CPP FIITJEE Electrostatics

Name: __________________________________ Batch: _______________ Subject: Physics

(Problems on Coulombs Law, Electric Field, Potential & Dipole)

Fill in the blanks:

A
1. Figure shows line of constant potential in a region in B
which an electric field is present. The values of the
potential are written in brackets. Of the points A, B and
(50V) C
C, the magnitude of the electric field is greatest at the (40V)
point …… (30V)
(20V)
(10V)

2. Two small balls having equal positive charges Q (coulomb) on each are suspended by two
insulating strings of equal length L (metre) from a hook fixed to a stand. The whole set-up is
taken in a satellite into space where there is no gravity (state of weightlessness). The angle
between the strings is ….. and the tension in each string is …….. newtons.

3. The electric potential V at any point, x, y, z (all in metres) in space is given by V = 4x2 volt.
The electric field at the point (1m, 0.2m) is ………. V/m

Only one option is correct:

4. Two equal negative charges q are fixed at points (0, a) and (0, a) on y-axis. A positive
charge Q is released from rest at the point (2a, 0) on the x-axis. The charge Q will:
(A) execute simple harmonic motion about the origin
(B) move to the origin and remain at rest
(C) move to infinity
(D) execute oscillatory but not simple harmonic motion

5. A charge q is placed at the centre of the line joining two equal charges Q. The system of the
three charges will be in equilibrium if q is equal to:
Q Q Q Q
(A)  (B)  (C)  (D) 
2 4 4 2

6. 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 to that of the other is
(A) zero (B) q  Q1  Q2  2  1 /  24 R  o

(C) q 2  Q1  Q2  / 40R (D) q  Q / Q   2  1 24 R 

1 2 0

7. Two point charges +q and q are held fixed at (d, 0) and (d, 0) respectively of a x-y
co-ordinate system. Then
(A) the electric field E at all points on the x-axis has the same direction
(B) work has to be done in bringing at a test charge from  to the origin
(C) electric field at all point on y-axis is along x-axis
(D) the dipole moment is 2qd along the positive x-axis

8. 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 uniform electric field. Neglecting the effect of gravity, the
ratio t2/t1 is nearly equal to
1/ 2 1/ 2
(A) 1 (B)  mp / me  (C)  me / mp  (D) 1936

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9. A charge +q is fixed at each of the points x = x0, x = 3x0, x = 5x0 … on the x-axis and a
charge q is fixed at each of the points x = 2x0, x = 4x0, x = 6x0 …. . 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/40r. Then the potential at the origin due to the above system of charges is
q q ln  2 
(A) zero (B) (C)  (D)
80 x 0 ln 2 40 x 0

10. Three charges Q, +q and +q are placed at the vertices Q

of a right angle triangle (isosceles triangle) as shown.
The net electrostatic energy of the configuration is zero,
if Q is equal to
q 2q
(A) (B)
1 2 2 2 +q +q
a
(C)  2q (D) +q

11. Three positive charges of equal value q are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
The resulting lines of force should be sketched as in

(A) (B) (C) (D)

12. 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 the 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

13. Six charges, three positive and three negative of equal magnitude are P Q
to be placed at the vertices of a regular hexagon such that the electric
field at O is double the electric field when only one positive charge of U O R
same magnitude is placed at R. Which of the following arrangements
of charge is possible for P, Q, R, S, T and U respectively? T S
(A) +, , +, , , + (B) +, , +, , +, 
(C) +, +, , +, ,  (D) , +, +, , +, 

14. Which of the following graphs show how the electric field strength E varies with distance ‘r’
from centre of a conducting sphere?
E E E E

r
r r r
r=R
r=R
r=R r=R

(A) (B) (C) (D)


15.  
A dipole of moment p  107 5iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ cm is placed in an electric field

 
E  107 5iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ V m1. Find the torque experienced ?
(A) 8.6 N – m (B) 5.6 N – m (C) 0 N – m (D) 6.8 N – m

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16. A positively charged thin metal ring of radius R is fixed in the x-y plane with its centre at the
origin O. A negatively charged particle P is released from rest at the point (0, 0, z0) where
z0>0. Then the motion of P is
(A) periodic for all values of z0 satisfying 0 < z0 < 
(B) simple harmonic for all values of z0 satisfying 0 < z0  R
(C) approximately simple harmonic provided z0 < < R
(D) such that P crosses O and continues to move along the negative z-axis towards z = 

17. Two insulated charged spheres of radii R1 and R2 are given charges Q1 and Q2 respectively.
They are connected to each other with a wire. No loss of energy takes place when :
(A) Q1R1 = Q2R2 (B) Q1R2 = Q2R1 (C) Q1 R12 = Q2 R22 (D) Q1 R22 = Q2 R12

18. Two drops of a liquid are charged to the same potential of 100 volt. They are then merged
into one large drop. The potential of the large drop is (21/3 = 1.26)
(A) 172 volt (B) 193 volt (C) 159 volt (D) 100 volt

