PYQs (Electrostatics)

Class -XII
2014
1. Two equal balls having equal positive charge ‘q’ coulombs are suspended by two
insulating strings of equal length. What would be the effect on the force when a plastic
sheet is inserted between the two ? [1]
2. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential V. It is then
connected to another uncharged capacitor having the same capacitance. Find out the
ratio of the energy stored in the combined system to that stored initially in the single
capacitor. [2]
3. Why must electrostatic field at the surface of a charged conductor be
normal to the surface at every point ? Give a reason. [1]
4. (a) A point charge (+Q) is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conducting plate. Sketch
electric field lines between the charge and the plate.
(b) Two infinitely large plane thin parallel sheets having surface
charge densities 1 and 2(1> 2) are shown in the figure. Write
the magnitudes and directions of the net fields in the regions
marked II and III. [3]

5. In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 6
10–3 m2 and the separation between the plates is 3 mm.
(i) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.
(ii) If this capacitor is connected to a 100 V supply, what would be the charge on each
plate ?
(iii) How would charge on the plates be affected, if a 3 mm thick mica sheet of K = 6 is
inserted between the plates while the voltage supply remains connected ? [3]
6. "For any charge configuration, the equipotential surface through a point is normal to the
electric field." Justify. [1]
7. An electric dipole of length 4 cm, when placed with its axis making an angle of 60o
with a uniform electric field, experiences a torque ola1[ Nm. Calculate the potential
energy of the dipole, if it has charge +8 nC. [2]
8. (a) Obtain the expression for the energy stored per unit volume in a charged parallel
plate capacitor.
(b) The electric field inside a parallel plate capacitor is E. Find the amount of work
done in moving a charge q over a closed rectangular loop a b c d a. [5]
9. (a) Derive the expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate area A and plate
separation d.
(b) Two charged spherical conductors of radii R1 and R2 when connected by a
conducting wire acquire charges q1 and q2 respectively. Find the ratio of their surface
charge densities in terms of their radii. [3]
10. The given graph shows variation of charge ‘q’ versus potential difference ‘V’ for two
capacitors C1 and C2. Both the capacitors have the same plate separation but the plate
area of C2 is greater than that of C1. Which line (P or Q) corresponds to C1 and why ?
[1]

11. Two point charges q and – 2q are kept ‘d’ distance apart. Find the location of the point
relative to charge ‘q’ at which potential due to this system of charges is zero. [2]
12. An electric dipole is placed in an uniform electric field E with its dipole moment p parallel
to the field. Find
(i) the work done in turning the dipole till its dipole moment points in the direction
opposite to E . [3]
(ii) the orientation of the dipole for which the torque acting on it becomes maximum.
13. Two point charges + q and – 2q are placed at the vertices ‘B’ and ‘C’ of an equilateral
triangle ABC of side ‘a’ as given in the figure. Obtain the expression for
(i) the magnitude and
(ii) the direction of the resultant electric field at the vertex A due to these two charges.[5]

14. Two point charges q1 and q2 are located at r1 and r2 respectively in an external electric
field E .Obtain the expression for the total work done in assembling this configuration.
[3]
15. Two closely spaced equipotential surfaces A and B with potentials V and V +δV, (where
δV is the change in V), are kept l distance apart as shown in the figure. Deduce the
relation between the electric field and the potential gradient between them. Write the two
important conclusions concerning the relation between the electric field and electric
potentials. [3]
16. Two parallel plate capacitors of capacitances C1 and C2 such that C1 = 2C2 are
connected across a battery of V volts as shown in the figure. Initially the key (k) is kept
closed to fully charge the capacitors. The key is now thrown open and a dielectric slab of
dielectric constant ―K is inserted in the two capacitors to completely fill the gap between
the plates. Find the ratio of
(i) the net capacitance and
(ii) the energies stored in the combination, before and after the introduction of the
dielectric slab. [5]

2015
17. The field lines of a negative point charge are as shown in the figure. Does the kinetic
energy of a small negative charge increase or decrease in going from B to A ? [1]

