II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  6

Chapter/Topic Electrostatic: Electric Charges & Fields  Coulomb’s law
Syllabus Electric charge  Methods of charging a body  Basic properties of electric charge 
Coulomb’s law in scalar and vector form
Concept list Electric charge  Importance of electric interaction  Role of electromagnetic interaction
in Nature  Charge as a source of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic field  Charging
by friction  Charging by conduction  Charging by induction  Charging by irradiation 
Charging by heating  Quantization of charge  Conservation of charge  Invariance of
charge  Coulomb’s law in scalar form  Coulomb’s law in vector form
Learning 1. To understand the concept of electric charge.
Objects 2. To understand the importance of electric interaction in Nature.
3. To understand the role of charge as a source of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic
fields.
4. To understand different methods of charging.
5. To understand basic properties of electric charge.
6. To understand Coulomb’s law in both scalar and vector form.

Concept Map
Coulomb's law
in vector form
Role of EM Interaction in
Importance of Nature
electric charge
Charge as a source of electric,
Permittivity Coulomb's law magnetic and electro magnetic
in scalar form field

Dielectric constant Charges occuring in

Electric two varieties

Charging by friction charge

Force of interaction
between charges
Charging by conduction
Basic properties of
electric charge
Methods of Quantization of charge
charging a body
Charging by induction

Conservation of charge
Charging by irradiation

Invariance of electric charge

Charging by heating

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Introduction
When you comb your hair by a plastic comb in winter, you might have noticed that the plastic comb
acquires the property of attracting light objects such as paper pieces. When you iron your clothes, with an
iron box with Bakelite base, you might have observed that when you remove the cloth from the iron-table
you hear crackling sound. If the room is dark, you can even see small flashes of light. When you walk on a
carpet with your shoes on and then touch the metal knob of a door, you might have received a mild shock.
All these, and many more such instances arise due to electric charges produced by friction. Electric
charge, like mass is an inherent property of elementary particles which make up atoms, molecules and matter
which constitutes our universe. Since atom consists of an equal number of protons which are positively
charged and electrons which are negatively charged, it is electrically neutral. In normal circumstances,
because of this delicate balance of positive and negative charges, matter is also electrically neutral. When
this balance is upset by some process, the mater exhibits electrical effects.
The electrical force between charged bodies is much stronger than the gravitational force between the
same two bodies arising due to their mass. A charged comb can pull up a piece of paper, against the
gravitational force exerted by the entire earth pulling it down. If our bodies could contain one percent more
electrons than required for neutrality, two persons standing nearby would repel each other with a force equal
to the weight of earth. The giant electric force is tamed down by Nature by making matter electrically
neutral.
Electric charges produce much richer variety of phenomena than mass produces due to gravitation. Like
mass produces a gravitational field a charge at rest also produces an electrostatic field. The same charge in
uniform motion produces an altogether different field called magnetic field. If the same charge is accelerated
it produces electromagnetic waves. The radio waves used in communication, the microwaves used in
microwave ovens, the infra red rays that keep us warm, the light rays which enable us to see the world
around, the ultraviolet rays used in sterilizing surgical instruments in hospital, and the X-rays and -rays used
in medical diagnosis are all produced by electric charges undergoing acceleration.
All forces in Nature arise out of four basic interactions  Gravitational interaction, electromagnetic
interaction, electroweak interaction, and strong interaction. If the strength of gravitational interaction is taken
as 1, that of other interactions in the same order are 1037, 1034 and 1039. Though gravitational forces are
weak, because of their infinite range and huge masses of planets, stars and galaxies, they play a major role in
the structure of universe. Though electroweak and nuclear forces are strong, because of their short range they
operate only within nuclei of atoms. The small scale structure of matter and its different properties are
determined by electromagnetic force. All the diverse forms of matter around us and their varied properties
are the play of electromagnetic interactions.

Methods of charging a body

An atom is electrically neutral. Atoms make up molecules. Since matter is made up of atoms and molecules,
matter ordinarily is electrically neutral. However, it can be charged by addition or removal of electrons.
Addition of electrons creates an electron surplus and the body gets negatively charged. Similarly, removal of
electrons from a body makes the body positively charged. Thus, charging a body is addition or removal of
electrons. In general, charging a body is a process of creating surplus or deficit of electrons in the body and
thus altering its electrical neutrality. Some methods of charging a body are as follows:

II IIT-JEE ILP-6 68
(a) Charging by Friction
As stated before, when two bodies are rubbed against each other, one of them loses electrons while the other
gains. The body that gains electrons gets negatively charged and the one which loses electrons becomes
positively charged. For example, when a glass rod is rubbed against silk, glass rod becomes positively
charged and silk becomes negatively charged. When amber is rubbed against fur, amber gets negatively
charged and fur gets positively charged.
When two bodies are rubbed against each other, which gets positively charged and which negatively charged
can be understood by looking at the arrangement of materials in a definite order given by ‘triboelectric
series’. This series consists of materials arranged in the following order – hair, nylon, glass, leather, quartz,
mica, silk, wool, wood, amber, rubber, sulphur, ebonite etc.
When two different materials in the above list are rubbed against each other, the material occurring earlier in
the series gets positively charged and that occurring later in the series gets negatively charged. The larger the
separation between two materials in the series, the greater is the extent to which the bodies get charged.

(b) Charging by Conduction

Charging by conduction involves physical transfer of charges. So, when an uncharged conductor is brought
in contact with a charged one, the uncharged body either loses electrons or gains electrons. Thus, the
uncharged body becomes charged.

Interaction If both the source body and the target body are charged, how does conduction occur?
Answer
1  If both bodies are identical metallic spheres and contain the same amount of charge, no
conduction occurs.
 If the charge on the source body is greater than the charge on the target body, the charge
flows from source body to the target body till the charges on them are equalized.
 The charge flow from one body to another is similar to the heat flow. Heat flows from a
body at a higher temperature to a body at a lower temperature. Temperature determines
the direction of heat flows. Similarly the charge flow from one body to another body is
determined by a quantity called "electric potential", which is the electric analog of
temperature. The concept of electric potential will be discussed in a later class.

(c) Charging by Induction

When a negatively charged conductor is brought close to another uncharged conductor, positive charges
appear on the face of the neutral conductor nearer to the charged conductor and the negative charges appear
on the farther face. Since, it is only a redistribution of the charges, the net charge on the second conductor is
still zero. If the charges on the farther face are removed by earthing, then the second conductor gets
positively charged.

