12

ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS 1

Previous Year Questions

direction of the net electric field at the centre (O)

1. A point charge situated at a distance ‘r’ from a short of the square.


electric dipole on its axis, experiences a force F . If the
distance of the charge is ‘2r’, the force on the charge will
be:
 
F F
(a) (b)
16 8
 
F F
(c) (d)
4 2

[CBSE-55-1-1-(2023)]

2. (a) (i) State Coulomb’s law in electrostatics and write it [CBSE-55-1-1-(2023)]

in vector form, for two charges.
3. The magnitude of the electric field due to a point charge
(ii) ‘Gauss’s law is based on the inverse-square object at a distance of 4.0 m is 9N/C. From the same
dependence on distance contained in the Coulomb’s
N
charged object the electric field of magnitude, 16 will
law.’ Explain. C
(iii) Two charges A (charge q) and B (charge 2q) are be at a distance of
located at points (0, 0) and (a, a) respectively. Let iˆ (a) 1 m (b) 2 m

and ĵ be the unit vectors along x-axis and y-axis (c) 3 m (d) 6 m

respectively. Find the force exerted by A on B, in [CBSE-55-2-1-(2023)]

terms of iˆ and ĵ . 4. A point P lies at a distance x from the mid point of an

electric dipole on its axis. The electric potential at point
OR
P is proportional to
(b) (i) Derive an expression for the electric field at
1 1
(a) (b)
a point on the equatorial plane of an electric dipole x2 x3
consisting of charges q and -q separated by a 1 1
(c) 4
(d) 1
distance 2a. x
x2
(ii) The distance of a far off point on the equatorial
[CBSE-31-2-1-(2023)]
plane of an electric dipole is halved. How will the
5. (a) (i) Use Gauss’ law to obtain an expression for the
electric field be affected for the dipole?
electric field due to an infinitely long this straight wire
(iii) Two identical electric dipoles are placed along with uniform linear charge density .
the diagonals of a square ABCD of side 2m as (ii) An infinitely long positively charged straight wire
shown in the figure. Obtain the magnitude and has a linear charge density  . An electron is revolving
in a circle with a constant speed v such that the wire
 2 ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

passes through the centre, and is perpendicular to the  N  N

plane, of the circle. Find the kinetic energy of the
electron in terms of magnitudes of its charge and linear
charge density  on the wire.
7.
(iii) Draw a graph of kinetic energy as a function of
linear charge density 
OR
(b) (i) Consider two identical point charges located at
points (0, 0) and (a, 0).
(1) Is there a point on the line joining them at which the
electric field is zero?
(2) Is there a point on the line joining them at which the
electric potential is zero?
8.
Justify your answer for each case.
(ii) State the significance of negative value of
electrostatic potential energy of a system of charges.
(c) 1.0 103  iˆ (d)  1.0  103  iˆ
 C   C 
[CBSE-55-3-1-(2023)]
(a) Draw a graph showing the variation of binding
energy per nucleon as a function of mass number A. The
binding energy per nucleon for heavy nuclei  A  170 
decreases with the increase in mass number.
Explain.
OR
(b) Using Bohr’s postulates, obtain the expression for
radius of nth stable orbit in a hydrogen atom.
[CBSE-55-3-1-(2023)]
Two identical dipoles are arranged in x-y plane as
shown in the figure. Find the magnitude and the
direction of net electric field at the origin O.

Three charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral

triangle ABC of side 2.0 m as shown in figure. Calculate
the electric potential energy of the system of three
charges.

