CHAPTER 1: ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
PHYSICS
CHAPTER 1: ELECTRIC
CHARGES AND FIELDS

ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Introduction:
Study of static charges is called electrostatics and
this complete electrostatic will be discussed in two chapters. In this chapter
we begin with a discussion of electric charge, some properties of charged
bodies, and fundamental electric force between two charged bodies.
What
is Electric Charge?
Electric Charge is a fundamental property of a
matter which is responsible for electric forces between the bodies. Two
electrons placed at small separation are found to repeal each other, this
repulsive force (Electric force) is only because of electric charge on
electrons.
When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the rod
acquires one kind of charge, and the silk acquires the second kind of charge.
This is true for any pair of objects that are rubbed to be electrified. Now if
the electrified glass rod is brought in contact with silk, with which it was
rubbed, they no longer attract each other.
Types of Electric Charge:
There
are two types of charge exist in our nature.
·
Positive Charge
·
Negative Charge
If any object loses their electrons then they get
positive charge. It is denoted by (+q) sign. If any object gain electrons from
another object, then they get negative charge. It is denoted by (-q) sign. The
charges were named as positive and negative by the American scientist Benjamin
Franklin. If an object possesses an electric charge, it is said to be
electrified or charged. When it has no charge it is said to be neutral.
Basic
Properties of Electric Charge:
The important properties and characteristic of
electric charge are given below.
Attraction and Repulsion: Like charges repel each other while unlike charges
attract each other.
Electric Induction: When a charged object brings to contact with
another uncharged, it gets opposite charge of charged object. It is called
charging by induction.
Charge is Quantized: An object that is electrically charged has an
excess or deficiency of some whole number of electrons. Since, electrons cannot
be divided into fraction of electrons, it means that the charge of an object is
a whole-number multiple of the charge of an electron. For example, it cannot
have a charge equal to the charge of 0.5 or 1000.5 electrons.
Mathematically q = ± ne, here n = 1, 2, 3 and e =
1.6 × 10–19 coulomb.
Electric Charge is Conserved: According to this property, "An electric charge
neither can be created nor can be destroyed" i.e., total net charge of an
isolated system is always conserved. Thus, when a glass rod rubbed with silk
cloth, both glass rod and silk cloth acquire opposite charge in same quantity.
Thus, total amount of charge remains same before rubbing as well as after
rubbing.
Conductors
and Insulators:
Some substances easily allow passage of electricity
through them while others do not. Substances which allow electricity to pass
through them easily are called ‘conductors. They have electrons that are free
to move inside the material. Metals, human and animal bodies, earth etc. are
example of conductors. Non-metals e.g., glass, plastic, wood are ‘insulators’
because they do not easily allow passage of electricity through them.
Most substances are either conductors or insulators.
There is a third category called ‘semiconductors’ which are intermediate
between conductors and insulators because they partially allow movement of
charges through them.
Charging
by Induction:
Now as we know that two oppositely charged bodies
attract each other. But it also has been our observation that a charged body
attracts a neutral body as well. This is explained on the basis of charging by
induction. In induction process two bodies (at least one body must be charged)
are brought very close, but they never touch each other.

