SOLVED PROBLEMS (OBJECTIVE)

1. Two equal point charges are fixed at x = - a and x = + a on the x-axis. Another point charge Q is
placed at the origin. The change in the electrical potential energy of Q, when it is displaced by a small
distance x along the x-axis, is approximately proportional to :
(a) x (b) x2
3
(c) x (d) 1/x.

Ans. (b)
2kQ
Solution : Ui = q a a
a
q Q q
kqQ kqQ (a-x)
Uf =  a+x
ax ax
q Q q
2kqQa
= 2
a  x2

 a  1
Uf – Ui = 2kqQ  2 2 2 
 
 a (1  x / a )  a 

2kqQ  x 2  
U   1    1
a  a 2  

2kqQ  x 2 
   U
=
a  a 2   x2 .


Q
2. Three charges Q, +q and +q are placed at the vertices of a right
angled isosceles triangle as shown in the figure. The net electro-
static energy of the configuration is zero., if Q is equal to :
q  2q
(a) (b)
1 2 2 2
(c) -2q (d) +q . +q +q
Ans. (b) a
Solution : Net electrostatic energy
kQq kQq kqq
U  
a 2a a
Qq Qq qq
For U = 0; a   =0
2a a

1 1   q 2
 Qq  a  
 2 a  a
  2 1  q

Q 

  a
 2 a 

 2 

Q = -q 
 
 2  1

 2 
= -q  

2 2 

3. Two point charges +q and –q are held fixed at (-d, 0) and (d, 0) respectively of a (X, Y) coordinate
system. Then

(a) The
 electric field E at all points on the X-axis has the same direction.
(b) E at all points on the Y-axis is along iˆ .
(c) Work has to be done in bringing a test charge from infinity to the origin.
(d) The dipole moment is 2qd directed along iˆ .
Ans. (b)
Solution : The diagrammatic representation of the given problem is shown in fig.

 E
The electrical field E at all points on the X-axis will not have the
same direction. E  E î
 E
The electrical field E at all points on the Y-axis will be parallel to
the X-axis (i.e. iˆ direction).
The electric potential at the origin due to both the charge is zero,
hence, no work is done in bringing a test charge from infinity to the
+q -q
origin. (-d, 0) O (d, 0)
X
Dipole moment is directed from the –q charge to the +q charge
(i.e. –x direction).

4. A charge +q is fixed at each of the points x = x0, x = 3x0, x = 5x0, … inf. on the x-axis and a charge
–q is fixed at each of the points x = 2x0, x = 4x0, x = 6x0, …. inf. Here x0 is a positive constant. Take
the electric potential at a point due to a charge Q at a distance r from it to be Q/ 4πε 0 r  . Then, the
potential at the origin due to the above system of charges is :
q
(a) 0 (b) 8πε 0 x 0 In 2

q In 2
(c)  (d) 4πε 0 x 0 .
Ans. (d)
Solution: Potential at origin
q 1  1 1 1 1 
V= 1      ........
40 x 0  2 3 4 5 

q ln 2
=
40 x 0
5 Two identical thin rings, each of radius R, are coaxially placed a distance R apart. If Q1 and Q2 are
respectively the charges uniformly spread on the two rings, the work done in moving a charge q from
the centre of one ring that of the other is :
2 1
(a) zero (b) q (Q1 – Q2)
2 4 πε 0 R

Q1  Q 2 2 1
(c) q 2 (d) q (Q1/Q2) .
4 πε 0 R 2 4πε 0 R
Ans. (b)
Solution: The potential at A due to the charge on the ring 1 is given as :
Q1 1
VA1 = 4πε . R
0

The potential at A due to the charge Q2 on the ring 2 is given as :

Q2 1
VA2 = 4 . 1 2
Q2
0 R  R2 r
R R
Q2 1 1 Q 1
= 4πε .  . 2 . A R B
0 R2  R2 2 4πε 0 R
Total potential at A is
1  Q 
VA = VA1 + VA2 =  Q1  2 

4πε 0 R  
2
The potential energy of charge q at A is
q  Q 
UA = VAq =  Q1  2 

4πε 0 R  
2
Similarly, the potential energy of charge q at B is
q  Q1 
UB =   Q2 
4πε 0 R  2 
The work done in moving a charge q from point A to B is :
W =  U = – UA + UB

q  Q1 Q 
 .  Q 2  Q1  2 
4 0 R  2 2

q  2 1
 =  Q 2  Q1   
40 R  2 
6. There are points on a straight line jointing two fixed opposite charges. There is :
(a) no point where potential is zero
(b) only one point where potential is zero
(c) no point where electric field is zero
(d) only one point where electric field is zero.
Ans. (b)
Solution:
Let two opposite charges +q and –q be situated at points A and B respectively.
1 q
E1 
4 πε 0 a 2

1 q +q E2 j q
E2  A B
a E1
4πε 0 d  a 2 d
E = E1 + E2
q 1 1 
  2  
4πε 0  a d  a 2 



q d 2  2ad  a 2  a 2 
2
4 πε 0 a 2 d  a 
Hence, there can be more that one point where electric field is zero.
1 q 1  q 
V1 = 4πε a ; V2  4 πε d  a 
0 0

V = V1 + V2
q 1 1  qd  2a 
=    
4πε 0  a d  a  4πε 0 a d  a 
 Potential is zero only at d=2a or a=d/2.