18. Find the equivalent capacitance of the network shown in the figure, when each capacitor
is of 1 F. When the ends X and Y are connected to a 6 V battery, find out (i) the charge
and (ii) the energy stored in the network. [3]

19. (a) ‘‘The outward electric flux due to charge + Q is independent of the shape and size of
the surface which encloses it.’’ Give two reasons to justify this statement.
 (b) Two identical circular loops ‘1’ and ‘2’ of radius R each have linear charge densities –
and + C/m respectively. The loops are placed coaxially with their centres R 3 distance
apart. Find the magnitude and direction of the net electric field at the centre of loop ‘1’.[5]
20. Write a relation for polarization P of a dielectric material in the presence of an external
electric field E . [1]
21. Define the term ‘mobility’ of charge carriers. Write its S.I. unit. [1]
22. (a) Deduce the expression for the potential energy of a system of two charges q1 and q2
located at r1 and r2 respectively in an external electric field.
(b) Three point charges, + Q, + 2Q and – 3Q are placed at the vertices of an equilateral
triangle ABC of side l. If these charges are displaced to the mid-points A1, B1 and C1
respectively, find the amount of the work done in shifting the charges to the new
locations. [5]

23. Define electric flux. Write its S.I. unit.

State and explain Gauss’s law. Find out the outward flux due to a point charge + q
placed at the centre of a cube of side ‘a’. Why is it found to be independent of the size
and shape of the surface enclosing it ? Explain. [5]
24. What is the electric flux through a cube of side 1 cm which encloses an electric dipole ?
[1]
25. (a) An electric dipole of dipole moment →p consists of point charges +q and –q
separated by a distance 2a apart. Deduce the expression for the electric field →E due to
the dipole at a distance x from the centre of the dipole on its axial line in terms of the
dipole moment →p. Hence show that in the limit x >> a, E → 2p/ (4π ε0x3).
(b) Given the electric field in the region →E = 2x^i, find the net electric flux through the
cube and the charge enclosed by it. [5]
26. (a) Explain, using suitable diagrams, the difference in the behaviour of a (i) conductor
and (ii) dielectric in the presence of an external electric field. Define the terms
polarization of a dielectric and write its relation with susceptibility.
(b) A thin metallic spherical shell of radius R carries a charge Q on its surface. A point
charge Q/2 is placed at its centre C and another charge +2Q is placed outside the shell
at a distance x from the centre as shown in the figure. Find (i) the force on the charge at
the centre of the shell and at the point A, (ii) the electric flux through the shell.
[5]
27. Why are electric field lines perpendicular at a point on an equipotential surface of a
conductor ? [1]
2016
28. What is electrostatic shelding ? How is this property used in actual practice? Is the
potential in the cavity of a charged conductor zero? [1]
29. Derive an expression for the electric field intensity at a point on the equatorial line
of an electric dipole of dipole moment p and length 2a. What is the direction of this field ?
[3]
30. (i) A parallel plate capacitor (C1) having charge Q is connected to an identical uncharged
capacitor C2 in series. What would be the charge accumulated on the capacitor C2?
(ii) Three identical capacitors each of capacitance 3 µF are connected, in turn, in series
and in parallel combination to the common source of V volt. Find out the ratio of the
energies stored in two configurations. [3]
31. Calculate the equivalent capacitance between points A and B in the circuit below. If a
battery is connected across A and B, calculate the charge drawn from the battery by the
circuit. [3]

32. (a) Deduce the expression for the torque acting on a dipole of dipole moment

placed in a uniform electric field .Depict the direction of the torque. Express it in the
vector form.
(b) Show that the potential energy of a dipole making angle with the direction of the
field is given by Hence find out the amount of work done in rotating it from
the position of unstable equilibrium to the stable equilibrium. [3]
33. Define an equipotential surface. Draw equipotential surfaces:
(i) in the case of single point charge
(ii) in a constant electric field in z - direction.
Why are the equipotential surfaces about a single charge not equidistant?
(iii) Can electric fields exist tangentially to an equipotential surface ? Give a reason. [3]
34. (i) If two similar large plates, each of area A having surface charge densities+σ and −σ
are separated by a distance in air, find the expressions for
(a) field at points between the two plates and on the outer side of the plates. Specify the
direction of the field in each case.
(b) the potential difference between the plates.
(c) the capacitance of the capacitor is formed.