Let us examine how a charged body attracts an
uncharged body. Imagine a conducting or partially conducting body (sphere here)
is kept on an insulating stand and a charged rod (positive, for example) is
brought very close to it. It will attract electrons to its side and the farther
end of the sphere will become positively charged as it is deficient of
electrons.
Coulomb’s Law:
·
In 1785 Charles Coulomb (1736-1806)
experimentally established the fundamental law of electric force between two
stationary charged particles. He observed that An electric force between two
charge particles has the following properties:
·
It is directed along a line joining the
two particles and is inversely proportional to the square of the separation
distance r, between them.
·
t is proportional to the product of the
magnitudes of the charges, |q1| and |q2|, of the two
particles.
·
It is attractive if the charges are of
opposite sign and repulsive if the charges have the same sign.
From these observations, Coulomb proposed the
following mathematical form for the electric force between two charges. The
magnitude of the electric force F between charges q1 and q2 separated by a
distance r is given by
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where k is a constant called the Coulomb constant.
The proportionality constant k in Coulomb’s law is similar to G in Newton’s law
of gravitation. Instead of being a very small number like G (6.67 × 10–11),
the electrical proportionality constant k is a very large number. It is
approximately.
k = 8.9875 × 109 N-m2C–2
The constant k is often written in terms of another
constant, ε0, called the permittivity of free space. It is related to k by
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Electric
Field:
A charge produces something called an electric field
in the space around it and this electric field exerts a force on any charge
(except the source charge itself) placed in it. The electric field has its own
existence and is present even if there is no additional charge to experience
the force.
Intensity of Electric Field:
Intensity of electric field due to a charge
configuration at a point is defined as the force acting on a unit positive
charge at this point. Hence if a charge q experiences an electric force F at a
point then intensity of electric field at this point is given as
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It has S.I. units of newtons per coulomb (N/C).
Electric Field due to a Point
Charge:

To determine the direction of an electric field,
consider a point charge q as a source charge. This charge creates an electric
field at all points in space surrounding it. A test charge q0 is placed at
point P, a distance r from the source charge. According to Coulomb’s law, the
force exerted by q on the test charge is.
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This force is directed away from the source charge
q, since the electric field at P, the position of the test charge, is defined
by
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we find that at P, the electric field created by q
is
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Electric Field Lines:
Electric field lines are a way of pictorially
mapping the electric field around a configuration of charges. An electric field
line is, in general, a curve drawn in such a way that the tangent to it at each
point is in the direction of the net field at that point.
The field lines follow some important general properties:
·
The tangent to electric field lines at
any point gives the direction of electric field at that point.
·
In free space, they are continuous
curves which emerge from positive charge and terminate at negative charge
·
They do not intersect each other. If
they do so, then it would mean two directions of electric field at the point of
intersection, which is not possible.
·
Electrostatic field lines do not form
any closed loops. This follows from the conservative nature of electric field.

Electric
Dipole:
A configuration of two charges of same magnitude q,
but of opposite sign, separated by a small distance (say 2a) is called an
electric dipole.
Dipole moment for an electric dipole is a vector
quantity directed from the negative charge to the positive charge and its
magnitude is p = q × 2a (charge × separation). The SI unit of dipole moment is
C-m (coulombmeter).

Gauss’s Law:
·
The flux of electric field through any
closed surface S is 1/ε_0 times the
·
Total charge enclosed by S.
·
Electric field outside the charged shell
is as though the total charge is concentrated at the center. The same result is
true for a solid sphere of uniform volume charge density.
·
The electric field is zero at all points
inside a charged shell.
Deduction of Coulomb’s law from
Gauss' Law:
Consider a charge +q in place at origin in a vacuum.
We want to calculate the electric field due to this charge at a distance r from
the charge. Imagine that the charge is surrounded by an imaginary sphere of radius
r as shown in the figure below. This sphere is called the Gaussian sphere.

Consider a small area element dS on the Gaussian
sphere. We can calculate the flux through this area element due to charge as
follows:
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Using this in Gauss theorem we get
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We know that
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This is
the required Coulomb’s law obtained from Gauss theorem.
Dipole
Placed in Uniform External Field:

