38 Equipotental surfaces (spherical in shape) Different properties of equipotential surface are given below (j) Equipotential surfaces do not intersect each other as it gives two directions of electric field at intersecting point which is not possible. (Gi) Equipotential surfaces are closely spaced in the region of strong electric field and vice-versa, (iii) Electric field is always normal to equipotential surface at every point of it and directed from one cequipotential surface at higher potential to the cequipotential surface at lower potential (iv) Work done in moving a test charge from one point of ‘equipotential surface to other is zero. Relation Between Electric Field and Potential Gradient Relation between electric field and potential gradient is, ee Chop terwise CBSE Solved Papers : PHYSICS ‘where, negative sign indicates thatthe direction of electric field is from higher potential to lower potential, Le, in the direction of decreasing potential. INGE (9 electric eld isin the drecton of whch the potential decreases steepest (ts magnitude given bythe change inthe magnitude of potential per un Gsplacement normal tothe equipotent surface at point from higher potential to lower potent Potential Energy in an External Electric Field Potential energy in an external electric field can be given » Potential Energy of a Single Charge Potential energy of single charge q at a point with position vector r, in an extemal field is qV(r) where, V (1) is the potential at that point due to external electric field E. + Potential Energy of a System of Two Charges U av @)=ay es) where, 4142 =*Wo point charges at position vectors r, and respectively, V (e,) = potential at x, due to the extemal field and V(r,) = potential at r due to the extemal field Previous Years Questions ere ee 1 Mark Questions Multiple Choice Questions 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 P is proportional to case 2023 1 1 1 1 o4 O35 ©, Onn x ¥ x x If the electric potential on the axis of an electric dipole at a distance r from its centre is V, then the potential at ‘a point at the same distance on its equatorial line will be CBSE SQP 2022-23 ov (@) zero 3. A+3.0nC charge Q is initially at a distance of 7, =10cm from a+ 5.0nC charge q fixed at the origin. ‘The charge Q is moved away from q to a new position 'S em. In this process, the work done by the (CBSE 2022 (Term) (b) 36x 10° J (45x10) (@ 129x108 3 (©~45% 10-7 4, Two charges 14 uC and ~ 4 nC are placed at (126m, 0, 0) and (12 em, 0,0) in an external electric \ field B 5 jee = 1.2% 108 Nlem? and ris in r metres. The electrostatie potential energy of the configuration is (CBSE 2022 (Term-l)Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance — (9795 (213 (by 102.15 (@)-97.91 5, Equipotentials at a large distance from a collection of charges whose total sum is not zero are CBSE 2022 (Term) (a) spheres () planes (©) ellipsoids (4) paraboloids 6. Four charges —9, ~9, + q and +g are placed at the comers of a square of side 2 L is shown in figure. The electric potential at point A mid-way between the two charges +g and +q is (CBSE 2022 (Term-t) Say 4 i rs I zl 1 2a(, +) 4) Om tlz ttf a Op, a(t z) Ore 7. Which of the following is not the property of equipotential surface? (CBSE SP 2021-22 (a) They do not cross each other. (b) The rate of change of potential with distance on them is zero. (©) For a uniform electric field, they are concentric spheres. (@ They can be imaginary spheres. Assertion-Reason Questions Directions (Q. Nos. 8-13) In the following questions, 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 (@) Ifboth Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion. (b) Ifboth Assertion and Reason are correet but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion, (©) If Assertion is comect but Reason is incorrect. (@ Ifboth Assertion and Reason are incorrect. 8. Assertion Work done in moving a charge around a closed path in an electri field is always zero. Reason Electrostatic force is a conservative force. 39 9. Assertion Electric field is always normal to ‘equipotential surfaces and along the direction of decreasing order of potential Reason Negative gradient of electric potential is electric field. 10. Assertion Conductor having equal positive charge and volume, must also have same potential Reason Potential depends only an charge and volume of conductor. 14, Assertion. When two positive point charges move away from each other, then their electrostatic potential energy decreases, Reason Change in potential energy between two points is equal to the work done by electrostatic forces. 