Solution

ELECTROSTATICS_35MARKS

Class 12 - Physics
1. The lines of force near point P are closest to each other in a pattern (c) and farthest apart in a pattern (a). Consequently, the electric
field near point P is strongest in case (c) and weakest in case (a).
∴ The momentum of the proton at point Q in a pattern (c) > Momentum of a proton at point Q in a pattern (b) > Momentum of the

proton at point Q in a pattern (a).

2. a. Here, F = 0.2N
q1 = 0.4 μC = 0.4 × 10-6C

q2 = 0.8 μC = 0.8 × 10-6C

q q
F= 1

4πε0
1

2
2

Thus, r2 =
q q
1 1 2

4πε0 F

r2 =
9 −6 −6
9× 10 ×0.4× 10 ×0.8× 10

0.2

r2 = 36 × 4 × 10-4 = 144 × 10-4

r = 12 × 10-2m = 0.12m = 12 cm.
b. Force on the second sphere due to the first is same, i.e. 0.2 N and force is attractive as charges are unlike.
3. Let each side of the equilateral triangle be d.
Dipole moment along CA = qd
Dipole moment along CB = qd
By parallelogram law, the net dipole moment acts along diagonal CD. Its magnitude is
− −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−− − –
p = √(qd) + (qd) + 2qd × qd × cos 60 = √3 qd
2 2 ∘

This dipole moment acts along the bisector of the angle at charge -2q.
4. Volume of bigger sphere = 2 × volume of each sphere
R3 = 2 × r3
4 4
π π
3 3

R3 = 2r3
R = (2)1/3r
∴ Surface charge density of each sphere
– q q
√1 = =
A 2
4πr

and Surface charge density of the large sphere

– 2q 2q
√2 = =
A 2
4πR

√1 q 2
4πR
∵ = ×
2 2q
√2 4π r
2
1/3 2
(2 ) ⋅r
2
R
= =
2 2
2r 2r
2/3
√1 (2)
= =
√2 2

= (2)2/3 : 2
– –
√1 : √2

5. Suppose, q be the magnitude of the charge and r1, r2, and r3 be the distances in first, second and third case respectively.
According to the question,
q = ± 34.8 RC = ± 3.48 × 104 C
r1 = 1 cm = 10‒2 m
r2 = 100 m

r3 = 106 m
Suppose, F1, F2 and F3 are forces in first, second and third case respectively, then by using
2
q
|F | =
2
(4π ε0 r )

=9 x 10 9 x (3.48 x 10^4)2/(10-2)2

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 We have, F1 = 1.09 × 1023 N
Simillarly,
F2= 1.09 × 1015 N

F3 = 1.09 × 107 N
Conclusion: When separated as point charges these charges exert an enormous force. It is not easy to disturb electrical neutrality.
23

6. Number of atoms in each piece of copper = 6× 10

63.5
×10 22
= 9.45 × 10

Number of electrons transferred, n = 1

1000
× 9.45 × 10
22

19
n = 9.45 × 10

∴ Charges on each piece after transfer

19 −19
q1 = q2 = ±ne = ±9.45 × 10 × 1.6 × 10

= ±15.12C

Given r = 0.1 m
2
q1 q2 (15.12)
Thus, F =
4πε0
1

2
= 9 × 10
9
×
2
r (0.1)

14
= 2.06 × 10 N

7. Force exerted on the electron by the electric field,

F = eE
∴ Acceleration,

= 0.35 × 1016 ms-2

−19 4

a= F

m
=
eE

m
=
1.6× 10

−31
×2× 10

9×10

Now u = 0, s = 6.0 cm = 0.06 m, a = 0.35 × 1016 ms-2

at2
1
As s = ut + 2

∴ 0.06 = 0 + 1

2
× 0.35 × 1016 × t2
−−−−−−−
or t = √ 0.06×2

16
= 0.585 × 10-8 s
0.35×10

8. A thin straight conducting wire will be a uniform linear charge distribution. Let q charge be enclosed by the cylindrical surface.

Gauss' law states that electric flux through any closed surface is equal to the net charge enclosed inside the surface divided by
permittivity of vacuum.
Linear charge density,
q
λ =
l

q = λl ....... (i)
By Gauss' theorem,
∴ Total electric flux through the surface of cylinder
q
ϕ =
ε0
[Gauss' theorem]
λl
∴ ϕ =
ε0
[From Eq. (i)]
q
9. According to Gauss' theorem, total flux passing through a closed surface, ϕ = ε0
= ∮ EdS

As, S1 and S2 are concentric spheres of radii r1 and r2 respectively, then we have
ϕ1 = q1 /ε0 ...................... (i)
ϕ2 = q2 /ε0 ...................... (ii)
∴ On dividing Eq. (i) with Eq. (ii), we get
ϕ1 q1 ε0 q1 Q
= × = = = 1
ϕ ε0 q2 q2 Q
2