(ii) Two metallic spheres of radii R and 2R are charged so that both of these have the
same surface charge density σ. If they are connected to each other with a conducting
wire, in which direction will the charge flow and why ? [5]
2017
35. A point charge Q is placed at point O as shown in the figure. The potential difference VA
– VB positive. Is the charge Q negative or positive ? [1]
36. Define Electric Flux. Write its SI unit. [1]
37. Two identical parallel plate capacitors A and B are connected to a battery of V volts with
the switch S closed. The switch is now opened and the free space between the plates of
the capacitors is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant K. Find the ratio of the total
electrostatic energy stored in both capacitors before and after the introduction of the
dielectric. [3]

38. (a) Derive an expression for the electric field E due to a dipole of length ‘2a’ at a point
distant r from the centre of the dipole on the axial line.
(b) Draw a graph of E versus r for r >> a.
(c) If this dipole were kept in a uniform external electric field E0, diagrammatically
represent the position of the dipole in stable and unstable equilibrium and write the
expressions for the torque acting on the dipole in both the cases. [5]
39. (a) Use Gauss’s theorem to find the electric field due to a uniformly charged infinitely
large plane thin sheet with surface charge density .
(b) An infinitely large thin plane sheet has a uniform surface charge density +. Obtain the
expression for the amount of work done in bringing a point charge q from infinity to a
point, distant r, in front of the charged plane sheet. [5]
40. A charge Q is distributed uniformly over a metallic sphere of radius R.
Obtain the expressions for the electric field (E) and electric potential (V) at a point 0 < x <
R.Show on a plot the variation of E and V with x for 0 < x < 2R. [3]
41. (a) Define the capacitance of a capacitor. Obtain the expression for the capacitance of a
parallel plate capacitor in vacuum in terms of plate area A and separation d between the
plates.
(b) A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area as the plates of a
parallel plate capacitor but has a thickness 3d/4. Find the ratio of the capacitance with
dielectric inside it to its capacitance without the dielectric. [5]
42. Does the charge given to a metallic sphere depend on whether it is hollow or solid ?
Give reason for your answer". [1]
43. (i) Derive the expression for the electric potential due to an electric dipole at a point on
its axial line.
(ii) Depict the equipotential surfaces due to an electric dipole. [3]

2018
44. Four point charges Q ,q ,Q and q are placed at the corners of a square of side ′a′ as
shown in the figure.
Find the
(a) resultant electric force on a charge Q, and
(b) potential energy of this system. [3]

45. Three point charges q, – 4q and 2q are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
ABC of side ‘l’ as shown in the figure.
(a) Obtain the expression for the magnitude of the resultant electric force acting on the
charge q.

(b) Find out the amount of work done to separate the charges at an infinite distance.[3]
46. Define electric flux. Is it a scalar or a vector quantity ?
A point charge q is at a distance of d/2 directly above the centre of a square of side d, as
shown in the figure. Use Gauss’ law to obtain the expression for the electric flux through
the square.