412, Assertion Five charges +g each are placed at five vertices of a regular pentagon. A sixth charge ~O is placed at the centre of pentagon, then net electrostatic force on ~Qis zero, Reason Net electrostatic potential at the centre is zero, 13, Assertion Work done by the electrostatic force in bringing the unit positive charge from infinity to the point P is positive, Reason For <0, the force on unit positive charge is attractive, so that the electrostatic force and the displacement (from infinity to P) are in the same direction Very Short Answer Questions 14, Define electric potential at a point and write its SI unit CBSE 2023 45, The physical quantity having SI unit NC“! mis se Delhi 2020 46. A proton released from rest in an electric field will start moving towards a region of... potential in the field. ‘All india 2020 117. The work done in moving a charged particle between, ‘wo points in a uniform electric field does not depend ‘on the path followed by the particle. Why? All india 2020 418, Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an isolated point charge, Delhi 2019,40 19, Draw equipotential surfaces for an electric dipole. Delhi 2019 20. State the SI unit of the electric polarisation vector p. ‘CBSE SQP 2018-19 24. In the given figure, charge +0 is placed at the centre of ‘a dotted circle. Work done in taking another charge +4 from 4 to B is I, and from B to C is W7,. Which one of the following is correct : 1 > W,, Wy =H, and W located at positions 7 and r, respectively in an external field (E). CBSE SOP 2020-21Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance —— 39, Write two important characteris surface. cs of equipotential Delhi 2020 40. The magnitude of electric field E (in NC“) ina region varies with the distance r (in em) as E=l0r+5 By how much does the electric potential increase in ‘moving from point at r=1m to a point at r=10m? Delhi 2020 41, (i) Draw equipotential surfaces corresponding to the electric field that uniformly increases in magnitude along with the 2-directions. (Gi) Two charges -g and +g are located at points (0, 0, =a) and (0, 0, a). What is the electrostatic potential atthe points (0,0, 2) and (x, », 0? Delhi 2019 42. (i) Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an electric dipole. i) Detive an expression for the electric field due to a dipole of dipole moment p at a point on its perpendicular bisector. Delhi 2019 43. Two metallic spheres of radii R and 2R are charged, so that both of these have same surface charge density o. If they are connected to each other with a conducting wire, in which direction will the charge flow and why? All india 2016 44, Two point charges q, and q, are located at r, and ry respectively in an extemal electric field E. Obtain the expression for the total work done in assembling this configuration. Delhi 2014 45, Two closely spaced equipotential surfaces A and B with potentials V and V+5/, (where 67 is the change V) are kept5/ distance apart as shown in the figure. (i) Deduce the relation between the electric field and the potential gradient between them. (i) Write the two important conclusions concerning the relation between the eleciric field and electric potential 46. Calculate the amount of work done to dissociate a system of three charges, two of IC and one of -4uC placed on the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side 10cm, Al India 20136 * 4 47. A test charge q is moved without acceleration from A to Calong the path ftom A to B and then from B to C in electric field Kas shown in the figure. (j) Calculate the potential difference, between A andC. (ii) At which point (of the two), the electric potential is more and why? All india 2012 48. Draw a plot showing the variation of (i) electric field (B) and (ii) electric potential (V) with distance r due to point charge Q. Delhi 2012 49, Two uniformly large parallel thin plates having charge densities +-6 and —o are kept in the XZ- plane at a distance d apart, Sketch an equipotential surface due to electric field between the plates. Ifa particle of ‘mass mand charge ~ q remains stationary between the plates, what is the magnitude and direction of this field? Delhi 2011 50. A dipole with its charge ~g and +g located at the points (0,6, 0) and (0, +6,0) is present in @ uniform electric field E. The equipotential surfaces of this field are planes parallel to the YZ-plane, () What is the direction of the electric field E? (i) How much torque would the dipole experience in this field? Delhi 2010¢ 3 Marks Questions 51. State the significance of negative value of electrostatic potential energy of a system of charges. Three charges are placed at the comers 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 2023 AA = 4.oyC +2040 52. (i) Two point charges +0, and ~Q, are placed at r distance apart. Obtain the expression for the amount of work done to place a third charge Q, at42. ——_—— the mid-point of the line joining the two charges. (ii) At what