69
Interaction What are the ways in which the process of induction is different from the process of
conduction?
2 Answer
 In the process of conduction, the source body and the uncharged target body acquire the
same type of charge. Further, the charge on the source body decreases.
 In the process of induction, the uncharged target body acquires charge which is unlike the
charge on the source body. The charge on the source body is unaffected.
 Conduction provides a limited supply of charge, while induction provides an unlimited
supply. If you have a charged body A, you can go on bringing uncharged bodies B, C, D,
etc., near it and get these charged by induction.
 In a particle accelerator called Van de Graff generator the process of induction is used to
charge a large metallic sphere to a very great extent. This will be discussed in a later
class.

(d) Charging by irradiation

When radiation of suitable wavelength is incident on a metal surface, electrons acquire sufficient energy and
come out of the metal surface (photo electric emission) leaving the metal surface positively charged.
Example: The photoelectric cells which are used in television.

(e) Charging by heating

On heating a metal, electrons are liberated from its surface (thermionic emission). The metal therefore gets
positively charged.
Example: In a cathode ray tube an electron beam is produced by heating a tungsten filament.

Interaction Can you get a body negatively charged by thermionic emission or photoelectric emission?
Answer
3  No. In both thermionic emission and photoelectric emission the metal emits electrons
which are negatively charged. As the metal loses electrons it becomes positively
charged.
 For the body to be negatively charged, positively charged protons must be removed
from the metal. As the protons are firmly bound inside the nucleus, they cannot be
plucked out of a metal.

Conductors and insulators

Objects that allow electric charges to move freely through them are called conductors. Example: copper,
iron, brass, mercury etc. Objects that do not allow electric charges to move through them are called
insulators. Example: glass, mica, wood etc. However, we do not come across a perfect good conductor or a

II IIT-JEE ILP-6 70
perfect insulator under normal conditions. There is a class of materials called semiconductors, whose
opposition to flow of charges through them lies between that of conductors and insulators.
Example: Silicon, germanium etc. There is also a class of materials called super conductors which are
perfect good conductors but only at very low temperatures.
Properties of electric charge
1. Charges occur in two varieties, historically called positive and negative. Charges similar to that on
electron are called negative and charges similar to that on a proton are called positive.
Interaction How does mass differ from charge in this aspect?
Answer
4  Mass occurs only in one variety, conventionally called positive
 Though negative mass is speculated to exist, it has not been experimentally found.
 Existence of negative mass does not violate the laws of conservation of energy, linear
momentum and angular momentum. Physicists believe that which is allowed to exist
should exist.
 Negative mass solves one deep mystery about the origin of Universe. The Universe
would have originated from ‘Nothing’. From ‘Nothing’ came a ‘positive’ and a
‘negative’ universe. We are living in a ‘positive universe’, wondering about the
‘negative universe’!
2. Like charges repel and unlike charges attract.
Interaction How does mass differ from charge in this aspect?
Answer
5  Like charges repel. But like masses attract. If negative mass exists it would be repelled
by positive mass.

3. Charge is an additive scalar.

Interaction What about mass? Is there any other property of an elementary particle which is not a
scalar?
6 Answer
 Mass, like charge is also a scalar. But spin is a property of an elementary particle, which
is a vector. Nucleons with like spins attract while those with unlike spins repel. A
deuteron is stable while a diproton or a dineutron does not exist.

4. Quantization of charge: The amount of charge given to an object or transported from one point to
another cannot have any arbitrary value. The amount of charge given to an object can have only certain
values which are integral multiples of a certain minimum. This is known as quantization of charge. The
minimum quantity of charge that can exist freely in nature is the charge on the electron (also on a
proton), e = 1.602 × 10–19 coulomb. Charge of the electron is a fundamental constant of Nature. An
object cannot have a fractional charge like 2.3 e, –15.8 e, 21.5 e etc. It can only have a charge Q =  ne,
where n is an integer and e = 1.602 × 10–19 coulomb.
Interaction Is mass quantized?
Answer
7  Mass is not quantized. Elementary particles come with charges +e, e and zero. But the
masses of elementary particles are varied and have no pattern.

71
Interaction According to the standard model of elementary particles, protons and neutrons are made of
further elementary particles called quarks with fractional charges. Does this violate the law
8 of quantization of charge?
Answer
 No. Quarks which form protons and neutrons are never obtained in free state. They are
permanently confined inside protons and neutrons. A proton is made of two ‘up’ -
2 1
quarks each with a charge  e and a ‘down’- quark with a charge  e . Similarly a
3 3
neutron is made of one ‘up’ - quark and two ‘down’ – quark. No isolated quarks have so
far been observed experimentally.
5. Conservation of charge: In any isolated system, the net charge (algebraic sum of charges) always
remains constant.
Interaction Is mass conserved in (a) chemical reactions (b) nuclear reactions
Answer
9 In any reaction mass alone is not conserved, but mass-energy is conserved. In a chemical
reaction, only 109 % of mass is converted into energy. Hence, non-conservation of mass is
unmeasurable. But in a nuclear fission reaction 0.1% of mass is converted into energy, while
in a nuclear fusion reaction 0.7% of mass is converted into energy. Hence, in nuclear
reactions mass alone is not conserved. In every reaction mass together with energy is
conserved.

Interaction During annihilation of an electron with a positron or during the production of electron –
positron pair from a -ray photon, is the law of conservation of charge violated?
10 Answer:
 No. The law of conservation of charge is never violated.
 During annihilation of an electron with a positron, two -photons are emitted.
1 e  1e     . The total charge is zero both before and after the reaction.

 During creation of a electron positron pair,   1e  1e , the total charge is zero both
before and after the reaction.

6. Charge is invariant: The charge on a body does not depend on its state of motion. A charge on a
stationary particle does not change when particle starts moving.
Interaction Is mass invariant? If not, how does the mass of a body vary with its velocity?
Answer:
11  Mass is not invariant. It has different values in different frames moving with different
velocities. The mass of a body varies with its velocity according to the Einstein’s
m0
equation m  as v  c, the speed of light, m  ∞.
v2
1 2
c

II IIT-JEE ILP-6 72
Coulomb’s law
The first measurement of the electrostatic force between two point charges was made in 1785 by
Charles Augustin de Coulomb using two small charged spheres. The results of the experiment led to the
establishment of a law known as Coulomb’s inverse square law stated as follows.
Statement
The force of attraction or repulsion between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of the
magnitude of charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them and acts along
the line joining the two charges.

Explanation
Consider two point charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r in vacuum. According to Coulomb’s law, the
force (F) between the two charges is given by
1
F  q1q2 ; F 2
r
q1 q2 q q
F  2
or F  k 1 2 2
r r
where k is a constant of proportionality. The value of k depends on the system of units and the medium in
1
which the charges are placed. In SI and for vacuum, the constant k   9 109 N m 2 C 2 , 0 is called
4  0
the permittivity of free space (vacuum) and is equal to 8.854  10 12 farad per metre. Thus, in SI,
Coulomb’s law is mathematically written as
1 q1 q2
F ... (1)
4  0 r2

Interaction Compare Coulomb’s law with Newton’s law of gravitation. Why do we write the constant
1
12 of proportionality as
4 0
in Coulomb’s law but as G in Newton’s law of gravitation?