[CBSE-55-4-1-(2023)]

9. An electric dipole of length 2 cm is placed at an angle

of 30 with an electric field 2  105 N / C . If the dipole

experiences a torque of 8  103 Nm, the magnitude of

either charge of the dipole, is
[CBSE-55-2-1-(2023)]
(a) 4 C (b) 7  C
6.  
An electron experiences a force 1.6  1016 N iˆ in an
(c) 8mC (d) 2mC
 
electric field E . The electric field E is:
[CBSE-55-5-1-(2023)]
 N  N
(a) 1.0  103  iˆ (b)  1.0  103  iˆ
 C  C
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS 1

Solutions
r  AB  a 2  a 2  2a

F
1. (b)  1 q1q2
8 F rˆ
4 0 r 2
2. (a) (i) Statement of coulomb’s law and vector form

(ii) Explanation of Gauss’s law based on coulomb’ law


F
1

q  2q

aiˆ  ajˆ 
4 0
 
2
2a 2a
(iii) Force exerted by charge A on charge B

(i) Force between two point charges varies inversely


F
1 2q 2 iˆ  ˆj
 2
 
with the square of distance between the charges and is
4 0 2a 2
directly proportional to the product of magnitude of the
 1 q2
two charges and acts along the line joining the two F
4 0

2a 2
 iˆ  ˆj  
charges.
 1 q1q2  q2
F12 
4 0 r122
rˆ12 F
4 2 0 a 2
 iˆ  ˆj 
Alternatively Note: A ward 1 mark if a student calculates the
 1 q1q2  magnitude of force only.
F12  r12
4 0 r123  1 q2
F 
 4 0 a 2
Where r12 is a vector from charge q2 to charge q1 .
Alternatively
(ii) In derivation of Gauss’s law, flux is calculated using
coulomb’s law and surface area. Here coulomb’s law Give full credit if a student uses component method to

1 solve question.
involves factor and surface area involves r 2 factor.
r2 OR
When product is taken, the two factors cancel out and (b) (i) Derivation of electric field
flux becomes independent of r.
(ii) Effect on electric field
(iii)
(iii) Finding magnitude and direction of electric field

(i)


r  AB  aiˆ  ajˆ
2 ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

p1  q  2Cm (along OA)

p2  q  2Cm (along OD)

q 1
E q   2 pnet  p12  p22
4 0 r  a 2

q 1  2 2qCm
E q   2
4 0 r  a 2
Electric field at centre O
The components normal to dipole axis cancel away. The
kpnet
E
components along the dipole axis add up. 3

Total electric field is opposite to dipole moment.

 r2  a2  2


E   E q  E q cos  pˆ  At point O, r = 0, a = 1 m

k  2 2q 2 2q
2qa E  2 2kq 
 pˆ 13
4 0
3
4 0 r  2
 a2 2 Along DC
 Alternatively:
p
 3
4 0  r2  a2 2 
If the expression of electric field is not in vector form.

(ii) At far off point r  a

 
p
E 3
r
4 0  
2

8 p

4 0 r 3 kq
E
r2

E becomes 8 times
AC  BD  2m
(iii)
r  OA  OB  OC  OD  1m
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS 1

Electric field at O due to charges at B and D 1 1

Enet  E1  E2  4kqa   4 q
4 0 2
E1  EB  ED

kq kq 2 2q
E1   along OB  2 2kq 
1 2
1 2 4 0

 2kq Along DC.

3. (c) 3m
Electric field at O due to charges at A and C

E2  E A  EC 1
4. (a)
x2
kq kq
E2    2kq (along OC) 5. (a) (i) Derivation of the expression
12 12
(ii) Finding kinetic energy of electron
Enet  E12  E22 (iii) Graph

2 2q (i)
 2 2kq 
4 0

Along DC

Alternatively

Flux through the Gaussian surface

  E.2 rl
Considering AB as dipole, electric field at O
According to Gauss’s law
2kq  a 2kqa
E1    2kqa q
3 3
E.2 rl 
 1   1  2 2 2 1 1 2 0
     
  2   2   2 2
   q  l

Similarly considering DC as another dipole, electric 

E
field at O 2 0 r

2kq  a 2kqa
E2  3
 3
 2kqa
 1   1  2 2 2  1 1 2
     
  2   2   2 2
 
2 ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

(ii) Negative value of electrostatic potential energy of a

system signifies that the system has attractive forces.