(b) If the point charge is now moved to a distance ‘d’ from the centre of the square and
the side of the square is doubled, explain how the electric flux will be affected. [5]
47. (a) Use Gauss’ law to derive the expression for the electric field (E) due to a straight
uniformly charged infinite line of charge density λ C/m.
(b) Draw a graph to show the variation of E with perpendicular distance r from the line of
charge.
(c) Find the work done in bringing a charge q from perpendicular distance r1 to r2 (r2 >
r1). [5]
48. Define electric flux and write its SI unit. The electric field components in the figure shown
are : Ex = α x, Ey = 0, Ez = 0 where α = 100 N /Cm . Calculate the charge within the
cube, assuming a = 0.1m. [3]

49. An electron falls through a distance of 1.5 cm in a uniform electric field of magnitude 2.0
× 10 4 N / C ( F i g . a )

Calculate the time it takes to fall through this distance starting from rest. If the direction
of the field is reversed (fig .b) keeping its magnitude unchanged , calculate the time
taken by a proton to fall through this distance starting from rest. [3]
50. Two point charges q and –q are located at points (0, 0, –a) and (0, 0, a) respectively.
(a) Find the electrostatic potential at (0, 0, z) and (x, y, 0)
(b) How much work is done in moving a small test charge from the point (5, 0, 0) to (–7,
0, 0) along the x-axis ?
(c) How would your answer change if the path of the test charge between the same
points is not along the x-axis but along any other random path ?
(d) If the above point charges are now placed in the same positions in a uniform
external electric field E, what would be the potential energy of the charge system in its
orientation of unstable equilibrium ? Justify your answer in each case. [5]
51. A capacitor of capacitance C1 is charged to a potential V1 while another capacitor of
capacitance C2 is charged to a potential difference V2. The capacitors are now
disconnected from their respective charging batteries and connected in parallel to each
other.
(a) Find the total energy stored in the two capacitors before they are connected.
(b) Find the total energy stored in the parallel combination of the two capacitors.
(c) Explain the reason for the difference of energy in parallel combinations in
comparison to the total energy before they are connected. [5]

2019
52. Two metallic spheres A and B kept on insulating stands are in contact with each other. A
positively charged rod P is brought near the sphere A as shown in the figure. The two
spheres are separated from each other, and the rod P is removed. What will be the
nature of charges on spheres A and B ? [1]

53. A metal sphere is kept on an insulating stand. A negatively charged rod is brought near
it, then the sphere is earthed as shown. On removing the earthing, and taking the
negatively charged rod away, what will be the nature of charge on the sphere ? Give
reason for your answer. [1]

54. The figure shows a network of five capacitors connected to a 100 V supply. Calculate the
total energy stored in the network. [2]

55. Draw the pattern of electric field lines, when a point charge – Q is kept near an
uncharged conducting plate. [1]
56. (a) Draw the equipotential surfaces corresponding to a uniform electric field in the
z-direction.
(b) Derive an expression for the electric potential at any point along the axial line of an
electric dipole. [2]
57. (a) Describe briefly the process of transferring the charge between the two plates of a
parallel plate capacitor when connected to a battery. Derive an expression for the energy
stored in a capacitor.
(b) A parallel plate capacitor is charged by a battery to a potential difference V. It is
disconnected from the battery and then connected to another uncharged capacitor of the
same capacitance. Calculate the ratio of the energy stored in the combination to the
initial energy on the single capacitor. [5]
58. (a) Derive an expression for the electric field at any point on the equatorial line of an
electric dipole.
(b) Two identical point charges, q each, are kept 2m apart in air. A third point charge Q of
unknown magnitude and sign is placed on the line joining the charges such that the
system remains in equilibrium. Find the position and nature of Q. [5]

2020

Note : Fill in the blanks with appropriate answer :

59. If the electric flux entering and leaving a closed surface in air φ1 and φ2 respectively, the
net electric charge enclosed within the surface is _______. [1]
60. In the figure given below, find the
(a) Equivalent capacitance of the network between points A and B.
Given :

(b) Maximum charge supplied by the battery, and

(c) Total energy stored in the network. [3]

61. (a) Use Gauss’s law to show that due to a uniformly charged spherical shell of radius R,
the electric field at any point situated outside the shell at a distance r from its centre is
equal to the electric field at the same point, when the entire charge on the shell were
concentrated at its centre. Also plot the graph showing the variation of electric field with
r, for r R and r R.
(b) Two point charges + 1 µ C and + 4µC are kept 30 cm apart. How far from the + 1µC
charge on the line joining the two charges, will the net electric field be zero ? [5]
62. (a) Two point charges q1 and q2 are kept r distance apart in a uniform external electric
field E. Find the amount of work done in assembling this system of charges.
 (b) A cube of side 20 cm is kept in a region as shown in the figure. An electric field E
exists in the region such that the potential at a point is given by V = 10x + 5, where V is
in volt and x is in m.