Answer:
 The basic laws of electrodynamics can be crystallized into four equations called
Maxwell’s equations. In order to avoid the appearance of 4 in the basic laws, 4 is
included in the proportionality constant.

1 q1q2
If the two charges are situated in a medium, Coulomb’s law is written as F  where  is the
4 r 2
permittivity of the medium. We also write  = 0r and call r as the relative permittivity of the medium. r is
also called the dielectric constant of the medium (K).
1 q1q2
Hence, in a medium, F 
40 Kr 2
K = 1 for vacuum and K > 1 for any medium. Hence, for two given charges with a given separation,
F
the force is always less in a medium than in vacuum. Also K  air .
Fmedium
K = 2 for paper, 3 for plastic, 6 for glass and 88 for water.

73
Interaction Why is water a universal solvent?
Answer
13 Water has a very high dielectric constant. Hence, force between two charges is greatly
minimized. When a salt is added into water, the attractive force between the positive and
negative ions of the salt is reduced. This leads to the dissolution of salt in water.
If the space between the two charges is occupied by two media of dielectric constants,
1 q1q2
K1 and K2 as shown in the figure, then F  K1 K2
40 r K  r K 2
 q1  q
1 1 2 2 2
r1 r2

 Generally Coulomb’s law is stated for point charges. We also know that charge is associated with matter
and matter is always distributed over a certain volume. So point charge is only an idealization. If the
dimensions of charged bodies are very small compared to the distance between them, the charged bodies
can be considered as point charges.

Interaction Suppose the force between two point charges separated by a certain small distance is F. If
these two charges are spread over two spherical conductors, whose centers are placed same
14 distance apart, will the force between them be F again?
What will be the force if the charges are (a) like (b) unlike?
Answer:
No. The force will be less than F if the charges are like and the force will be greater than F if
the charges are unlike.

Coulomb’s law is valid to a very high degree of accuracy in the vast range of 10–17 m to 10+7 m.

Coulomb’s law in vector form

Consider two point charges q1 and q2 separated by a distance r in air (or vacuum). Let the origin of the co-ordinate
system coincide with q1 as shown Fig. (a). The unit vector r points away from q1, along line joining q1 and q2.

II IIT-JEE ILP-6 74
 Coulomb’s law in vector form
  1 q1 q2 
The force F12 on q1exerted by q2 is given by F12  r.
4 0 r122

  1 q1 q2
The force F21 on q2 exerted by q1 is given by F21    r 
4  0 r212
 
 F21 =  F12

The electrical interaction between q1 and q2 obeys Newton’s third law.

 
 In general, for two charges with position vectors r1 and r2 as shown in the figure, Coulomb’s law can be
 1 q1q2 r
written as F12    2 where r is the unit vector from q2 to q1
40 | r2  r1 |
If q1 and q2 are of opposite sign, then force exerted by q2 on q1 is
 1  q1q2    1 q1q2 
F12   2  r12 or F12  r 21 . r 21 is a unit vector drawn
40  r  4 0 r 2
from q1 to q2 and the force is directed towards q2.
To evaluate only the magnitude of the force between two charges, Coulomb’s law is expressed as
 1  q1 q2
F   2
 4 0  r … (1)

Interaction Is the fact that ‘like charges repel and unlike charges attract’, an independent statement? Can
this be derived from the vector form of Coulomb’s law?
15 Answer
No. the fact that ‘like charges repel and unlike charges attract’ is not an independent
statement. It is part of Coulomb’s law. This becomes apparent when Coulomb’s law is
stated in vector form.

SI unit of charge
The SI unit of charge, namely, coulomb (which is a derived unit) has to be defined only in terms of the SI
unit of current, namely ampere (which is a basic unit).
One coulomb is the charge transported in one second through the cross section of a conductor carrying a
current of one ampere.
However, we can use Coulomb’s law to obtain the value of 1 coulomb as follows.

75
 1 11
In Eq., (1) let q1 = q2 = 1 C and r = 1 m. Then, F   9  109 N .
4  0 1
Thus, if two identical charges separated by one metre in vacuum repel each other with a force of 9  109 N,
then each charge is one coulomb.
Note:
1
 Since an electron has a charge of 1.6  10–19 coulomb, 1 coulomb has electrons  6.25 1018
1.6  1019
electrons. In other words, a body positively charged with 1 coulomb has a deficit of 6.25 1018 electrons
and a body negatively charged with 1 coulomb has a surplus of the same number of electrons.
 One coulomb is a very large amount of charge! A typical value of charge acquired by a body while
being rubbed by another appropriate object is 10–8 C. During a strong lightning, the charge transfer is
around 20 C between the earth and a cloud. When a body is charged by rubbing, only about 1 in 105 of
the atoms on the surface gains or losses an electron! Even in the case of a highly charged object, only
about one in 1000 atoms on the surface will have a net charge. Amazing electrical effects result from
very small imbalance in the usual neutral state of matter!
 Normally in electrostatics, smaller units like millicoulomb (10–3 C = mC), microcoulomb
(10–6 C = C), nanocoulomb (10–9 C = nC), picocoulomb (10–12 C = pC) etc., are used.

II IIT-JEE ILP-6 76
II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  7

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Coulomb’s law

Syllabus Problems on Coulomb’s law
Irreducible 1. Division of a given amount of charge into two parts to get maximum force.
problem set 2. Modification of the Coulomb force by modifying the charge on two bodies.
3. Reduction of Coulomb’s force between two bodies by the introduction of a dielectric
in between.
4. Two charged spheres suspended from two springs of equal length from a common
support.
5. Variation of Coulomb’s force between two charged bodies due the leakage of
charges.
6. Coulomb’s force and weight.
7. Coulomb’s force and apparent weight.
8. Coulomb’s force and spring force.
9. Coulomb’s force and frictional force.
10. Coulomb’s force and Buoyant force.
11. Coulomb’s force providing centripetal force for circular motion.
12. Velocity of repulsion / attraction between two charged bodies.

