CHAPTER # L : Electric Charges and Fields

# Coulomb 's law of Electrostatics :( In vector form)

consider two distance o !
q and q separated by
'

where ,
charges + -

F)2 force exerted on q by 92

⑨-Ñ
=
,

Fa force exerted
on
qz by 9s ma
=
F. ⊕ ← .

,
I
FI 1<-181 -

kq.iq#r?-rI )
i. =

¥ñ
=%÷f ñ=¥ ) ,

¥: ::::
brackets # ET

=¥÷ :÷÷ ,
i :* .

Ñ2Ñt

E.
,k¥÷ 'ñ-ñ Heme PED
: =
>

similarly ,
Force applied by FI ,
FI
=kq;,9÷(É%
=%÷ I
:÷÷,
=

FI
,!%;→cñ-ñ Peᵈ
÷ =
>

Hence
Here ,
we can
clearly observe that → FI = -
FI ,
i. e- 3rd law of newton is valid in
electrostatics also .

# Electric Field due to dipole on axis : →

P
we have two
a
opposite charges separated by
distance of 21 ; which makes it a dipole
'

.
⑦ -
l→ I
← →
④ - - - - - - - -

A is a random point on axis at a distance

g- ate +721¥ '
ayaan sit
'

ÑN→
from centre of dipole
' '
r IT
teacher impress 1
.

Now Field due to ' -9 ' A E-

-1T¥,
at →
5-
,
,

' '
Field due to 1- +
similarly +9 at A
,k÷e,
- =

, g. ,
 So , Net Field f- f-qtftq

=÷÷ii÷ .

=
-Ñq( 8+172
( (rtl) (8-1)/2
2kPr
21%21%-2
=

WI

Now denominator ,
, if 8 >> l ,
we can
ignore 12 in the

E-
=2¥
E-
21¥ µenie%¥ "
"

field due to dipole equitorial line :

'
# Electric on ,
"
,

E-
q=¥→ 1-+9=4%2
'
,
i
.

, .
,

%
C-net =
J+E+iE -q e-e-
it
e- e→

=¥÷i¥÷;iÑ " +nisa ,

Hypo TH (
__
d
°
: pytha)

¥+2 ②
so cos ②

÷÷+÷÷:i
= -

,
= ,

JY¥ f+•
=

11,2%+97,12121050=(71+10520--2105-0)
(2%+1-4152)
= cos ⊖

putting lose here from ② ,

Enet
-1%4%312
=

T.fr > > d ,

12 can be
neglected in the denominator .
 - here
- denotes the direction which
resign
is anti-parallel
-kg¥
Hence, f-
direction of dipole / veto +ve)
=

PIM
to -

Hence
#
Torque on
dipole in external field : _

_*÷ .

Figure shows an electric dipole with

charges + q& q -

at a
separation of 2L
placed in a uniform electric
field CET .

Dipole makes an
angle ⊖ with electric field .

FT = -

qf →
force on
charge -

F) =

qf
→
force on
charge q

FT = -

Fi
which means the force
direction at the two ends
acting on dipole is equal
will behave
in
like
magnitude and opposite in
Therefore
.
it a
couple .

As couple Ps on
acting dipole it produces torque
,
so .

either force )
we know ,
I = ( magnitude of ( ✗
to
line
distance
of action
from
of F)
= F ✗ ( BC)

=
qE ✗ (21 sin ⊖ )
I =
PE Sino ( % P=qke ))
E=FxÉ
Pᵈ
Hence
Caste : when ② = 0° % sin 0=0 ; which means K= .

this condition is called stable equilibrium because when the dipole is

displaced from this orientation ,Ptam back to same
configuration .

fassett : when ⊖ -480° .

: sin 1800--0 ; which 12=07 means
condition is called unstable cause once displaced
this equilibrium
the dipole never comes backlothientaninsted it
aligns itself
parallel to the field
_É¥teaur
.

when -0=9-8 af
e✗Pᵗᵈ ☒
"

CEIL : i. sin 90=1 ; which means T.is maximum .

unstable G-
I2&¥ Ñ
F- PEsÉᵈ 1$47
paper

Miguel
II=Pcm→ *
teacher
d- An FEI 34TH /
ot ¥%
 Gauss verification Coulomb's law :
# law
using
late know, the net electric field closed surface B. D) Ps
enclosed by the
through a
¥
times
the net
charge surface .