Hence, ϕ 1 : ϕ2 = 1 : 1

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10. Charges 1 and 2 are deflected towards the positive plate, hence they are negatively charged particles. On the other hand, charge 3
is positively charged particle, as it gets deflected towards negative plate.
Since all the three charged particles are crossing the electric field with same velocities, they remain under the action of electric
field E (say) for the same time t. The, deflection produced in the path of a charged particle along
the vertical,
y = ut + 1

2
at2
Now, the initial velocity of the charged particle along vertical is zero. If e is charge on a particle and m is its mass, then
acceleration produced in its path,
a= eE

∴ y=0×t+ 1

2
eE

m
t
2
= 1

2
eE

m
t
2

As E and t are same for all the charged particles, it follows that
e
∝ y
m

Since the charged particle 3 suffers maximum deflection along vertical, its charge to mass ratio is highest.
11. Let us assume that the charge q = ±10μC = ±10 C is placed at a distance of 5 cm from the square ABCD of each side 10
−5

cm. The square ABCD can be considered as one of the six faces of a cubic Gaussian surface of each side 10 cm.
Now the total electric flux through the faces of the cube as per Gaussian theorem
q
ϕ =
ε0

Therefore, the total electric flux through the square ABCD will be

1 1 q
ϕE = × ϕ = ×
6 6 ε0

−5
1 10
= ×
6 −12
8.854×10

= 1.88 × 10
5
Nm2C-1
Therefore, electric flux through the square is 1.88 × 105 Nm2C-1.
12. i. For the electron
The field is upward , so the negatively charged particle, electron experiences a downward froce of magnitude eE where E is
the magnitude of the electric field. The acceleration of the electron is ae = eE/m
Starting from rest , the time required by the electron to fall through a distance h
eE
a=
m
−−−−−−−−−−−−
−2 −31
3× 10 ×9.1× 10
∴ t = √
−19 4
1.6× 10 ×2.0× 10

= 2.92 * 10-9s
ii. for proton
The field is downward, and the positively charged proton experiences a downward force of magnitude eE . The acceleration of
the proton is
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
−2 −27
2×1.5× 10 ×1.67× 10
t = √
−19 4
1.6× 10 ×2× 10

t = 1.3*10-7
13. Suppose the four charges are placed at the corners A, B, C and D of the pentagon ABCDE. If we place a charge q at the corner E
also, then by symmetry, the total electric field at O must be zero. Thus, the field at the centre O due to the charges A, B, C and D
is equal and opposite to the field due to the charge q at E alone.
q
The electric field at O due to charge q at E ⋅ , along EO 1

4πε0 a2

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 q
∴ The electric field at O due to the charges at A, B, C and D 1
⋅ , along OE.
4πε0 a2

14. Electric flux: The electric flux may be defined as the number of electric lines of force crossing through a surface normal to the
surface. It can be measured as the surface integral of the electric field over that surface, i.e.
¯
¯¯¯
¯¯
ϕ = ∫ E ⋅ ds̄
s

Electric flux ϕ is a scalar quantity.

Now to calculate the electric flux passing through the square of side d, draw a cube of side d such that it completely encloses the
charge q. Now by using Gauss's law.

Total flux through the all the six surfaces of a cube is given as
total charge enclosed
ϕ total =6×ϕ square face = ϵ0
q
⇒ 6ϕ square = ϵ0

q
⇒ ϕ square face =
6ϵ0

Hence the flux through the square of side d with charge q at a distance d/2 directly above the head is q/6ϵo.
If a charge is now moved to the distance d from the center of square and side of the square is doubled, then electric flux remains
unchanged because electric flux in a closed surface depends only on the amount of charge contained inside the closed surface and
is independent of the distance of charge.
15. Electric dipole moment of an electric dipole is equal to the product of its either charge and the length of the electric dipole. It is
denoted by p.
Unit of dipole moment is C-m.
It is a vector quantity and its direction is from a negative charge to positive charge.
Let an electric dipole AB consists of two charges +q and -q separated by a distance 2a.
Electric field at point P due to charge +q,
1 q
E1 = ×
4πε0 2
2 2
[ √r + a ]

q
E1 =
4πε0
1
×
2 2
along AP
(r + a )

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Electric field at point P due to charge -q placed at B
q
E =
2 ×
4πε0
1
along PB 2 2
r +a

On resolving E1 and E2 into rectangular components, we get the resultant electric field at point P. Here vertical components of
electric field will cancel each other, so resultant electric field will be towards left which can be calculated as -
E = E1 cos θ + E2 cos θ
1 q 1 q
= × cos θ + × cos θ
4πε0 (r2 + a2 ) 4πε0 (r2 + a2 )

1 q a
= 2 × × ×
4πε0 (r2 + a2 ) 2 2
√(r + a )

1 q.2a
= ×
4πε0 2 2 3/2
(r + a )

1 p
∴ E = ×
4πε0 3/2
2 2
(r + a )

If r >> a, i.e., for short dipole we have

1 p
E = ×
4πε0 3
r

This equation shows that electric field due to dipole at a distance 'r' from its perpendicular bisector decreases with r and
proportional to dipole moment.

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