Problems
1. A charge Q is to be divided into two portions and separated by a certain distance. What should be the
charge in the two portions in order that the force between them is maximum?
Solution
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
1 (a) The additive nature of electric charge
(b) Coulomb’s law (F  Q1Q2)
Let us divide the charge Q into two parts q and (Q  q) where q is a variable to be determined. The force
between q and (Q  q) depends on the product, P = q(Q  q).
F is maximum when P is maximum
2
2 2Q2 Q 4 Q 2  Q
P = qQ  q = qQ  q +   q  
4 4 4  2
2
 Q Q
P is maximum when  q    0  q 
 2 2
Hence, the charge in the two portions should be equal, for the force between them to be maximum.
Interaction Is there is an alternate method to solve this problem?
Ans
2 Yes. This problem is can also be solved by the method of Calculus. When the product P
dP Q
is maximum  0  Q  2q  0  q  .
dQ 2

77
 Interaction Is there a shortcut method to solve this problem?
Answer
3 Yes. This problem can be solved by realizing that when a given number is divided into
two parts, the product of two parts is a maximum when the two parts are equal.
For example when the number 10 is divided into different parts and the product of the
parts is calculated, the product is maximum when each part is 5 as shown by the
following table
Part 1 Part 2 Sum Product
1 9 10 9
2 8 10 16
3 7 10 21
4 6 10 24
5 5 10 25  (Maximum)
Hence, the charge should be equally distributed among the two bodies to get maximum force between
them.
Think Further
(a) Two similar metallic spheres A and B with charges 2q and 3q, separated by a certain distance,
experience a force. To maximize this force, what amount of charge should be transferred from one
sphere to another?
Solution
We know that for a given separation, the force between two charged spheres is maximum, when
q 5q
they have equal charges. Hence, by transferring from B to A, both will have equal charges ,
2 2
making the force maximum.
(b) Two similar metallic spheres, with unknown positive charges, repel each other with a certain force,
when placed at certain distance apart. How do you maximize the force between them, at the same
separation?
Solution
If the two spheres are brought in contact, they will share the total charge equally. If the spheres are
now separated and kept at their original positions, the force of repulsion between them will be
maximum.
(c) Two similar metallic spheres with unlike charges attract each other with a certain force when kept
apart at a certain distance. If the spheres are momentarily brought into contact, and then moved to
their original positions, will the force between them be (a) attractive or repulsive (b) larger or
smaller magnitude?
Solution
Because of partial neutralization of charge, the force will be always smaller and repulsive. If
neutralization is total, the force will be zero.
2. Two identical metallic spheres A and B carrying a charge Q when placed at a distance ‘d’ apart, repel
each other with a force F. A third uncharged identical sphere C is now brought first in contact with A
and then in contact with B and then taken away. The force between A and B now is
F 3 3
(A) F itself (B) (C) F (D) F
4 8 4

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 78
Ans (C)

Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
4 (a) Sharing of charges by conduction
(b) Coulomb’s law (F  Q1Q2)

Interaction How do two identical charged metallic spheres share their charges, when brought in
contact?
5 Ans
(a) The charge is shared equally.
(b) If the charges on the spheres are Q1 and Q2, the charge on each sphere will be
Q1  Q2
.
2
(c) If the charges on the sphere are Q1 and Q2 (with Q1 > Q2), the charge on each
Q  Q2
sphere will be 1 . The force is repulsive and less than the initial force.
2
 r 
(d) If the spheres are not identical and have radii r1 and r2 then Q r1  Qsum  1  and
 r1  r2 
 r 
Q r2  Qsum  2  . The principle of this distribution will be discussed in later
 r1  r2 
class.

Q2
The force between A and B, F  k
d2
Q
When C is brought in contact with A, each will get a charge . When C is brought in contact with B,
2
Q  3
their total charge   Q   Q will be shared equally among them.
2  2

 Q  Q 
3   3  3F
Hence, B gets a charge Q . The force between A and B now is F  k  2 2 4  
4 d 8

Think Further
(a) In the above problem, if C is a metallic sphere containing charge Q, similar to A and B, what will
be the answer?
Solution
If the spheres are similarly charged, there is no sharing of charges. Hence, the force remains
unaffected. The force is F itself.

79
 (b) In the above problem, if C carries charge Q, what will be the answer?
Solution
In this case when C is brought in contact with A, the charges on them is neutralized. When C is
Q
brought in contact with B, both get a charge . But since the charge on A is zero, the force between
2
A and B is also zero.
(c) In problem (b), if C is brought in contact with A first and then with B and then again brought in
contact A and finally taken away, what is the force between A and B?
Solution
When C with charge Q is brought in contact with A with charge +Q, the charge on both will be
zero. Now, when C is brought in contact with B with charge +Q then, both C and B will have
Q Q
charge . Now, when C is brought in contact with A, the charge on them will be each. The
2 4
 Q  Q 
   F
force between A and B will now be given by F '  k  4 2 2  
d 8
(d) In the above problem, if C has a charge 5Q, what will be the answer?
Solution
6Q
After contact of A and C, each will have a charge  3Q . After contact of B and C, each will
2
4Q
have a charge  2Q . The force between A and B will now be 6F.
2
3. The force between two electric charges is reduced from 9 units to 4 units, when a glass slab whose
thickness is equal to half the separation between two electric charges is introduced. The dielectric
constant of glass is
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8
Ans (B)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
6 (a) The force between two electric charges is always reduced when a dielectric is
placed in between them.
(b) Coulomb’s law (F  Q1Q2)

Interaction How does the force between the two electric charges alter when a dielectric slab is
introduced between them?
7 Solution
(a) If the dielectric occupies the complete space between the two charges, the force
1
reduces to   times the initial value where K is the dielectric constant.
K
F
Fdielectric  air
K

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 80
 (b) When the space between the two charges separated by a distance d is filled with
d2
two dielectrics of dielectric constants K1 and K2, then F  F
2 air

K1 d1  K 2 d 2 
where d1 and d2 are the thickness of the two dielectrics such that d1 + d2 = d
(c) When a number of dielectric slabs of thickness d1, d2, d3, … etc with dielectric
constants K1, K2, K3, … etc fill the space between two charges separated by a
distance d the force between the charges is given by
2
d
F F
2 air
 
K1 d1  K 2 d 2  K 3 d3  .........
d2
F 2
Fair
 K1 d1  K 2 d 2 
kq1q 2 d2
Fair  2
; K1 = K; K2 = 1  F  F
2 air
d  d d
 K  
 2 2
2
 d d d d
Fair 9  K   9
K 
  2 2   2 23
2
F 4 d 4 d 2
Kd  d  3d  K  2  K  4

Think Further
(a) If the glass slab occupies the entire space between the two charges, what will be the ratio of
reduction in the force between the two charges?
Solution
F F 1 1
K  air  glass  
Fglass Fair K 4
(b) What must be the thickness of glass in order that the force in air which is 25 units can be reduced to
16 units?
Solution
Fglass d2 16 d2
  
Fair  Kx   d  x 2 25  4x   d  x 2
4 d 4 d d
    x    0.25 d
5 2x   d  x  5 dx 4
25% of separation between the charges has to be filled with glass.
r
(c) A dielectric slab of thickness and dielectric constant K2 is placed between two equal charges
2
placed at a distance r apart. What should be the thickness of another slab of dielectric constant K 1 to
replace earlier slab but without altering the force between the two charges?
Solution
Let x be the thickness of the slab of dielectric constant K2. Then,