Since
the impact of an external electric field on charges is already known to us; a
dipole too will experience some form of force when introduced to an external
field. It is interesting to learn that, a dipole placed in an external electric
field acquires a rotating effect. This rotating effect is termed as ‘torque’
felt by the dipole. Excitingly, the net torque can be calculated on the
opposite charges present in a dipole for estimating the overall rotation.
Torque
on dipole:
Consider a dipole located in the same position ‘E’
to calculate the torque received by the dipole when positioned outside. The
compulsory charge will be placed below the ‘qE’ magnitude as you go up, while
the negative charge will be placed below the ‘qE’ magnitude as you go down.
Since the absolute power is zero, it can be seen
that the dipole is in the equation at the moment. But what is the rotation
rate? In this case, the dipole may remain stable but rotates at a certain
angular velocity. This fact has been demonstrated by experimentation, and it
shows that both electrostatic forces (qE) act as clock-related torque.
As a result, when a dipole is inserted into the same
external electrical circuit, it rotates. Torque always works with external
force applied which will be in pairs. Moreover, its size is a result of its
strength and arm. The arm can be thought of as the distance between the point
of force applied and the point at which rotation occurs at the dipole.
Torque
Torque (τ) = Force × distance separating forces
Torque is a vector whose direction is determined by
the force acting on the axis. The magnitude of the torque vector is determined
as follows:
T = F r sinθ
Which means,
F - force acting on the axis
r - temporary arm length
θ - angle between force vector and temporary arm
τ - is the vector of torque
Derivation of Torque
Consider a dipole with the angles of + q and q
forming a dipole because they are separated by a distance of d. Positioned in
the same electric field of power E, the dipole axis forms an θ angle with an
electric field.
Charging power, F = ± q E
Elements of power perpendicular to dipole, F = ± q E
sinθ
Since ‘qd’ is the magnitude of the dipole moment
(p), and the direction of the dipole moment ranges from positive to negative;
torque is the product of a dipole moment cross and an electric field. When the
direction of the electric field is positive, the torque is in the clock
(therefore negative) in the image above.
So,
τ = - pE sinθ
An
incorrect sign indicates that the torque is in the clockwise direction.
Potential
energy of dipole:

Consider a dipole with charges q1 = +q
and q2 = -q placed in a uniform electric field as shown in the
figure above. The charges are separated by a distance d and the magnitude of an
electric field is E. The force experienced by the charges is given as –qE and
+qE, as can be seen in the figure.
As we know that, when a dipole is placed in a
uniform electric field, both the charges as a whole do not experience any
force, but it experiences a torque equal to τ which can be given as,
τ = p × E
Consider a dipole with charges q1 = +q
and q2 = -q placed in a uniform electric field as shown in the
figure above. The charges are separated by a distance d and the magnitude of an
electric field is E. The force experienced by the charges is given as –qE and
+qE, as can be seen in the figure.
As we know that, when a dipole is placed in a
uniform electric field, both the charges as a whole do not experience any
force, but it experiences a torque equal to τ which can be given as,
= pE(cosθ0 – cosθ1)
As we know that the work done in
bringing a system of charges from infinity to the given configuration is
defined as the potential energy of the system, hence the potential energy
U(Ɵ) can be associated with the
inclination Ɵ of the dipole using the above relation.
U(θ) = pE(cosθ0 – cosθ1
From the above equation, we can see that
the potential energy of dipole placed in an external field is zero when the
angle Ɵ is equal to 90° or when the dipole makes an angle of 90°.
Considering the initial angle to be the
angle at which the potential energy is zero, the potential energy of the system
can be given as,
U(θ) = pE(cos
Workdone by dipole:
A pair of force which is equal in
magnitude, with opposite direction, and displaced by perpendicular distance or
moment is known as the couple.
When a couple
acts on a dipole
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Work done to rotate a dipole is given by

Total
work done is given by
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When the dipole is rotated from 0 to θ
degrees, work done is given by

Hence,
the work done to rotate a dipole in an external electric uniform field is
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Work done if dipole rotated from 90
degree