distance from charge +0, on the line joining the two charges (in terms of Q,,0, and ‘will this work done be zero? Delhi 2020 53. (i) Draw the equipotential surfaces corresponding, to a uniform electric field in the direction. i) Derive an expression for the electric potential at any point along the axial fine ofan electric dipole. Del 54, A particle, having a charge + 5 pC, is initially at rest at the point x =30 emon the X-axis. The particle begins to move due to the presence of a charge Q that is kept fixed at the origin. Find the kinetic energy of the particle atthe instant it has moved 15 cm from its initial position, if ()Q=+15pCand Gi) Q=—15 wC case sap 2018-19 019 55. Four point charges O, , Q and q are placed at the comers of a square of side a as shown in figure. Find the (j) resultant electric force on a charge Q and (Gi) potential energy of this system. CBSE 2018 56. (4) Three point charges g, ~ 4g and 2g are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle ABC of side las shown in the figure. Obtain the expression for the magnitude of the resultant electric force acting on the charge q- i\ ae i) Find out the amount of the work done to separate the charges at infinite distance. CBSE 2018 57. (i) Derive the expression for the electric potential due to an electric dipole at a point on its axial line. __ Chapterwise CBSE Solved Papers : PHYSICS (Gi) Depict the equipotential surfaces due to an electric dipole. Delhi 2017 58, Define an equipotential surface. Draw equipotential surfaces, () in ease ofa single point charge (ii) ina constant electric field in z-direction. Why the equipotential surfaces about a single charge are not equidistant? (Gii) Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface? Give reason ‘All india 2016 59. (i) Depict the equipotential surfaces for a system of two identical positive point charges placed at a distance d apart. (i) Deduce the expression for the potential energy of system of two point charges q, and q » brought from infinity to the points with positions r, and F respectively in presence of external electric field E. Delhi 2010 5 Marks Questions 60. Establish the relation between electric field and electric potential ata point, Draw the equipotential surface for an electric field pointing in +z-direction with its magnitude increasing at constant rate along ~z-direction. (CBSE S@P 2020-21 61. (i), Define electrostatic potential at a point. Write its SI unit, Three charges q,, 42 and q3 are Kept respectively at, points , Band C as shown in figure. Write the expression for electrostatic potential energy of the system. 4 er 8, C (Gi) Depict the equipotential surfaces due to (@) an electric dipole (b) two identical negative charges separated by a small distance. CBSE SP 2019-20 62. Two point charges q and -g are located at points (0,0-a) and (00, a) respectively. (j) Find the electrostatic potential at (00, 2) and (x, 10)r Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance —— (ii) How much work is done in moving a small test charge from the point (5,00) to (7,000) along the X-axis? (iii) 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? —_—_ (iv) If the above point charges are now placed in the same positions in a uniform extemal 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 CBSE 2018.C Explanations ve 1, (@) The electric potential of dipole is given by pcos6 7 = Bons, 4ne gr? ‘mid-point of dipole and @ is angle between r and p. Therefore, electric potential at a point which lies at a distance x from mid-point of the dipole will be 1 proportional to 3. (@) Initial potential energy of system is Uy, aK 224 _9*10? «3107 5x10 4 10x10 =135x107 Final potential energy of system is 224.9210" 3x10? «5x10? 2 15x10? 9x107 7 e-Work done, 1” =~ (Change in potential energy) =U, -U; = (135-9) «1077 =45x107 J u 4, (a) When a system of charges is placed in an external electric field, the electrostatic potential energy of the system will be Un g¥ (+4) + KB naa = HEH + 92E 2m +K B B na Snr Sn Ke Here, B =12x10°N/em?, g, =14x10~°C, 4x10°°C % ., where ¥ is position vector with respect to 312x107 m +m =24x10?m 14x10 x12x108 | (~4x10") x12 «10° 12107 12x10? 9x10" «14x10 x (4x10 5. (a) The equipotentials ata large distance from a collection of charges whose total sum is not zero are spheres with centre at the collection of changes. 6. (a) The given system of charges can be shown as Here, AC = AD =VAB? + BC? =1/7? + QL)? =V5L Electric potential at 4, aoa yg 1 ax/f- 4-444 1- [f v5L VSL i] Arey z{ 4) 7. (©) Asall other statements are correct. In uniform electric field, equipotential surfaces are never concentric spheres but are planes perpendicular to electric field lines, 8.(@) We know that, the work done by the conservation force around any closed path is zero, ie. E-dl=0.