81
 q2 q2
F 2 
r r 40 [(r  x)  K1 .x]2
4 0   K 2 . 
 2 2 
r r
or  K 2  (r  x)  K1 .x
2 2
r ( K 2  1)
Solving x 
2 ( K1  1)
4. Two metallic spheres each of mass m and charge q are suspended by two silk threads of equal length l. If
the angle of divergence of the silk threads is small, the equilibrium separation between the two spheres is
1 1 1 1
 q 2l  2  q 2l  3  q 2l  2  q 2l  3
(A)   (B)   (C)   (D)  
 2 0 mg   2 0 mg   4 0 mg   4 0 mg 
Ans (B)
Interaction (a) What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
(b) Can you draw a diagram for the situation?
8 (c) What methods can be used to solve this problem?
Ans
(a) Repulsion due to Coulomb force and Equilibrium of a body under the action of
(i) coulomb force (ii) weight and (iii) tension.

(b)

(c) We can use either Lami's theorem or the general condition of equilibrium.

Interaction What is the condition for equilibrium?

Ans
9 For a body, under the action of three concurrent coplanar
forces to be in equilibrium, the forces should satisfy a
theorem called Lami’s theorem. This theorem states that
when the body is in equilibrium, the magnitude of each
force must be proportional to the sine of the angle between
the other two forces.
Referring to the figure, F1  sin 1, F2  sin 2, F3  sin 3
F1 F F
or  2  3
sin 1 sin  2 sin 3

Interaction How do you apply this theorem to the problem?

Ans
10 Consider the equilibrium of any one sphere as shown in the figure under the action of
(a) Coulomb force (FE)

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 82
 (b) Weight of the ball (mg) and
(c) Tension in the string (T)
Let  be the angle made by the string with the vertical. Then the application of Lami’s
theorem gives the relation
T FE mg
 
sin 90 sin 180    sin  90   
F mg
i.e. T  E 
sin  cos 
FE mg
From  we get, FE = mg tan  … (1)
sin  cos 

Interaction Is there any alternate method to obtain the above relation?

Ans
11 Yes. We can use the general condition of equilibrium of a body under the action of a
number of concurrent coplanar forces. This condition states that a body will be in
equilibrium, when the algebraic sum of the forces acting in any two perpendicular
directions are separately zero. Referring to the figure and choosing horizontal and
vertical directions, we get
FE  T sin  = 0 or FE = T sin  in the horizontal direction
T cos   mg = 0 or mg = T cos  in the vertical direction
F
dividing the above two equations, we have E  tan 
mg
or FE = mg tan  … (1)
FE = mg tan 
x x
1 q2
2
 mg 2 (since  is small, tan   sin  = 2
4 0 x l l
1

3 q 2l  q 2l  3
x  x 
2 0 mg  20 mg 

Think Further
(a) If the system is taken into an artificial satellite, what will be the answer?
Solution
In an artificial satellite geff = 0. Hence, the weight of the sphere is zero. The two spheres then repel
and move as far as the strings allow them to. Hence, their equilibrium separation will be 2l.
(b) If the two metallic spheres have different charges, will their angles of deflection from the vertical be
equal?
Solution
Yes. Even if the charges are different, the force which is proportional to the product of the charges
is the same on both. Hence, both will be deflected by the same angle w.r.t the vertical
(c) If the two metallic spheres are of different masses but carry the same charge, will the angle of
deflection be same?

83
 Solution
No. If the masses are different, the weights of spheres are different. The angle of divergence will be
smaller for sphere of larger mass.
(d) Suppose the angle of divergence is same whether the balls are in air or immersed in a liquid of
dielectric constant K. What is the value of K if the density of the bob is 1.6 g cm3 and the density
of the liquid is 0.8 g cm3 .
Solution
F  F 
From FE = mg tan   tan    E    E 
 mg air  mg liquid
FE
FE K  d   0.8 
  K 1  l   1  K 1   1 K  2
mg  d   ds   1.6 
m 1  l  g
 ds 
(e) When one sphere is discharged, what will be the new equilibrium separation?
Solution
When one sphere is discharged, the repulsive force between the spheres vanish. As a result, the
spheres move back to their original vertical position. When the spheres come into contact, the
charge remaining on one sphere is again shared by the two spheres. The charge on each sphere
1
  q 2  3 1
q    l   q 2l  3
becomes . As a result, the new equilibrium separation is given by x    2     
2  20 mg   8 0 mg 
5. Two small equally charged spheres, each of mass m, are suspended from a point using silk threads of
length l. The separation between the spheres is x << l. Suppose due to leakage of charge from both

spheres, the two spheres approach each other with a velocity, v  , where  is a positive constant. If
x
dq n 20 mg
the rate of leakage of charge from each sphere is given by  , determine the value of n.
dt 2 l
Ans 3
Solution
Interaction How does the leakage of charge affect the separation between the two charged spheres?
Solution
12 As the charges leak the repulsive force between the charges decrease. Hence, the
spheres approach each other.
q2
T cos  = mg ; T sin  =
40 x 2
q2
 tan  =
40 mgx 2
x
x
Since  is small, tan   sin  = 2 
l 2l

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 84
 1
x q2 3 q 2l  q 2l  3
   x   x   
2l 40 mgx 2 20 mg  20 mg 
dx 1 dq
Differentiating 3x 2  2q
dt 20 mg dt
dq 3  q  3 2  0 mg x3 l
    2  2
dt 2  32 l q 2  0 mg
x 

Think Further
If charge and mass both leak from each sphere, then find the ratio of rate of charge-leak and rate of
mass-leak to maintain the distance between spheres a constant.
Solution
q 2l
x3  .
2 0 mg
dx
If x remains constant  0 . Differentiating the above equation with respect to time, we get
dt
 dq dm 
2
 m  2q  q2
3x 2
dx

l d  q  l dt dt 
   2 
dt 20 g dt  m  20 g  m 
 dq 2 dm   dq 
dx  m  2q dt  q dt   
 dt   q
0   2 0 
dt  m   dm  2m
 
 dt 
 q 
If the ration   remains constant, then the separation between the spheres remains the same.
 2m 
6. A block A of mass 2 kg and charge 200 C is placed on a weighing machine. Another
block B of charge 200 C is kept above the mass A, at a distance 6 m as shown in the
figure. The reading of the weighing machine is
(A) 10 N
(B) 30 N
(C) 20 N
(D) 50 N
Ans (B)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
13 Suitable combination of Coulomb’s force and weight.
Considering FBD of mass A
1 qAqB
N = mg + Fc = (2  10) +
40 r 2