Work done if dipole rotated from 180
degree
When

The
dipole is said to be stable when the dipole is aligned in the direction of the
electric field.
Stable and unstable equilibrium:
Stable
equilibrium
“A body is said to be in stable
equilibrium if after a slight tilt it returns to its previous position.”stable
equilibrium state
Consider a book lying on the table. Tilt
the book slightly about its one edge by lifting it from the opposite side. It
returns to its previous position when sets free. Such a state of the body is
called a stable equilibrium.
When a body is in stable equilibrium,
its center of gravity is at the lowest position. When it is tilted, its center
of gravity rises. It returns to its stable equilibrium as long as the center of
gravity acts through the base of the body.
Examples
of stable equilibrium:
·
Chair lying on the floor
·
The heavy base of the vehicle
·
Table lying on the ground
·
Cone lying on its base by lowering its
center of gravity
·
Bottle lying on its base
Unstable equilibrium:
“If a body does not return to its
previous position when sets free after the slightest tilt is said to be in
unstable equilibrium.”unstable equilibrium state
Take a pencil and try to keep it in the
vertical position on its tip. Whenever you leave it, the pencil topples over
about its tip and falls down. This is called an unstable equilibrium. In an
unstable equilibrium, a body may be made to stay only for a moment. Thus a body
is an unstable equilibrium.
The center of gravity of the body is at
its highest position in the state of unstable equilibrium. As the body topples
over about its base (tip), its center of gravity moves towards its lower
position and does not return to its previous position.
Example
of unstable equilibrium:
·
When the ice cream cone is made to rest
on its apex on a book, the movement of the book will disturb the position of
the ice cream cone. This is an example of unstable equilibrium.
·
When the weather changes from freezing
to hot to freezing rapidly and without reason, this is an example of a time
when it is unstable. When a person has a bad temper that can explode or flare
up with no provocation at all, this is an example of a person who would be
described as unstable. Not firmly placed; unsteady.
Electric Field on axial and equatorial line
Axial
line: Axial line is the line which is passing
through the positive and negative charges and the point lies on that line is
called the axial point.
Electric field on axial line of dipole
is given by:


Equatorial
line: Equatorial line is the perpendicular
line to the line passing through the positive and negative charges and the
point lies on that line is known as the equatorial point.
Electric field on equatorial line of
dipole is given by:


Relation
between electric field at axial and equatorial line
Electric field due to an electric dipole
at points situated at a distancer r along its axial line is given as,

Electric field due to an electric dipole
at points situated at a distance r along its equatorial plane is given as,

From (i) and (ii)

Therefore, ratio is 2 : 1
Relation between E and V:
The electric field exists if and only if
there is a electric potential difference. If the charge is uniform at all
points, however high the electric potential is, there will not be any electric
field. Thus, the relation between electric field and electric potential can be
generally expressed as – “Electric field is the negative space derivative of
electric potential.”
Electric
Field And Electric Potential
The relation between Electric field and
electric potential is mathematically given by-

Where,
E is the Electric field.
V is the electric potential.
dx is the path length.
– Sign is the electric gradient
Direction
of Electric Field
If the field is directed from lower
potential to higher then the direction is taken to be positive.
If the field is directed from higher
potential to lower potential then the direction is taken as negative.
|
Test charge |
Formula |
Electric gradient
|
|
Positive |
|
Higher as you go closer towards test charge.
|
|
Negative |
|
Higher as you go move away from test charge.
|
|
Equipotential surface
|
|
Electric potential is perpendicular to Electric
field lines.
|
Electric Field And Electric Potential Relation
Derivation:

Where,
·
F
is the force applied
·
dl
is the short element of the path while moving it from a to b.
The force can be written as charge times electric
field.

Dividing both sides by test charge q0

Workdone by the test charge is the
potential Va - Vb

For equipotential surface, Va =
Vb thus,


Important
Questions
Multiple Choice questions-
1. The
surface considered for Gauss’s law is called
(a) Closed
surface
(b)
Spherical surface
(c) Gaussian
surface
(d) Plane
surface
2. The total
flux through the faces of the cube with side of length a if a charge q is
placed at corner A of the cube is


3. Which of
the following statements is not true about Gauss’s law?
(a)
Gauss’s law is true for any closed surface.
(b) The term q
on the right side of Gauss’s law includes the sum of all charges enclosed by
the surface.
(c)
Gauss’s law is not much useful in calculating electrostatic
field when the system has some symmetry.
(d) Gauss’s law
is based on the inverse square dependence on distance contained in the
coulomb’s law
4. A charge
Q is placed at the center of the line joining two point charges +q and +q as
shown in the figure. The ratio of charges Q and q is
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(a) 4
(b) 1/4
(c) -4
(d) -1/4
5. The force
per unit charge is known as
(a) electric
flux
(b) electric
field
(c) electric
potential
(d) electric
current
6. Electric
field lines provide information about
(a) field
strength
(b)
direction
(c) nature
of charge
(d) all of
these
7. Which of
the following figures represent the electric field lines due to a single
negative charge?