7. A certain charge Q is divided into two parts q and (Q-q). For the maximum coulomb force between
them, the ratio (q/Q) is :
(a) 1/16 (b) 1/8
(c) 1/4 (d) 1/2.
Ans. (d)
Solution:
1 qQ  q 
F
4πε 0 r2

dF
for F to be maximum, dq  0

1 1
. 2 Q  q  q 1  0
4πε 0 r
Q - 2q = 0
q 1
 .
Q 2

8. A charge is situated at a certain distance from an electric dipole in the end-on position experiences a
force F. if the distance of the charge is doubled, the force acting on the charge will be :
(a) F/4 (b) F/8
(c) 2F (d) F/2.
Ans. (b)
1 2p
Solution: E
4 πε 0 r 3

1 1
E  F
r3 r3
Hence, the force will become F/8.
A/2 A/2
9. A parallel plate capacitor of area A, plate separation d and capaci-
tance C is filled with three different dielectric materials having di- k1 k2 d/2
d
electric constants k1, k2 and k3 as shown. If a single dielectric k3
material is to be used to have the same capacitance C in this ca-
A
pacitor, then its dielectric constant k is given by : A = area of plates
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a)    (b)  
k k 1 k 2 2k 3 k k 1  k 2 2k 3

k1k 2
(c) k  k  k  2k 3 (d) k = k1 + k2 + 2k3.
1 2

Ans. (b)
Solution : The given circuit is equivalent to the following circuit

C1 
 A / 2  k10 ; C2 
 A / 2  k 20 ; C3 
 A / 2  k 3 0
 d / 2 d / 2 d / 2
Ak1 0 Ak 2 0 Ak 30
i.e. C1  ; C2  ; C3 
d d d
The capacitors C1 and C2 are in parallel, their resultant is
A0
C12 = C1 + C2 =  k1  k 2 
d
The capacitors C12 and C3 are in series and their resultant is
1 1 1 d d
  
C  C 12 C 3 = A  k1  k 2   0 2Ak 3 0

Ak0 1 1 1
or C  where k  k  k  2k
d 1 2 3

10. Two identical metal plates are given positive charges Q1 and Q2 (<Q1) respectively. If they are now
brought close together to form a parallel plate capacitor with capacitance C, the potential difference
between them is :
Q1  Q 2 Q1  Q 2
(a) (b)
2C C
Q1  Q 2 Q1  Q 2
(c) (d) .
C 2C
Ans. (d)
Solution : Within the capacitor,
 Q1 Q2
E1  ;E2 
2ε 0 A 2ε 0 A

1
E  E1  E 2  Q1  Q 2 
2ε 0 A

1 d Q1  Q 2
Hence, V  Ed  2  A Q1  Q 2   2C .
0

11. A 6 × 10-9 F parallel plate capacitor is connected to a 500 V battery. When air is replaced by another
dielectric material. 7.5 × 10-6 C charge flows into the capacitor. The dielectric constant of the mate-
rial is :
(a) 1.0 (b) 3.5
(c) 2.0 (d) 4.5.
Ans. (b)
Solution: Q = CV
Q1 = 6 x 10-9 × 500
= 3 x 10-6 C
After insertion of dielectric
Q1 = (3+7.5) × 10-6 C
= 10.5 × 10-6 C
Q1= CVK
10.5  106  6  109  500 K
K= 3.5
12. A conducting liquid drop has charge uniformly distributed over the surface. Electrostatic energy of
drop E 0 . Now this drop is broken in 8 small liquid drops such that mass and charge get equally
distributed. What is the change in electrostatic energy of the system is the process. Assume drops to
be widely separated after break up.
3E 0
(a) 0 (b) 
4
E0 3E 0
(c) (d) .
2 4
Ans. (b)
Solution: Let initial charge on drop is Q and final charge on each drop q
1 Q2
Ui   E0
4 0 2R

1 (Q / 8) 2 Q
Uf  8 ( where q  , r  R / 2)
4 0 R / 2 8
E0

4
3E 0
U  U f  U i   .
4
13. Seven capacitors each of capacitance 2F are to be connected in a configuration to obtain an
effective capacitance of (10 / 11)F . Which of the combination(s), shown in figure below, will achieve
the desired result?