9
 200 106 2
= 20 + 9  10  20  10  30 N
 6 2

85
 Think Further
(a) In the above problem if B is of charge  200 C, what is the reading of the weighing machine?
Solution
Considering the FBD of mass A
N + FC = mg  N = 20  10 = 10 N

(b) What should be the charge on B, so that the weighing machine reads zero?
Solution
Considering the FBD of mass A, N = 0 if Fe = mg
1 q Aq B
 mg
40 r 2
9  109  200  10 6  q B
 2 10  q B  400 C
 6 2
To attract A, B should have a negative charge. Hence, qB = 400 C
7. Find the reading of the spring balance shown in figure.
g
(a) q2 = + 100 C and elevator is going up with an acceleration of a = , the pulley and
2
the springs are light and the pulley is smooth
g
(b) q2 = 100 C, a = in upward direction
2
g
(c) q2 = +100 C, a = in downward direction
2
g
(d) q2 = 100 C, a = in downward direction
2
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
14 (a) This problem is based on Coulomb's law and the inertial forces that arise in an
accelerated frame.
(b) Since electric charge is invariant, the Coulomb force between two charges is
unaffected by the acceleration of a frame.
(c) The weight of a body is altered by the acceleration of the frame. If the frame moves
upward with an acceleration, the weight of a body inside increases. If the frame
moves downward is an acceleration, the weight of a body inside decreases.
Wapparent  Wtrue  ma , where m is the mass of a body in the frame and a is the
acceleration of the frame.
Solution
(a) T  (mg + Fe) = ma … (1)
T = ma + mg + Fe
= 2  5 + 2  10 + 9  109  108 / g
= 10 + 20 + 10
T = 40 N

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 86
 Reading in spring balance = 40 N
(b) T + Fe  mg = ma
T = ma + mg  me
= 10 + 20  10
T = 20 N

(c) (mg + Fe)  T = ma

T = mg + Fe  ma
20 + 10  10
T = 20 N

(d) mg  (T + Fe) = ma
T = mg  ma  Fe
= 20  10  10
T=0N

8. Two small conducting spheres are connected to the ends of two identical springs as shown in the figure.
The space between the spheres is 5 cm. On charging each sphere by +1.6 C, the separation between the
sphere is doubled. The spring constant of each spring is

(A) 46 Nm1 (B) 92 Nm1 (C) 23 Nm1 (D) 920 Nm1

Ans (B)
Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
15 This problem is based on the concept of
(a) Coulomb force and
(b) Spring force. Due to coulomb repulsion the spheres repel compressing the spring.
When the spring is compressed, the spring force appears opposing the compression.
If the compression in the spring is x, the spring force is given by F = kx, where k is
called spring constant which is characteristic of the spring. In equilibrium the
coulomb force is equal and opposite to the spring force.
10  5 
Stretch of each spring is = 2.5 cm
2
1 q2
In equilibrium,  kx
40 r 2
1.6 106 2
9 109
2
 k  2.5  102 
 0.1

87
  9 109 1.6 106  2
k 2
 92.16 Nm1
 0.1  2.5  10 
2

Think Further
(a) In the above problem, if the spheres are given unlike charges each of magnitude 1.6 C, what will
be the equilibrium separation between the two spheres?
Solution
If x is the stretch in each spring due to the force of attraction
1 2
q
1 q2 40  9 109 1.6 106  2
 kx  x    1.56 cm
4 0 r 2 kr 2  0.12  92.16 
Stretch in both springs  3 cm
 Equilibrium separation between the two spheres = 5  3 = 2 cm
(b) When the two sphere have like charges and when they are slightly displaced from their equilibrium
position, they perform SHM with period T1. Let the period of SHM be T2, when they have unlike
charges. What is the relation between T1 and T2?
Solution
The period depends only on the mass of the sphere and the spring constant of the spring. Hence, the
periods in both cases are same.
9. Two spheres each of charge 107 C and mass 5 g stay in limiting equilibrium on a horizontal surface. The
spheres have a separation of 10 cm between them. The coefficient of friction between the sphere and the
surface is

(A) 0.5 (B) 0.4 (C) 0.3 (D) 0.18

Ans (D)
Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
16 This problem is based on the concepts of
(a) Coulomb force and
(b) Frictional force
The frictional force depends on the mass of the ball and nature of the surfaces involved.
Hence, for the given mass and given surfaces, the frictional force is a constant. The
coulomb force depends on the charge on the balls and the distance separating the balls.
At a certain separation, the force of friction can just balance the coulomb force, keeping
the spheres in limiting equilibrium.

In equilibrium, Frictional force = electrical force

q2
mg = k 2
r
3 9
107 2 9
(5  10 ) (10) = (9  10 ) 2
    102  0.18
10  10 5

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 88
 Think Further
(a) If the two spheres have the equal charge, but unlike, in the above problem, what is the coefficient of
friction?
Solution
Whether the particles repel and move away or attract and move towards each other, the coefficient
of friction remains same.
(b) Two blocks of mass m having charges q1 and q2 are placed on a
horizontal table. The blocks are connected to an unstretched spring of
spring constant 720 Nm1 and neutral length 1 m. If the blocks are
given unlike charges, each of magnitude 100 C, what will be the compression of the spring, if the
surface on which the blocks rest is frictionless?
Solution
If the equilibrium compression is x0, then
2
1 q1q 2 9  109  100 106  2 1 1
Kx0 =  720x 0  x 0 1  x 0    x 0  m
4 0 1  x 0  2 1  x 0 
2
8 2
(c) In the above problem, if the surface is rough, will the equilibrium compression be less or more?
Solution
Since the frictional force opposes the electrostatic force of attraction, the equilibrium compression
will be less.
(d) Plot the Coulomb force between the charges and restoring force in spring as a function of
compression in the spring.
Solution
At any instant, when the compression is x, the Coulomb force is given by
1 q1q 2 k
Fc = 
40 1  x 2 1  x 2
At the same instant the spring force is given by Fs = kx
1
at x = 0; Fc = 90 N; at x = x0 = m , Fc = 360 N
2
1
at x = 0; Fs = 0; at x = x0 = m , Fc = 360 N
2
Hence, the graph of Fc and Fs with x is as shown in the figure.
At x > x0; Fc > Fs
At x < x0; Fc < Fs
10. Two identical helium filled spherical balloons each carrying a charge q are
tied to a weight W with strings and float in equilibrium as shown in the
figure. Find the magnitude of q, assuming that the charge on each balloon is
concentrated at the centre.

Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
17 This problem is based on the concepts of

89
 (a) Coulomb's law
(b) the equilibrium of a body under the action of the buoyant force, Coulomb's force,
weight and tension
Solution
The free body diagram of one of the balloons is as
shown in the figure.
2T cos  = W and T sin  = F
F sin  W
  F  tan 
W 2cos  2
2
1 q W
2
 tan   q  2x 20 W tan 
4 0  2x  2
11. In a hydrogen atom the electron revolves around a proton in a circular orbit of radius 0.53 Å. The period
of revolution of the electron is (1 Å = 1010 m)
(A) 1.5  1012 s (B) 1.5  1014 s (C) 1.5  1016 s (D) 1.5  1018 s
Ans (C)
Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
18 This problem is based on the concepts of
(a) Coulomb's law
(b) the Coulomb's force providing centripetal force for circular motion.
Centripetal force is provided by the electrostatic force of attraction.
ke 2 ke 2
m2r = 2  2  3
r mr
1 1
2
 2  ke 2 2  ke 2  2  mr 3  2
   3   3   T  2  2 
 T  mr T  mr   ke 
3
 9.110   0.53  10  
 31 10
T = 2    1.5  10 16 s
19 2
 9  10  1.6  10  
9

Think Further
(a) A block of mass 9 kg with a charge +500 C is moving around another charge 400 C on a
smooth horizontal surface in a circular track of radius 2 m. What is the maximum speed of the
charge?
Solution
mv 2 Fer 9  109  20  108
Fele   v2    100 ms 1
r m 29
 v  10 ms1. Hence, vmax = 10 ms1
(b) In the above problem if the horizontal surface is rough with the coefficient of friction  = 0.4, what
is the maximum speed?
Solution
mv 2
Fele + mg 
r

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 90
 9 109  20 108 9v2
 0.4  9  10 
22 2
1
vmax = 10.39 ms
12. Two bodies A and B, each of mass 10 kg and same charge 100 C are fixed at a distance 1 m apart on a
smooth horizontal surface. When the body B is released, what will be its velocity of repulsion when it is
at a distance of 2 m from the body A?
Solution
Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
19 This problem is based on the concepts of
(a) Coulomb's law
(b) the motion of a body under non-uniform acceleration.

Interaction What is the nature of motion of the body B?

Ans
20 As the body B is repelled by A, it moves away from A. As its distance from A
increases the repulsive force and its acceleration decreases. Hence, B moves with a
variable acceleration

Interaction How do we calculate the velocity of B, when its acceleration is variable?

Ans
21 The velocity of B can be calculated by the method of integration.
Let x be the separation between A and B at any instant t. At this separation the
1
Coulomb force of repulsion is given by F 
Q2
4 0 2
x
F 1 Q2
The acceleration of B, at this instant is given by a  
m 4 0 m x 2
dv dv Q2 1
But av . Therefore v 
dx dx 4 0 m x 2
Q 2 dx
or, vdv 
40 m x 2
Integrating on both sides, under the limits at x = d; v = 0 and at x = 2d; v = v, we get
v 2x 2d
Q2 dx Q2  1  Q2  1 1 
 vdv 
0
   
40 m d x 2 40 m  x  d 4 0 m  d 2d 
v2 Q2 1 Q2
 v
2 40 m 2d 40 md
(100  106 )2  9 109
 v  3 ms 1
10 1

91
 Interaction What is the alternate method to calculate the velocity of repulsion?
Ans
22 The work done by the repulsive force on B is stored as kinetic energy in B. Hence the
work-energy theorem can be used to calculate the velocity of repulsion.
Work done by electrical force = change in kinetic energy.
1 q2
When B is at a distance x from A, the force on B is given by F 
4 0 x 2
When B moves by a distance dx the work done is given by
1 q2
dw = Fdx = dx
4 0 x 2

Work done in moving B from a separation d to a separation 2d is given by

2d 2d 2d
q2 dx q2  1
W   Fdx  d x 2 40
   x 
d
4 0 d

q2  1 1  q2  1 
=  
40  d 2d  4 0  2d 
By work-energy theorem, this is equal to the change in kinetic energy of B.
q2  1  1 2
Hence,    mv
4 0  2d  2
100  106 2  9  109 1
 10  v 2
2 1 2
On simplification, we get v = 3 ms1
Think Further
In the above problem, if the surface is rough with the coefficient of friction 0.2, what is the answer.
Solution
If the surface is rough, work done by the coulomb force is partly used for doing work against friction and partly
used to increase the kinetic energy.
1 2
Hence, Wele = Wfr + mv
2
1 2 q2  1 
mv  Wele  Wfr     mgd
2 40  2d 
2
1 100  106   9  109 
10  v 2     0.2 10 10  1
2 2 1
On simplification, we get v  5 ms 1

II IIT-JEE ILP-7 92
II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  8

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Coulomb’s law  Principle of superposition
Syllabus Principle of superposition  Coulomb force due to a discrete distribution of charges 
Coulomb force due to a continuous distribution of charges
Concept list Principle of superposition  Coulomb force due to a set of discrete charges  Coulomb
force due to a system of continuous distribution of charges  Irreducible set of problems
on
1. A set of three charges on a straight line
2. A set of three charges at the vertices of a triangle
3. A set of four charges at the vertices of a square
4. A uniformly charged rod
5. A uniformly charged ring

Concept Map

Statement of p rincip le of
Problems on prin ci ple of s uperposition
s u perposi tion

Ap plication to a sys tem of

disc reet c harges
A sy stem of discrete c harg es

Principle
Ap plication to a sys tem of
A s ys tem of contin uous c harges of conti nuous c harg es
Superposition

Principle of superposition
Consider two point charges q1 and q2, fixed at a distance r apart, as shown in the figure. The coulomb force
 1 q1q 2
on q1 due to q2 is given by F12  rˆ12 … (1)
4 0 r122

Suppose a third charge q3 is brought and kept on the line joining q1 and q2, as shown in the figure. Then it is
found experimentally that the force on q1 due to q2 is unaffected by the presence of q3. Hence the force on q1
due to q2 is still given by Eqn. (1). Now q3 also exerts a force on q1, unaffected by the presence of q2 and is
 1 q1q3
given by F13  rˆ13 … (2)
4 0 r132
Hence the net force on q1 due to both q2 and q3 is given by
   1 q1q 2 1 q1q 3
Fq1  F12  F13  2
rˆ12  rˆ13 … (3)
4 0 r12 4 0 r132

93
This is true even if the charges q1, q2 and q3 are not placed on a straight line. The
net force on q1 due to q2 and q3 is the vector sum of the forces due to each
  
charge, which it would exert in the absence of the other. Hence, Fnet  F12  F13 .
This is known as the principle of superposition.

Principle of superposition for a discreet charge distribution

The principle of superposition can be extended to a system containing any
number of discreet charges, as follows. Consider a system of discreet charges
q1, q2, q3 … qn. Suppose we wish to calculate the net force on q1 due to the
   
rest of the charges. Let F12 , F13 , F14 , F15  etc. be the force on q1 due to the rest
of the charges q2, q3, qn … etc. when each of them acts alone. Then the net force on charge q1 is given by
   
F  F12  F13  F14   . etc .

