Very Short Answer Questions (PYQ)

Q. 1. Sketch the electric field lines for two point charges q1 and q2 for q1 = q2 and
q1 > q2 separated by a distance d. [CBSE Chennai 2015]
Ans. When the charges are equal, the neutral point N lies at the centre of the line
joining the charges. However, when the charges are unequal, the point N is closer to
the smaller charge.

Q. 2. A positive point charge +q is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conducting

plate. Sketch electric field lines originating from the point on the surface of the
plate.
[CBSE (AI) 2009]
Ans.

Q. 3. Why do the electrostatic field lines not form closed loops?

[CBSE (AI) 2014, Allahabad 2015]
Ans. Electric field lines start from positive charge and terminate at negative charge. If
there is a single positive charge, the field lines start from the charge and terminate at
infinity. So, the electric field lines do not form closed loops.
Q. 4. Does the charge given to a metallic sphere depend on whether it is hollow or
solid? Give reason for your answer. [CBSE Delhi 2017]
Ans. No, Reason: This is because the charge resides only on the surface of the
conductor.
Q. 5. Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B of identical size have
charges qA and –3qA respectively. When they are brought in contact with each
other and then separated, what are the new charges on them? [CBSE (F) 2011]

Ans.
Q. 6. Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B of identical size have
charges qA and qB respectively. A third sphere C of the same size but uncharged
is brought in contact with the first and then in contact with the second and finally
removed from both. What are the new charges on A and B? [CBSE (F) 2011]

Ans.
Q. 7. Fig. shows three point charges +2q, – q and +3q. The charges +2q and –q
are enclosed within a surface ‘S’. What is the electric flux due to this
configuration through the surface ‘S’? [CBSE Delhi 2010]

Ans. Electric flux = (Net charge enclosed within the surface)

Q. 8. What is the electric flux through a cube of side 1 cm which encloses an

electric dipole? [CBSE Delhi 2015]
Ans. Net electric flux is zero.
Reason: (i) Independent to the shape and size.
(ii) Net charge of the electric dipole is zero.
Q. 9. Two charges of magnitudes – 2Q and + Q are located at points (a, 0) and (4a,
0) respectively. What is the electric flux due to these charges through a sphere of
radius ‘3a’ with its centre at the origin? [CBSE (AI) 2013]
Ans.

Electric flux, ϕ =
Concept: Imagine a sphere of radius 3a about the origin and observe that only charge
–2Q is inside the sphere.
Q. 10. How does the electric flux due to a point charge enclosed by a spherical
Gaussian surface get affected when its radius is increased? [CBSE Delhi 2016]

Ans. Electric flux through a Gaussian surface, enclosing the charge q is φE =

This is independent of radius of Gaussian surface, so if radius is increased, the electric
flux through the surface will remain unchanged.
Q. 11. A charge Q µC is placed at the centre of a cube. What would be the flux
through one face? [CBSE (F) 2010, (AI) 2012]

Ans. Electric flux through whole cube = Electric flux through one face =

Q. 12. A charge q is placed at the centre of a cube of side l. What is the electric
flux passing through two opposite faces of the cube? [CBSE (AI) 2012]
Ans. By symmetry, the flux through each of the six faces of the cube will be same when
charge q is placed at its centre.

Thus, electric flux passing through two opposite faces of the cube =
Q. 13. What orientation of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field
corresponds to its (i) stable and (ii) unstable equilibrium? [CBSE Delhi
2010][HOTS]
Ans. (i) In stable equilibrium the dipole moment is parallel to the direction of electric
field (i.e., θ = 0).
(ii) In unstable equilibrium PE is maximum, so θ = π, i.e., dipole moment is antiparallel
to electric field.

(OIQ)
Q. 1. Is the force acting between two point charges q1 and q2 kept at some
distance apart in air attractive or repulsive when (i) q1q2>0 (ii) q1q2<0?
Ans. (i) Repulsive
(ii) Attractive.
Q. 2. What is the nature of electrostatic force between two point electric charges
q1 and q2 if
(a) q1 + q2 > 0?
(b) q1 + q2 < 0?
Ans. (a) If both q1 and q2 are positive, the electrostatic force between these will be
repulsive.
However, if one of these charges is positive and is greater than the other negative
charge, the electrostatic force between them will be attractive.
Thus, the nature of force between them can be repulsive or attractive.
(b) If both q1 and q2 are –ve, the force between these will be repulsive.
However, if one of them is –ve and it is greater in magnitude than the second+ve
charge, the force between them will be attractive.
Thus, the nature of force between them can be repulsive or attractive.
Q. 3. Define electric field strength. Is it a vector or a scalar quantity?
Ans. The electric field strength at a point in an electric field is defined as the
electrostatic force acting on a unit positive charge when placed at that point and its
direction is along the direction of electrostatic force.
Electric field strength is a vector quantity.

Q. 4. Figure shows a point charge + Q, located at a distance from the centre of

a spherical metal shell. Draw the electric field lines for the given system.
[CBSE Sample Paper 2016]
Ans.

Q. 5. Sketch the electric field lines for a uniformly charged hollow cylinder shown
in figure. [NCERT Exemplar][HOTS]

Ans.
Q. 6. What is the angle between the directions of electric field at any
(i) Axial point and
(ii) Equatorial point due to an electric dipole?

Ans. The directions of electric field at axial point P1 and electric field at

equatorial point P2 are shown in fig. Obviously, angle between and is 180°
Q. 7. A metallic sphere is placed in a uniform electric field. Which one of paths a,
b, c and d shown in the figure will be followed by the field lines and why?
Ans.
Path (d) is followed by electric field line. Reason: There are no electric field lines within
a metallic sphere and field lines are normal at each point of the surface.
Q. 8. The dimensions of an atom are of the order of an Angstrom. Thus there
must be large electric fields between the protons and electrons. Why, then is the
electrostatic field inside a conductor zero? [NCERT Exemplar]
Ans. The electric fields bind the atoms to neutral entity. Fields are caused by excess
charges. There can be no excess charge on the inner surface of an isolated conductor.
So, the electrostatic field inside a conductor is zero.
Q. 9. An electric dipole of dipole moment 20 × 10–6 C is enclosed by closed
surface. What is the net electric flux coming out of this surface?
Ans. Zero.
Reason: Net charge enclosed by surface = Net charge on dipole = q – q = 0

∴ Total electric flux = net charge enclosed = 0

Q. 10. The distance of the field point, on the equatorial plane of a small electric
dipole is halved. By what factor does the electric field due to the dipole change?

Ans. For small dipole,

When r is halved, the electric field strength become 8-times of the original field.
Q. 11. The distance of the field point on the axis of a small dipole is doubled. By
what factor will the electric field, due to the dipole change?

Ans. For a small dipole,

When the distance r is doubled, the electric field strength becomes 1/8 times the original
field.
Q. 12. An arbitrary surface encloses a dipole. What is the electric flux through this
surface? [NCERT Exemplar]
Ans. Net charge on a dipole = – q + q = 0. According to Gauss’s theorem, electric flux
through the surface,

Q. 13. Answer the following questions.

(i) Write SI unit of electric field intensity
(ii) Write SI unit of electric dipole moment.
Ans. (i) SI unit of electric field intensity is newton/coulomb (NC–1).
(ii) SI unit of electric dipole moment is coulomb × metre (C m).