Find the
(i) Electric field E, and
(ii) Total electric flux through the cube. [5]
63. The electric flux through a closed Gaussian surface depends upon
(a) Net charge enclosed and permittivity of the medium
(b) Net, charge enclosed, permittivity of the medium and the size of the Gaussian
surface
(c) Net charge enclosed only
(d) Permittivity of the medium only. [1]
64. The physical quantity having SI unit NC–1m is __________. [1]
65. A point charge is placed at the centre of a hollow conducting sphere of internal radius 'r'
and outer radius '2r'. The ratio of the surface charge density of the inner surface to that
of the outer surface will be_________. [1]
66. Obtain the expression for the energy stored in a capacitor connected across a dc battery.
Hence define energy density of the capacitor. [3]
67. Derive the expression for the torque acting on an electric dipole, when it is held in a
uniform electric field. identify the orientation of the dipole in the electric field, in which it
attains a stable equilibrium. [3]
68. (a) Two point charges q1 and q2 are kept at a distance of r12 in air. Deduce the
expression for the electrostatic potential energy of this system.
(b) If an external electric field (E) is applied on the system, write the expression for the
total energy of this system. [5]
69. (a) Write two important characteristics of equipotential surfaces.
(b) A thin circular ring of radius r is charged uniformly so that its linear charge density
becomes λ. Derive an expression for the electric field at a point P at a distance x from it
along the axis of the ring. Hence, prove that at large distances (x >> r), the ring behaves
as a point charge. [5]
70. (a) State Gauss's law on electrostatics and drive an expression for the electric field due
to a long straight thin uniformly charged wire (linear charge density λ) at a point lying at a
distance r from the wire.
(b) The magnitude of electric field (in NC–1) in a region varies with the distance r(in m)
as E = 10r + 5
By how much does the electric potential increase in moving from point at r = 1 1 m to a
point at r = 10 m. [5]
 2023
71. Two charges q1 and q2 are placed at the centres of two spherical conducting shells of
radius r1 and r2 respectively. The shells are arranged such that their centres are d [ >
(r1 + r2)] distance apart. The force on q2 due to q1 is : [1]
(a) k q1q2 /d2
(b) k q1 q2 / ( d-r1)2
( c) zero
(d) k q1 q2 / [d- (r1 + r2 )2].
72. Which of the following statements is not true for nuclear forces ? [1]
(a) They are stronger than Coulomb forces.
(b) They have about the same magnitude for different pairs of nucleons.
(c) They are always attractive.
(d) They saturate as the separation between two nucleons increases.
73. (a) Obtain an expression for electrostatic potential energy of a system of three charges
q, 2q and 3q placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side a. [2]
(b) Two small conducting balls A and B of radius r1 and r2 have charges q1 and q2
respectively. They are connected by a wire. Obtain the expression for charges on A and
B, in equilibrium. [2]
74. Electrostatics deals with the study of forces, fields and potentials arising from static
charges. Force and electric field, due to a point charge, is basically determined by
Coulomb's law. For symmetric charge configuration, Gauss law, which is based on
Coulomb's law, helps us to find electric field.A charge/a system of charges like a dipole
experiences a force/torque in an electric field. Work is required to be done to provide a
specific orientation to a dipole with respect to an electric field.
Answer the following questions based on the above :

(a) Consider a uniformly charged thin conducting shell of radius R. Plot a graph showing
the variation of |E| with distance r from the centre, for points 0< r> 3R. [1]

(b) The figure shows the variation of potential V with 1/ r for two point charges Q1 and
Q2, where V is the potential at a distance r due to a point charge. Find Q1/Q2. [1]