19. The insulation property of air breaks down at 3  10 6 V m1. The maximum charge that can
be given to a sphere of diameter 5 m is nearly
(A) 2  10 2 C (B) 2  10 3 C (C) 2  10 4 C (D) 2  10 5 C

20. A, B, C, D, P and Q are points in a uniform electric field. The B C

potentials at these points are V(A) = 2 volt. V(P) = V(B) = V(D) =

0.2m
 
5 volt. V (C) = 8 volt. The electric field at P is P Q

(A) 10Vm 1 along PQ (B) 5Vm-1 along PC A D

(C) 15 2 Vm-1 along PA (D) 5 Vm-1 along PA

0.2m

21. A ring with a uniform charge Q and radius R, is placed in the yz plane with its centre at the
origin.
Q
(A) the field at the origin is zero (B) the potential at the origin is k
R
Q Q
(C) the field at the point (x, 0, 0) is k 2 (D) the field at the point (x, 0, 0) is k 2
x R  x2

22. A conducting sphere A of radius a, with charge Q, is placed

concentrically inside a conducting shell B of radius b. B is
earthed. C is the common centre of A and B. B
Q Q
(A) the field at a distance r from C, where a  r  b, is k 2 A a
r C
Q
(B) the potential at a distance r from C, where a  r  b, is k b
r
 1 1
(C) the potential difference between A and B is kQ   
a b
1 1
(D) the potential at a distance r from C, where a  r  b, is kQ   
r b

23. The net work done in carrying a point charge form P to A is WA c q A P

from P to B is WB and from P to C is WC then
(A) WA  WB  WC (B) WA  WB  WC
(C) WA  WB  WC (D) WA  WB  WC
B

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Subjective:
24. Two fixed, equal, positive charges, each of magnitude A
+q
q  5  10 5 C are located at points A and B separated by a
distance of 6 m. An equal and opposite charge moves q
towards them along the line COD, the perpendicular bisector D C
of the line AB. The moving charge, when it reaches the point
C at a distance of 4 m from O, has a kinetic energy of 4
joules. Calculate the distance of the farthest point D which +q
B
the negative charge will reach before returning towards C.

25. Two charged particles having charge 2.0  108 C each are joined by an insulating string of
length 1 m and the system is kept as a smooth horizontal table. Find the tension in the
string.

26. A particle of m and charge q thrown in the vertical direction with a velocity v0 in a uniform
horizontal electric field E. Assuming the gravity force to be negligible derive on equation of
the path followed by the particle.

27. Two point charges q1 = +0.2C and q2 = +0.4 C are 0.1 m apart. Find the electric field
(i) mid point between the charges
(ii) a point on the line joining q1 and q2 such that it is 0.05 m away q2 and 0.15 m away
from q1.
28. Three point charges q, 2q and 8q are to be placed on a 9 cm long straight line. Find the
positions where the charges should be placed such that the potential energy of this system
is minimum. In this situation, what is the electric field at the position of the charge q due to
the other two charges?

(Problems on Gauss Law & Capacitors)

Single Choice Correct Type:

29. Four plates of equal area A are separated by equal
distances d and are arranged as shown in figure. The  
equivalent capacity is A B

2o A 3 o A 3 o A o A
(A) (B) (C) (D)
d d 2d d

30. In an isolated parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance C, the four Q1 Q3

surfaces have charges Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4, (Before
rearrangement) as shown. The potential difference between the
Q2 Q4
plates is
Q  Q2 Q
(A) 1 (B) 2
C C
Q3 1
(C) (D)  Q1  Q2    Q3  Q4  
C 2C 

31. An infinitely long line charge having density  lies at a distance d from ‘o’.  +
+
the flux through spherical surface of radius R centered at ‘o’ is +
+
2 R2  d2 +
d
(A) O if R < d and if R > d
0 +
 R
+ O
2
(B) O if R < d if R > d
R2  d2
(C) non – zero if R < d and O if R > d
(D) none of these

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32. A cone lies in a uniform electric field E. the flux leaving the cone
will be
E h
EhR
(A) EhR (B)
2
2
(C) ER h (D) none of these R

33. In above problem total flux linked with cone will be

EhR
(A) EhR (B)
2
2
(C) ER h (D) Zero

  z z Z
34. The electric field in cubical volume is E  E0  1   ˆi  E0   ˆj .
 a  a
Each edge of cube measured ‘d’. The net charge within the cube is
d3
(A) E0 d2 (B) E0 Y
a O
3
a
(C) E0 (D) zero
d X

35. Consider a circle of radius R. A point charge lies at a distance a from its center and in its
axis such that R = a 3 . If electric flux; passing through the circle is  then the magnitude of
the point change is
(A) 3 o  (B) 2 0  (C) 4 0  / 3 (D) 4 0 

36. Two spherical conductors A and B of radii a and b (b > a) are placed
concentrically in air. The two are connected by a copper wire as shown
in figure. Then equivalent capacitance of the system is : A
a
40 ab b
(A) (B) 40 (a + b)
(b  a) B
(C) 4 0 b (D) 4 0 a