Alternatively:

Give full credit, if a candidate writes the system in stable

/ bound.


(i) E 
2 0 r

mv 2
 eE
r

1 2
 Kinetic energy K  mv
2

1 1 qq
 eEr U  1 2
2 4 0 r

1 .r e 1  q A qB qB qC qc q A 
 e  U  
2 2 0 r 4 0 4 0  r r r 

e
(ii) Kinetic energy K  9  109
4 0   16  8  8 1012
2
K  
 7.2  102 J

 N
6. (b)   1.0  103  iˆ
 C 

7. (a) (i) Definition and SI unit of electric flux

(ii) Deriving the expression for electric field due to a

uniformly charged infinite plane sheet.

(b) (i) Answer of (1) and (2) with justification (iii) Net charge enclosed by the cube.
 
(ii) Significance of negative value (i)   E. A

Determining electric potential energy Alternatively: Electric flux is the number of electric
(i) (1) Yes, electric field is zero at mid point. field lines passing through an area normally.

Electric field being a vector quantity, its resultant is S.I. unit of electric flux Nm2 / C or V-m.
zero.
(ii)
(2) No, potential cannot be zero on line joining the
charges.

Electric potential being a scalar quantity, the net

potential due to two identical charges cannot be zero.
ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS 1

work done
v
q
 
V    E .dl

S.I. unit of electrostatic potential is volt.

Alternatively: -

  q S.I unit is J/C.

From Gauss’s law:-    E.dA  0

A
2 EA 
0


E
2 0

Alternatively: If the shape of the Gaussian surface is

taken cylindrical, full credit to be given.
Q Q
V  V1  V2  
(iii) L  Eds cos180   Eds C1 C2

  BL2 Q  1 1 
 Q  
Ceq  C1 C2 
R  Eds cos 0  Eds
1 1 1
  AL  B  L2  AL3  BL2  
Ceq C1 C2
Net flux  L  R
(iii) Potential energy of the system

 
 AL3  BL2  BL2  Q   q  Qq q 2 
K   
 4a 3a 5a 
q
Net flux  AL3  Potential energy of the system = 0
0
 Qq Qq q 2 
 q  AL3 0 K   0
 4a 3a 5a 
OR
Q Q q
(b) (i) Definitions & S.I. unit of electric potential    0
4 3 5
(ii) Derivation of expression of equivalent capacitance
Q q
  0
(iii) Calculation of Electrostatic Potential Energy 12 5

(i) Electric potential – Electrostatic Potential at any 12 q

Q
point in a region with electrostatic field is the work done 5
in bringing a unit positive charge (without acceleration) 8. Finding the magnitude of electric field
from infinity to that point.
Finding direction of net Electric field
Alternatively:
2 ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS


Dipole moment due to dipole BA is p1 & dipole  a 
2kq   
  2
moment due to dipole DC is p2 . E3  3
   a  2  a  2  2
Electric field E1 due to p1 is along OB.     
 2   2  
 
Electric field E2 due to p2 is along OD.
2kq  a
E2 
Magnitude of resultant Electric field 3
31
1 2
 a   
Enet  2 2 E 2 2

  1 q 2kq

Since E1  E2  E  . E2 
4 0 a 2 a2

 1 2 2q Enet  E1  E2
Enet  .
4 0 a 2
2kq 2kq
  
Direction of Enet is 225 to x – axis. a2 a2

Alternatively: 2 2kq

a2

Direction of Enet is 225 to x-axis.

9. (a) 4 C

Considering CB as dipole, electric field at O

 a 
2kq   
E1   2
3
 a  2  a  2  2
    
 2   2  

2kq  a
E1  3
311 2
a   
2 2

2kq
E1 
a2

Similarly considering AD as another dipole, electric

field at O.