(c) An electric dipole of dipole moment of 6 x 10 -7 C-m is kept in a uniform electric field
of 10 4 N/C such that the dipole moment and the electric field are parallel. Calculate the
potential energy of the dipole. [2]
OR
 (c) An electric dipole of dipole moment p is initially kept in a uniform electric field E such
that p is perpendicular to E . Find the amount of work done in rotating the dipole to a
position at which p becomes antiparallel to E . [2]

2024
75. A thin plastic rod is bent into a circular ring of radius R. It is uniformly charged with
charge density . The magnitude of the electric field at its centre is : [1]
(A) λ/2ε0R (B) Zero
( C) λ/4πε0R (D) λ/4ε0R
76. Ten capacitors, each of capacitance 1 µF, are connected in parallel to a source of 100 V.
The total energy stored in the system is equal to : [1]
(A) 10 -2J (B) 10- 3J (C) 0·5 x 10 -3J (D) 5·0 x 10 -2J.
77. A cube of side 0·1 m is placed, as shown in the figure, in a region where electric field E =
500 x^i exists. Here x is in meters and E in NC -1. Calculate : (a) the flux passing
through the cube, and
(b) the charge within the cube. [3]

78. (i) Derive an expression for potential energy of an electric dipole p in an external uniform
electric field E . When is the potential energy of the dipole (1) maximum, and (2)
minimum ?
(ii) An electric dipole consists of point charges 1·0 pC and + 1·0 pC located at (0, 0) and
(3 mm, 4 mm) respectively in the x y plane. An electric field E = 1000 V /m ^i is switched
on in the region. Find the torque acting on the dipole. [5]
79. (i) An electric dipole (dipole moment p = p^i ), consisting of charges -q and q, separated
by distance 2a, is placed along the x-axis, with its centre at the origin. Show that the
potential V, due to this dipole, at a point x, (x >> a) is equal to
(¼ πε0) ( p.^ i) / x2.
(ii) Two isolated metallic spheres S1 and S2 of radii 1 cm and 3 cm respectively are
charged such that both have the same charge density 2/π x 10 -9 C/m2. They are
placed far away from each other and connected by a thin wire. Calculate the new charge
on sphere S1. [5]
80. Two charged particles P and Q, having the same charge but different masses mP and
mQ, start from rest and travel equal distances in a uniform electric field E in time tP and
tQ respectively. Neglecting the effect of gravity, the ratio tP/tQ is : [1]
 (A) mP/mQ (B) mQ/mP
( C) ✓( mP / mQ) (D) ✓ ( mQ/mP)
81. (i) Obtain an expression for the electric potential due to a small dipole of dipole moment
p , at a point r from its centre, for much larger distances compared to the size of the
dipole.
(ii) Three point charges q, 2q and nq are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
If the potential energy of the system is zero, find the value of n. [5]
82. (i) electrostatics. Apply this to obtain the electric field E at a point near a uniformly
charged infinite plane sheet.
(ii) Two long straight wires 1 and 2 are kept as shown in the figure. The linear charge
density of the two wires are λ1 = 10 µC/m and λ2 = -20 µC/m. Find the net force F
experienced by an electron held at point P. [5]

83. The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor having a medium of dielectric constant K =
4 in between the plates is C. If this medium is removed, then the capacitance of the
capacitor becomes : [1]
(A) 4C (B) C
(C) 4C (D) 2C
84. Coulomb force F versus ( 1 /r2 ) graphs for two pairs of point charges (q1 and q2) and
(q2 and q3) are shown in the figure. The ratio of charges ( q1 /q3 ) is : [1]

(A) √ 3 (B) 1/ √ 3
(C) 3 (D) 1 /3
85. Consider a group of charges q1, q2, q3……. Such that ∑q ≠ 0. Then equipotentials at a
large distance, due to this group are approximately : [1]
(A) Plane (B) Spherical surface
(C) Paraboloidal surface (D) Ellipsoidal surface