C
37. Three capacitors are connected with the source of C

electromotive force E as shown in figure. Then the energy

drawn from the source is C
1 3
(A) CE2 (B) CE2
2 2
3
(C) CE2 (D) 2 CE2. E
4

38. In a parallel-plate capacitor of capacitance C, a metal sheet is inserted between the plates,
parallel to them. The thickness of the sheet is half of the separation between the plates.
The capacitance now becomes
(A) 4C (B) 2C (C) C/2 (D) C/4

39. In a parallel-plane capacitor, the region between the plates is filled by a dielectric slab. The
capacitor is charged from a cell and then disconnected from it. The slab is now taken out.
(A) the potential difference across the capacitor is reduced.
(B) the potential difference across the capacitor is increased.
(C) the energy stored in the capacitor is reduce.
(D) no work is done by an external agent in taking the slab out.

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40. In the circuit shown, the potential difference across the 3-F 3F 6F
capacitor is V, and the equivalent capacitance between A and
B is CAB. 2F
18
(A) C AB  4F (B) CAB  F
11 60V
(C) V  20V (D) V  40V A B

41. The separation between the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor is made double while it
remains connected to a cell.
(A) the cell absorbs some energy
(B) the electric field in the region between the plates becomes half
(C) the charge on the capacitor becomes half
(D) some work has to be done by an external agent on the plates

42. A capacitor of capacity C1 = 1F is charged to a potential of

100 V. The charging battery is then removed and it is C1 C2
connected to another capacitor of capacity C2 = 2F. One
plate of C2 is earthed as shown in figure. The charges on C1
and C2 in steady state will be
(A) 50 C, 50 C (B) 100 C, zero
100 200
(C) C, C (D) zero, zero
3 3

43. In the circuit shown in figure C1 = 1 F and C2 = 2 F. C1 C2

Capacitor C1 is charged to 100 V and C2 is charged to 20 V.
+  S2 + 
After charging they are connected as shown. When the 100V 20V
switches S1, S2 and S3 all are closed S1 S3
(A) no charge will flow through S2
(B) 80 C charge will flow through S1 in downward direction
(C) 80 C charge will flow through S2 in upward direction
(D) 80 C charge will flow through S3 in upward direction

44. Five identical capacitor plates each of area A are

arranged such that adjacent plates are at a distance d 1 2 3 4 5
apart. The plates are connected to a source of emf V V
as shown in figure. What is the magnitude and nature A B C D
of charge on plate 1 and 4 respectively?

45. Two parallel plate capacitors A and B having capacitance of 1 F and 5 F are charged
separately to the same potential of 100 volt. Now the positive plate of A is connected to the
negative plate of B and the negative plate of A to the positive plate of B. Find the final
charges on each capacitor and the total loss of electrical energy in the capacitors.

Multiple Choice Correct Type:

46. The capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor is C0 when the region between the plates has
air. This region is now filled with a dielectric slab of dielectric constant K. The capacitor is
connected to a cell of emf , and the slab is taken out.
(A) charge C0(K – 1) flows through the cell
(B) energy 2C0(K – 1) is absorbed by the cell
(C) the energy stored in the capacitor is reduced by 2C0(K – 1)
(D) the external agent has to do 1/2 2C0(K – 1) amount of work to take the slab out

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 q3
47. Three concentric conducting spherical shells have radii r, 2r, and 3r
q2
and charges q1 , q2 and q3 respectively. Innermost and outermost
q1
shells are earthed as shown in figure. Select the correct
alternative(s)
q2
(A) q1  q3  q2 (B) q1   r

4
q3 q3 1 2r

(C) 3 (D) 
q1 q2 3 3r

Subjective Type:

48. Two parallel plate capacitors A and B having capacitance of 1 F and 5 F are charged
separately to the same potential of 100 volt. Now the positive plate of A is connected to the
negative plate of B and the negative plate of A to the positive plate of B. Find the final
charges on each capacitor and the total loss of electrical energy in the capacitors.

2F
49. What charge will flow through A, B and C 60V
B
in the directions shown in figure when
S
switch S is closed? 60V 3F
C

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 ANSWERS

Q2
1. B 2. 1800 , 3. –8
160L2
4. D 5. B 6. B 7. C

8. B 9. D 10. B 11. C

12. B 13. D 14. D 15. C

16. AC 17. B 18. C 19. B

20. C 21. AB 22. ACD 23. C

24. maximum distance from O = 8.48 m

25. 3.6 × 10–6 N

qE y 2
26. x=
2m U2

27. (i) 7.2 × 1011 N/C towards q1

(ii) 1.52 × 1012 N/C away from q1 and q2
28. x = 3 cm from 2q, E = 0

29. A 30. D 31. A 32. A

33. D 34. 35. 36. C

37. B 38. B 39. BC 40. AD

Ao A
41. ABCD 42. B 43. BCD 44. ,  o
d d

200 1000
45. C, C , 1.66 × 10–2 J
3 3

46. ABD

47. ABC

200 1000 5
48. C (Polarity changed), C ; J
3 3 300

49.  24,  36, 60c 

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