Hosed =

%÷= § F. dA→

Verification :
According to electric flux ,
☒ § Ed? § Edsco so
c.
=
,
=

intensity of electric field IÉI distance from

;gᵗ
we know at same
,

charge q will remain constant

,

also for spherical surface 0=00

To electric flux : -

∅e =
C- Ads cos 0°

∅ c- =
c-
fgds
( As § ds means area =
4*82)

To ∅e = f 4-11-82 -
②

Coulomb's law 9
Now ,
according to C- =

{◦ %
( putting in ②, we
get :-
c- "*
∅e=¥¥×
A- =

¥9
◦
og Ole =

i. ✗ ( enclosed charge)
Have
Pwᵈ
# Electric field due to a
straight long charged
08
conductor

Electric field due to a line of density'd!

straight uniformly charged infinite*
'
'
Consider
part of length l uniform
↑
a on this
conductor .
c- 1-
So Gaussian surface will be cylindrical in 1 A
,
this case . d I

-
#
Let
As
direction
da be the small areas
conductor is positively
of E- field will
on

charged
be
the
this "

,
't""
| ; !
radially
,

outwards .

1
I ×

da
Now
, ∅ / c- DA
,
= cos ⊖ G- 90T
=
,
1
i
1

02 =/ EDA [⊖ 90° )
-
o
cos ⊖

[
=

Here A- linear charge den

∅ =/
.

( 0=0]
,
C- DA cos ⊖
} 12=9/1

Hence Netflix ,
÷ One + =
∅ -102+0}
,

=
ffda cos 90 +
ffdA cos 90° -1
/EDA cost
= 0 + 0 +
SEDA
∅ =
C- A

i.
[ Total curved area of surface =2ñrl ]
Now Ace to Gauss
.
Law :
,

∅=9÷
from⑦ , C-
(211-8/1) =

1¥ [: gin Al]
__

E-
2¥74 P¥ʳᵈ
=

Hence
Here , we can clearly see
,
C- ✗
±
^

So
Graphically
Eats
÷
, c-

>
# Electric Field due to infinite phage she
!et of density
'
o
'
:
-

¥
+
Ida
T→da
-

¥
- -

± -

d←§
- -
- - - -

'

+ +1

infinitely long charged

with uniform
plane sheet
surface charge
I 1 density → ( o) .

I
_

Gaussian cylinder of of radius

' '
Draw a area 8 .
Take 3 sample small
'
surfaces 'd A at ① ② ,
& ③ .

Total flux , ∅net

=
∅ -10/2+03
,

ffd A cos 0° +
/ C- DA cos 0° / C- DA + cos 90°

=
/ C- DA +
/ C- DA 0 +

=
C- A + C- A
l∅A→ ②

Acc to
gauss
law, ∅
=9g÷ 0¥
from ② d④

oq.t /C---oy-- Pw¥ᵈ

ZEA =

independent of ,
_

•
 ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
2015

Q1. What is the electric flux through a cube of side 1 cm which encloses an
electric dipole? (1M)

Ans.zero

Q2. (a) An electric dipole of dipole moment p consists of point charges +q and
-q separated by a distance of 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,

(b) Given the electric field in the region x is 2E , find the net electric flux through
the cube and the charge enclosed by it. (5M)

Ans. (a) (b)

Q3. (a) Explain, using suitable diagrams, the di erence in the behaviour of an (i)
conductor and (ii) dielectric in the presence of an external electric field. Define
the terms polarisation 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 point A and (ii)
the electric flux through the shell. (5M)
Ans. (b) (i) (ii)

2016

Q1. A point charge +Q is placed at point O as shown in the figure. Is the

potential di erence VA – VB positive, negative or zero? (1M)

Ans. positive

Q2. How does the electric flux due to a point charge enclosed by a
spherical Gaussian surface get a ected when its radius is increased? (1M)

Ans. does not get a ected

Q3. A charge is distributed uniformly over a ring of radius ‘a. Obtain an

expression for the electric intensity E at a point on the axis of the ring.
Hence show that for points at large distances from the ring, it behaves
like a point charge. (3M)

Ans.