8. The SI
unit of electric flux is
(a) N C-1
m-2
(b) N C m-2
(c) N C-2
m2
(d) N C-1
m2
9. The unit
of electric dipole moment is
(a) newton
(b) coulomb
(c) farad
(d) Debye
10. Consider
a region inside which, there are various types of charges but the total charge
is zero. At points outside the region
(a)
the electric field is necessarily zero.
(b) the electric
field is due to the dipole moment of the charge distribution only.
(c)
the dominant electric field is inversely pro-portional to r3,
for large r (distance from ori-gin).
(d) the work
done to move a charged particle along a closed path, away from the region will
not be zero.
Very Short:
1.
What is the
value of the angle between the vectors
and
for
which the potential energy of an electric dipole of dipole moment
, kept in an external electric field
, has maximum value.
2.
Define
electric field intensity at a point.
3.
Two equal
point charges separated by 1 m distance experience force of 8 N. What will be
the force experienced by them, if they are held in water, at the same distance?
(Given: Kwater = 80) (CBSE Al 2011C)
4.
A charge ‘q’
is placed at the centre of a cube of side l. What is the electric flux passing
through each face of the cube? (CBSE AI 2012) (CBSE Sample Paper 2019)
5.
Why do the
electric field lines not form closed loops? (CBSE Al 2012C)
6.
Two equal
balls having equal positive charge ‘q’ coulomb 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? (CBSE AI 2014)
7.
What is the
electric flux through a cube of side l cm which encloses an electric dipole?
(CBSE Delhi 2015)
8.
Why are
electric field lines perpendicular at a point on an equipotential surface of a
conductor? (CBSE Al 2015C)
9.
What is the
amount of work done in moving a point charge Q. around a circular arc of radius
‘r’ at the centre of which another point charge ‘q’ is located? (CBSE Al 2016)
10.
How does the
electric flux due to a point charge enclosed by a spherical Gaussian surface
get affected when its radius is increased? (CBSE Delhi 2016)
Short Questions:
1.
(a) Electric
field inside a conductor is zero. Explain.
(b) The
electric field due to a point charge at any point near it is given as
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what is the
physical significance of this limit?
2. Define the
electric line of force and give its two important properties.
3. Draw electric field lines due to (i) two similar
charges, (ii) two opposite charges, separated by a small distance.
4. An electric dipole is free to move in a uniform
electric field. Explain what is the force and torque acting on it when it is
placed
(i) parallel to
the field
(ii)
perpendicular to the field
5. A small metal sphere carrying charge +Q. is
located at the centre of a spherical cavity in a large uncharged metallic
spherical shell. Write the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the
shell. Write the expression for the electric field at the point P1
(CBSE Delhi 2014C)
6. 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. (CBSE Al 2014C)
7. Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and
CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept at an angle of 120° as shown in the
figure. What is the resultant dipole moment of this combination? If this system
is subjected to the electric field (
) directed along +X direction, what will be the
magnitude and direction of the torque acting on this? (CBSE Delhi 2011)
8. A metallic spherical shell has an inner radius R1
and outer radius R2. A charge Q is placed at the centre of the
spherical cavity. What will be surface charge density on (i) the inner surface,
and (ii) the outer surface? (NCERT Exemplar)
Long Questions:
1.
(a) State Gauss
theorem in electrostatics. Using it, prove that the electric field at a point
due to a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet is independent of the distance
from it.
(b) How is the
field directed if (i) the sheet is positively charged, (ii) negatively charged?
(C8SE Delhi 2012)
2. Use Gauss’s
law to derive the expression for the electric field (
) due to a straight uniformly charged infinite line
of charge λ Cm-1. (CBSE Delhi 2018)
Assertion and Reason Questions-
1. For two statements are given-one labelled Assertion (A) and the other
labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the
codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct
explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the
correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false and R is also false.
Assertion (A): The electric flux emanating out and entering
a closed surface are 8 × 103 and 2 × 103Vm
respectively. The charge enclosed by the surface is 0.053μC.
Reason (R): Gauss's theorem in electrostatics may be
applied to verify.
2. For two statements are given-one labelled Assertion (A) and the other
labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the
codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct
explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the
correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false and R is also false.
Assertion (A): Charge is quantized.
Reason (R): Charge which is less than I C is not
possible.
Case Study Questions-
1. Electric field strength is proportional to the density of lines of
force i.e., electric field strength at a point is proportional to the number of
lines of force cutting a unit area element placed normal to the field at that
point. As illustrated in the given figure, the electric field at P is stronger
that at Q.