(a) (b)

(c) (d) .

Ans. (a)
Solution:
1 1 2 11 10
(a)    or C F
C 5  2 2 10 11
1 1 3 13 8
(b)    or C F
C 42 2 8 13
1 1 4 13 6
(c)    or C F
C 3 2 2 6 13
1 1 5 11 4
(d)    or C F .
C 22 2 4 11

14. A non-conducting ring of radius 0.5 m carries a total charge 1.11 x 10-10C distributed non-uniformly
0
 
on its circumference producing electric field every where in space. The value of integral  E.d 
 

( l  0 being centre of the ring) in volts is :

(a) +2 (b) -1
(c) -2 (d) 0 .
Ans. (c)
Solution : Let centre of ring be O
v0 l= 0
 
 dV  
v

l=
E.dl

0
 
 V0  V    E.d 
 

 0
   1 Q
  E.d    V0   

   4 0 R 
1 Q
( V0  4  R because even if ring being non uniform potential at the centre is due to net charge)
0
 = - 2 Volt

15. A particle of charge q and mass m moves rectilinearly under the action of electric field E = A – Bx,
where B is positive constant and x is distance from the point where particle was initially at rest then
the distance traveled by the particle before coming to rest s and acceleration of particle at that
moment a are respectively :
2A  qA
(a) ,0 (b) 0,
B m
2A  qA  2A  qA
(c) , (d) , .
B m B m
Ans. (c)
Solution : F=qE = q(A – Bx)
ma = q(A-Bx)
q
a (A-Bx) ...(1)
m
vdv
 qA  Bx 
dx
q
vdv  A  Bx dx
m
0 x
q
 vdv   A  Bx  dx
0 m 0

Bx 2
Ax  0
2
2A
x = 0, x = ...(2)
B
From eq. (1) and (2)
q
A  Bx   q  A  B  2A 
m m B 


q
A  2A    qA .
m m

16. A uniform electric field pointing in positive x-direction exists in a region. Let A be the origin, B be the
point on the x-axis at x = +1 cm and C be point on the y-axis at y = + 1 cm. Then the potentials at the
points A, B and C satisfy :
(a) VA < VB (b) VA > VB
(c) VA < VC (d) VA > VC . 1 C
Ans. (b)
Solution: Direction of electric field is in the direction of potential drop E
 VA  VB
B
VA  VC A(0, 0) 1
17. An electron of mass me initially at rest moves through a certain distance in a uniform electric field in
time t1. A proton of mass mp also initially at rest takes time t2 to move through an equal distance in this
t2
uniform electric field. Neglecting the effect of gravity the ratio of t is nearly equal to :
1

1
 mp 2
(a) 1 (b)  

 me 
1
 me  2
(c)  
 (d) 1836.
m
 p
Ans. (b)
Solution : Force on a charge particle in a uniform electric field
F=qE
The acceleration imparted to the particle is
qE
a
m
The distance traveled by the particle in time t is
1 2 1  qE  2
d at    t
2 2 m 
For the given problem
2 2
tp te

mp me
2
tp mp
2

te me

tp mp
 
te me

B
18. The arc AB with the centre C and the infinitely long wire having
+ + + + + +

linear charge density  are lying in the same plane. The minimum C
amount of work to be expended to move a point charge q0 from 2a
a A
point A to B through a circular path AB of radius a is equal to :
q0 2 q0 3
(a) ln (b) ln
20 3 20 2

q0 2 q0
(c) ln (d)
20 3 20 .
Ans. (b)

Solution: E
2 0 x
 VB 2a
 dx
V dV  E dx   20 
3a x
A

  3
 VB  VA  ln  
2 0  2 

q 0 3
work done by agent = 2 In 2 .
0

19. A parallel plate capacitor of plate area A and plate separation d is charged to potential difference V
and then the battery is disconnected. A slab of dielectric constant K is then inserted between the
plates of the capacitor so as to fill the space between the plates. If Q, E and W denote respectively,
the magnitude of charge on each plate, the electric field between the plates (after the slab is inserted)
and work done on the system, in question, in the process of inserting the slab, then :
ε 0 AV ε 0 KAV
(a) Q  (b) Q 
d d

V ε 0 AV 2  1
(c) E  (d) W  1   .
kd 2d  K 
Ans. (a), (c), (d)
K0 A  ε0A 
Solution : New capacitance C   KC  C  c 
d  
Q Q V
Voltage V   
C KC K
V V
Electric field E  
d Kd
Work done
1 1
w  U  CV2  CV 2
2 2

1 V2 2 1 ε 0A V 2 ε 0A 2 

w  U 2  KC  CV     V 
 K2  2 d K d 

ε 0 AV 2  1
w  1  K 
2d  