2017

Q1. (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 Eo, 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 cases. (5M)

Ans. c) i) 0 ii) 0

Q2. (a) Use Gauss’s theorem to find the electric field due to a uniformly
charged infinitely large plane thin sheet with surface charge density σ. (b)
An infinitely large thin plane sheet has a uniform surface charge density
+σ. 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. (5M)
Ans. a) b)

2018

Q1. Define electric flux and write its SI unit. The electric field components
in the figure shown are Ex = ax, Ey = 0, Ez = 0 where a = 100 N/Cm. Calculate
the charge within the cube, assuming a = 0.1m. (3M)

Ans. SI unit is Nm^2c^(− 1), q = 8.85 × 10^− 13 C

2019

Q1. Draw the pattern of electric field lines, when a point charge – Q is kept
near an uncharged conducting plate. (1M)

Q2. (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. (3M)

Q3. (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 the 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. (5M)

Ans. b) r = 1 m & Q=q/4

2020

Q1. If the net electric flux through a closed surface is zero, then we can
infer
(A) no net charge is enclosed by the surface.
(B) uniform electric field exists within the surface.
(C) electric potential varies from point to point inside the surface. (D)
charge is present inside the surface. (1M)
Ans. (A)

Q2. (a) Using Gauss law, derive expression for electric field due to a
spherical shell of uniform charge distribution σ and radius R at a point
lying at a distance x from the centre of shell, such that

(i) 0 < x < R, and (ii) x > R.

(b) An electric field is uniform and acts along + x direction in the region of
positive x. It is also uniform with the same magnitude but acts in – x
direction in the region of negative x. The value of the field is E = 200 N/C
for x > 0 and E = – 200 N/C for x < 0. A right circular cylinder of length 20
cm and radius 5 cm has its centre at the origin and its axis along the
x-axis so that one flat face is at x = + 10 cm and the other is at x = – 10 cm.
Find : (i) The net outward flux through the cylinder. (ii) The net charge
present inside the cylinder. (5M)

Ans. i) ii)

2022

Q1. An electric dipole placed in a non-uniform electric field will

experience:

(A) Only a force

(B) Only a torque

(C) both force and torque

(D) Neither force nor torque

Ans. (C)

Q2. Let N1 be the number of electric field lines going out of an imaginary
cube of side that encloses an isolated point charge 2q and N2 be the
corresponding number for an imaginary sphere of radius that encloses
an isolated point charge 3q. Then (N1/N2) is:

(A) 1/π

(B) 2/3

(C) 9/4

(D) π
Ans. (A)

Q3. Infinity resistance in a resistance box has:

(A) a resistance of 105 Ω

(B) a resistance of 107 Ω

(C) a resistance of ∞ resistance

(D) a gap only

Ans. (D)

Q4. A charge Q is placed at the centre of the line joining two charges q
and q. The system of the three charges will be in equilibrium if Q is:

(A) +q/3 (B) -q/3 (C) +q/4 (D) -q/4

Ans. (D)

Q5. Electric flux of an electric field E g through an area A is given by:

Ans. (C)

Q6. Two point charges + 16q and – 4q are located at x = 0 and x = L. The
location of the point on x-axis at which the resultant electric field due to
these charges is zero, is:

(A) 8 L

(B) 6 L

(C) 4 L

(D) 2 L

Ans. (D)
Q7. An electric dipole of dipole moment 4 × 10-5 C-m, kept in a uniform
electric field of 10-3 NC-1, experience a torque of 2 × 10-8 Nm. The angle
which the dipole makes with the electric field is:

(A) 30°

(B) 45°

(C) 60°

(D) 90°

Ans. (A)

Q8. Three identical charges are placed on x-axis from left to right with
adjacent charges separated by a distance d. The magnitude of the force
on a charge from its nearest neighbour charge is F. Let 1 i be the unit
vector along + x axis, then the net force on each charge from left to right
is :

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

Ans. (C)

Q9. Two students A and B calculate the charge flowing through a circuit. A
concludes that 300 C of charges flows in 1 minute. B concludes that 3.125 ×
1019 electrons flow in 1 second. If the current measured in the circuit is 5A,
then the correct calculation is done by :

(A) A

(B) B

(C) both A and B

(D) neither A nor B

Ans. (C)

Q10. If a charge is moved against a coulomb force of an electric field, then

the:
(A) intensity of the electric field increases

(B) intensity of the electric field decreases

(C) work is done by the electric field

(D) work is done by the external source

Ans. (D)