(i) Electric lines of force about a positive point
charge are:
a) Radially outwards.
b) Circular clockwise.
c) Radially inwards.
d) Parallel straight lines.
(ii) Which of the following is false for electric lines
of force?
a) They always start from positive charges and
terminate on negative charges.
b) They are always perpendicular to the surface of a
charged conductor.
c) They always form closed loops.
d) They are parallel and equally spaced in a region of
uniform electric field.
(iii) Which one of the following pattern of electric line
of force in not possible in filed due to stationary charges?
|
a) |
|
|
b) |
|
|
c) |
|
|
d) |
|
(iv) Electric lines of force are curved:
a) In the field of a single positive or negative
charge.
b) In the field of two equal and opposite charges.
c) In the field of two like charges.
d) Both (b) and (c).
(v) The figure below shows the electric field lines due
to two positive charges. The magnitudes EA, EB and
EC of the electric fields at points A, Band C respectively are
related as:

a) EA > EB > EC
b) EB > EA > EC
c) EA = EB > EC
d) EA > EB = EC
2. Net electric flux through a cube is the sum of fluxes through its six
faces. Consider a cube as shown in figure, having sides of length L = 10.0cm.
The electric field is uniform, has a magnitude E = 4.00 × 103N
C-1 and is parallel to the xy plane at an angle of
37º measured from the + x - axis towards the + y - axis.

(i) Electric flux passing through surface S6 is:
a) -24N m2 C-1
b) 24N m2 C-1
c) 32N m2 C-1
d) -32N m2 C-1
(ii) Electric flux passing through surface S1 is:
a) -24N m2 C-1
b) 24N m2 C-1
c) 32N m2 C-1
d) -32N m2 C-1
(iii) The surfaces that have zero flux are:
a) S1 and S3
b) S5 and S6
c) S2 and S4
d) S1 and S2
(iv) The total net electric flux through all faces of
the cube is:
a) 8N m2 C-1
b) -8N m2 C-1
c) 24N m2 C-1
d) Zero.
(v) The dimensional formula of surface integral ∮
d
of an electric field is:
a) [M L2 T-2 A-1]
b) [M L3 T-3 A-1]
c) [M L-1 T3 A-3]
d) [M L-3 T-3 A-1]
ü Answer
Key:
Multiple Choice Answers-
1.
Answer: c
2.
Answer: a
3.
Answer: c
4.
Answer: d
5.
Answer: b
6.
Answer: d
7.
Answer: b
8.
Answer: d
9.
Answer: d
10.Answer: c
Very Short Answers:
1. Answer:
P.E. = -pEcos
θ
P.E. is
maximum when cos θ = - 1, i.e.
θ = 180°
2. Answer: Electric field intensity at a point
is defined as the force experienced by a unit test charge placed at that point.
Mathematically
we have

