Questions based on Electricity and Magnetism

1) In electrostatics, the curl of electric field (⃗

∇ⅹ⃗
E ) at any point due to a charge
density distribution ρ(x,y,z) in free space is
ρ
(a) ϵ
0

(b) ϵ 0 ρ
(c) Zero
(d) Cannot be determined

2) Gauss Law gives the relationship between

(a) Electric flux and magnetic flux
(b)Electric flux and charge enclosed
(c) Magnetic flux and current enclosed
(d) Electric field and magnetic field

3) A parallel plate capacitor has a plate area A and plate separation d. If the
medium between the plates is filled by a dielectric medium of relative
permittivity 2, then the capacitance is
(a) A/2 ϵ 0 d
(b) 2 ϵ 0 A /d
(c) 2 ϵ 0 d / A
(d) d /2 ϵ 0 A

4) The magnetic susceptibility of paramagnetic material ( χ p ) and diamagnetic

material ( χ d ) are such that
(a) χ p >0 ; χ d <0
(b) χ p <0 ; χ d <0
(c) χ p >0 ; χ d >0
(d) χ p <0 ; χ d >0

5) Speed of light in a non-magnetic medium with dielectric constant ϵ is given

by
 (a) √ μ0 /ϵ
(b) √ μ0 ϵ
(c) √ 1/μ 0 ϵ
(d) √ ϵ / μ0

5 marks question: Write the Maxwell’s equations in free space in the presence of
charge density ρ and current density ⃗j . Highlight the correction made by Maxwell
and explain its significance.

Ans:
ρ
1) ⃗
∇ .⃗
E=
ϵ 0
−∂ B
2) ⃗
∇ⅹ⃗E=
∂t
3) ⃗
∇ .⃗
B=0
∂E
4) ⃗
∇ⅹ⃗
B =μ 0 ⃗j+ μ0 ϵ 0
∂t

Maxwell made correction to the Ampere’s Law ( ⃗

∇ⅹ⃗
B =μ 0 ⃗j ) by replacing the term
⃗j with ⃗j + ϵ 0 ∂ E . The significance of this correction is in stating that changing
∂t
electric field will induce magnetic field. The modified Ampere’s Law combined
with other three Maxwell’s equations form the basis of the entire field of
electromagnetic wave.