 4 r r
40. Unit of electric flux is:
1 2 1 2 2 2 1
(a) NmC (b) Nm C (c) Nm C (d) N mC
41. Selenium is a:
(a) Photo conductor (b) Insulator (c) Conductor (d) Semiconductor
42. The apparatus used by Coulomb is:
(a) Cavendish (b) Torsion balance
(c) Physical balance (d) Goldleaf electroscope
43. The number of lines per unit area passing perpendicularly through an area is called:
(a) Flux (b) Electric intensity (c) Both a and b (d) None of these
44. In the direction of electric field intensity, potential:
(a) Decreases (b) Increases (c) Unchanged (d) None
45. In Millikan’s oil drop experiment an oil drop is observed to move vertically upwards. The upward motion
is due to:
(a) Gravity (b) Viscosity (c) Electric field (d) All
46. A point charge is placed at Y in front of an earthed metal sheet X.P and Q are two
points between X and Y as shown in fig. If EP and EQ be electric field at P and Q
which one of the following is correct.
(a) EP  0 (b) EQ  0 (c) EP  EQ (d) EQ  EP
47. E  (10iˆ  7 ˆj )Vm . The electric flux through 1m area in XZ plane is:
1 2

(a) 10Vm (b) 6Vm (c) 100Vm (d) 7Vm

48. In a parallel plate capacitor of plate area A, plates separation d and charge Q, the force of attraction
between plates F is proportional to:
1
(a) C (b) V2 (c) (d) All
d
49. If potential difference between plates of a 750 F capacitor is 330V , energy stored in it is:
(a) 51J (b) 31J (c) 41J (d) 21J
50. A charged oil drop is suspended in a uniform field of 3 10 V / m so that it neither falls nor rises. The
4

charge on the drop will be (mass of charge = 9.9 1015 kg and g  10m / s 2
18 18 18 18
(a) 1.6 10 C (b) 3.2 10 C (c) 3.3 10 C (d) 4.8 10 C
51. A bullet of mass 2 g is having a charge of 2C . Through what potential difference must it be accelerated,
from rest, to acquire a speed of 10m / s ?:
(a) 50KV (b) 5V (c) 50V (d) 5KV
52. In the circuit, V1 and V2 are respectively:

(a) 12V , 18V (b) 18V, 12V (c) 18V, 15V (d) 12V, 30V
53. A sphere of charge “+Q” is fixed in position. A smaller sphere of charge “+q” is placed near the larger
sphere and released from rest. The smaller sphere will move away from larger sphere with __________
velocity and _________ slope of velocity time graph?
(a) Decreasing, Increasing (b) Increasing, Decreasing
(c) Increasing, Increasing (d) Increasing, Constant
19
54. When 10 electrons are removed from a neutral metal plate, the electric charge on it is:
(b) 1.6 (c) 1.6
19 19
(a) 10 (d) 10
55. A and B are two points in an electric field. If the work done in carrying 10 C of charge from A to B is 30 J
then the potential difference between A and B is:
(a) Zero (b) 3V (c) 2V (d) 16V
56. If an alpha particle is accelerated through a potential difference of 20V. It will acquire an energy of:
(a) 50 eV (b) 25 eV (c) 100 eV (d) 40 eV
57. Two point charges +2 coulomb and +6 coulomb repel each other with a force of 12 N. If a charge of −2
coulomb is given to each other of these charges, the force will now be:
(a) Zero (b) 8 N (attractive) (c) 8 N (repulsive) (d) None
58. Two equal and opposite charges, each of magnitude q, are separated by distance d. What is the potential
difference at midpoint between two charges?
kq 2kq 4kq
(a) Zero (b) (c) (d)
2d d d
59. A proton is moved towards a positron. The P.E of the system:
(a) Remain same (b) Increases
(c) Decreases (d) First decreases and then increases
60. The potentials of the two plates of a capacitor are +20V and −20V. The charge on one of the plates is
20C. The capacitance of the capacitor is:
(a) 0.5F (b) 2F (c) 1F (d) 4F
SHORT QUESTIONS
1. Define electric intensity. Show that electric intensity is inversely proportional to square of distance r.
2. Write any three properties of electric field lines.
3. What is electric flux. Explain.
4. State and prove Gauss’s law.
V
5. Show that E  
r
6.  
If E  5iˆ  3 ˆj Calculate flux through a loop of area 5 cm2 placed in YZ plane.
7. Two opposite point charges, each of magnitude q are separated by a distance 2d. What is the electric
potential at a point P mid-way between them?
8. Define electron volt.
9. How a capacitor is charged?
10. How capacitance of a capacitor increases when a dielectric is placed between its plates?
11. Define time constant of a capacitor.
12. As time constant t=RC. Verify that as ohm times farad is equivalent to second.
13. How can you identify that which plate of a capacitor is positively charged?
14. Describe the force or forces on a positive point charge when placed between parallel plates
(a) with similar and equal charges (b) with opposite and equal charges
15. Electric lines of force never cross. Why?
16. If a point charge q of mass m is released in a non-uniform electric field with field lines pointing in the
same direction, will it make a rectilinear motion?
17. Do electrons tend to go to region of high potential or of low potential?
18. Explain charging of neutral object by electrostatic induction.
19. Calculate No. of electrons in 2C charge.
20. If q1  16.0 C and q2  4.0 C are separated by a distance of 3.0. Calculate distance of zero field
point from q1 .
21. Write dimensions of electric intensity.
22. How energy is stored in capacitor? Explain.
23. If energy stored in a capacitor is U. Now a dielectric K is placed between plates with battery
connected, calculate new energy stored.
LONG QUESTIONS
1. State and explain Coulomb’s law.
2. Calculate electric flux through a surface enclosing a charge.
3. Calculate electric intensity due to an infinite sheet of charge.
4. Calculate electric potential at a point due to a point charge.
5. Determine capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor. What will be effect of dielectric on capacitance.
PROBLEMS
1. A point charge q = - 8.0 x 10-8 C is placed at the origin. Calculate electric filed at a point 2.0 m from
the origin on the z-axis.
2. Find the electric field strength required to hold suspended a particle of mass 1.0 x 10 -6 kg and
charge 1.0 μc between two plates 10.0 cm apart.
3. A particle having a charge of 20 electrons on it falls through a potential difference of 100 volts.
Calculate the energy acquired by it in electron volts (eV).
4. A proton placed in a uniform electric field of 5000 NC-1 directed to right is allowed to go a distance
of 10.0 cm from A to B. Calculate
(a) Potential difference between the two points
(b) Work done by the field
(c) The change in P.E. of proton
(d) The change in K.E. of the proton
(e) Its velocity (mass of proton is 1.67 x 10-27 kg)
5. Using zero reference point at infinity, determine the amount by which a point charge of 4.0 x 10 -8 C
alters the electric potential at a point 1.2 m away, when
(a) Charge is positive (b) Charge is negative
6. The electric flash attachment for a camera contains a capacitor for storing the energy used to
produce the flash. In one such unit, the potential difference between the plates of a 750 μF
capacitor is 330 V. Determine the energy that is used to produce the flash.
7. A capacitor has a capacitance of 2.5 x 10-8 F. in the charging process, electrons are removed from
one plate and placed on the other one. When the potential difference between the plates is 450 V,
how many electrons have been transferred?
(e = 1.60 x 10-19 C)
8. If q1  1.0 C and q2  4.0 C are separated by a distance of 3.0. Find and justify zero field
location.