3. Answer: The force in water is given by
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4. Answer: Φ = q/6ε0
5. Answer: It is due to the conservative nature
of the electric field.
6. Answer: It decreases because force ∝ =
and k
> 1.
7. Answer: Zero
8. Answer: So that no net force acts on the
charge at the equipotential surface, and it remains stationary.
9. Answer: Zero.
10.Answer: No change, as flux does not depend
upon the size of the Gaussian surface.
Short Questions Answers:
1. Answer:

(b) It
indicates that the test charge should be infinitesimally small so that it may
not disturb the electric field of the source charge.
2. Answer:
It is a line
straight or curved, a tangent to which at any point gives the direction of the
electric field at that point.
(a) No two
field lines can cross, because at the point of intersection two tangents can be
drawn giving two directions of the electric field which is not possible.
(b) The field
lines are always perpendicular to the surface of a charged conductor.
3. Answer:
(a) The diagram
is as shown.

(b) The diagram
is as shown.

4. Answer:
(i) When an
electric dipole is placed parallel to a uniform electric field, net force, as
well as net torque acting on the dipole, is zero and, thus, the dipole remains
in equilibrium.
(ii) When the dipole
is placed perpendicular to the field, two forces acting on the dipole form a
couple, and hence a torque acts on it which aligns its dipole along the
direction of the electric field.
5. Answer:


6. Answer:
Let the
potential be zero at point P at a distance x from charge q as shown

Now potential
at point P is
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Solving for x
we have
x = d
7. Answer:
The resultant
dipole moment of the combination is
![]()
since cos 120°
= -1/2
This will make
an angle of 30° with the X-axis, therefore torque acting on it is
τ=PE sin 30° =
pE/2 (Along Z-direction)
Answer: The
induction of charges is as shown.

Therefore,
surface charge density on the inner and the outer shell is on the outer surface
is

Long Questions Answers:
1. Answer:

Consider an
infinite plane sheet of charge. Let a be the uniform surface charge density,
i.e. the charge per unit surface area. From symmetry, we find that the electric
field must be perpendicular to the plane of the sheet and that the direction of
E on one side of the plane must be opposite to its direction on the other side
as shown in the figure below. In such a case let us choose a Gaussian surface
in the form of a cylinder with its axis perpendicular to the sheet of charge,
with ends of area A.
The charged
sheet passes through the middle of the cylinder’s length so that the cylinder’s
ends are equidistant from the sheet. The electric field has a normal component
at each end of the cylinder and no normal component along the curved surface of
the cylinder. As a result, the electric flux is linked with only the ends and
not the curved surface.

Therefore, by
the definition of electric flux, the flux Linked with the Gaussian surface is
given by

(b)
(i) directed
outwards
(ii) directed
inwards.
2. Answer:

Consider an
infinitely Long, thin wire charged positively and having uniform Linear charge
density λ. The symmetry of the charge distribution shows that must be
perpendicular to the tine charge and directed outwards. As a result of this
symmetry, we consider a Gaussian surface in the form of a cylinder with
arbitrary radius r and arbitrary Length L. with its ends perpendicular to the
wire as shown in the figure. Applying Gauss’s theorem to curved surface ΔA1
and circular surface ΔA2.

This is the
expression for the electric field due to an infinitely long thin wire.
The graph is
as shown.

Assertion and Reason Answers-
1. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
According to Gauss's theorem in electrostatics, ![]()

2. (c) A is true but R is false.
Explanation:
The charge q on a body is given as q = ne where n
is any integer positive or negative. The charge on the electron is q = 1.6
× 10-19C which is less than 1C.
Case Study Answers-
1. Answer :
(i) (a) Radially outwards.
(ii) (c) They always form closed loops.
Explanation:
Electric lines of force do not form any closed
loops.
(iii) (c)
Explanation:
Electric field tines can't be closed.
(iv) (d) Both (b) and (c).
(v) (a) EA > EB >
EC
2. Answer :












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