Interaction Does the principle of superposition holds good if charges are not point charges?
Ans
1 No. The principle of superposition holds good only for point charges. If the charge is
distributed, the nature of distribution is affected by the presence of other charges, as
shown in the figure.

Principle of superposition for a continuous charge distribution

Consider a body of arbitrary shape, with a total charge Q distributed uniformly
throughout its volume. Suppose, we wish to calculate the force exerted by this
charged body on a point charge q0. Consider a very small portion of the body
containing charge dQ, so that dQ can be regarded as a point charge. Let r be the
distance dQ from q0. Then the force on q0 due to dQ is given by Coulomb’s law
1  q 0   dQ 
as dF = . The force on q0 due to the entire charged body is given
40 r2
q dQ
by F   dF  0  2 .
4  0 r

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 94
The integration depends on the type of charge distribution. Note that the net force is the vector sum of the
force contributions from all the elementary charges in the assembly. Therefore, integration must be
performed separately for each component of force.
The charge distribution can be mainly of the following three types.
(a) Linear charge distribution
For a charged body in the form of a rod, we speak of linear charge distribution. The
Q
charge per unit length of the rod is given by,   .  is called the linear charge
l
density. The charge on any line element dl of the rod is given by dQ = dl.

(b) Surface charge distribution

For a charged body in the form of a disc, we speak of surface charge distribution. The
Q
charge per unit area of the disc is given by,   .  is called the surface charge
R 2
density. The charge on any surface element dS of the disc is given by dQ =   dS .

(c) Volume charge distribution

For charged body in the form of a sphere, we speak of a volume charge distribution.
Q
The charge per unit volume of the sphere is given by   .  is called the
4 3
R
3
volume charge density. The charge on any volume element dV of the sphere is given
by, dQ = (dV).

Problems
1. Two point charges A and B each carrying a charge Q, placed at a distance d apart, experience a force F.
If a neutral particle C is now brought in contact with A and then placed at the midpoint of the line
joining A and B (MCMCQ)
(A) The net force on A is 1.5 F, away from C
(B) The net force on B is 2.5 F, away from C
(C) The net force on C is F, away from B
(D) The net force on C is F, away from A
Ans (A), (B), (C)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
2 The basic concepts involved in this problem are (a) additivity of electric charge (b)
Coulomb’s law and (c) the principle of superposition
When the two charges, each equal to Q are separated by a distance d, the force on each is given by
Q2 1
F  k 2 , where k 
d 4 0
When a neutral particle C is brought in contact with A and then kept at the mid-point of AB

95
 Q2 Q2
Q2  1 
Force on A is, FA  k 42  k 22  k 2 1    1.5F , away from C
d d d  2
4
Q2 Q2
Q2  1
Force on B is, FB  k 22  22  k 2  2    2.5F , away from C
d d d  2
4
Q2 Q2
Q2
Force on C is, FC  k 22  k 42  k 2  2  1  F, towards A
d d d
4 4

Think Further
1. In the above problem if the neutral particle C is first brought in contact with A, and then with B, and
then placed in between A and B, what are the net forces on A, B and C?
Solution
For this situation, the charge distribution on A, B and C are as shown in the figure.
3Q 2 3Q2
Q 2  3 3  15
The net force on A is, FA  k 82  k 82  k 2     F
d d d 2 8 8
4
9Q2 3Q2
Q2  9 3  21
The net force on B is, FB  k 162  k 82  k 2     F
d d d  4 8 8
4
3Q 2 9Q2
Q2  3 9  3
The net force on C is, FC  k 82  k 162  k 2     F, towards A
d d d  2 4 4
4 4
2. In the original problem, if the particle C has a charge 2Q and then it is brought first in contact with
A, then in contact with B and then placed at the mid-point of AB, what are the net forces on A, B
and C?
Solution
For this situation the charge distribution on A, B and C are as shown in the figure.
Q2 Q2
kQ 2  1 1  5
The net force on A is, FA  k 82  k 82  2     F , towards B
d d d  2 8 8
4
Q2 Q2
16 8 kQ 2  1 1  F
The net force on B is, B F  k  k      , away from A
d2 d2 d2  4 8  8
4

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 96
 Q2 Q2
8 16 kQ 2  1 1  3F
F
The net force on C is, C  k  k      , towards A
d2 d2 d2  2 4  4
4 4

2. Two identical positive point charges A and B each having a charge Q are fixed at a separation 2d.
Another particle of mass m and charge q lies midway between AB. If q is slightly displaced along the
line joining the charges, it performs simple harmonic motion with a period T 1 given by (SCMCQ)
m0 a 3 m0 a 3 Qq Qq
(A) T1  4 (B) T1  2 (C) T1  4 (D) T1  2
Qq Qq m0 a 3 m0 a 3
Ans (B)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
3 The basic concepts in this problem are
(a) Coulomb’s law (b) Principle of superposition (c) Nature of equilibrium

Interaction What is the nature of equilibrium of q for small displacement?

Ans
4 q is in stable equilibrium for longitudinal displacements. For small transverse
displacements q is in an unstable equilibrium.

Let q be displaced by a small distance x from its equilibrium position O to O. At O, q experiences a net
force acting towards O. This restoring force on q at O is given by
Qq  1 1 
F 
40   d  x   d  x 2 
 2

Qq 4dx  Qq 
 2
  3 
x  since, x is small (d2  x2)2  d 4
40  d  x 
2 2
 0 d 
Qq Qq
 F = kx, where k  3
 2 
 0 d m 0 d 3
Since the force is proportional to the negative of the displacement, the motion of q is SHM, with a period
m m0 d3
given by T1  2 .  T 1 = 2
k Qq

Think Further
1. In the above problem if q is replaced by q, how will the situations change for small longitudinal
and transverse displacements?
Solution
q will be in an unstable equilibrium for longitudinal displacement and is in stable equilibrium for
transverse displacement. Hence q will perform SHM of period T2 in the transverse direction,
which can be calculated as follows:

97
 When q is displaced transversely by a small distance x, the
restoring force acting on it is given by
1 Qq x
F = 2F sin  = 2 
40  d  x   2
2 2 1
d  x2 2
3
2Qqx 2Qqx
F 3
  3
, since x is small  d 2
 x 
2 2
 d3
4 d
40  d 2  x 2  2 0

Qq
or F = kx, where k =
2  0 d 3
Since the restoring force is proportional to the negative displacement, the motion of q is simple
m 2m0 d 3
harmonic, with a period T2, given by T2  2  2
k Qq
2. Two charges A and B of charge Q are fixed at a distance d apart. A particle of mass m and charge q
placed between A and B, will perform SHM of period T1 for longitudinal displacement. A particle
of mass m and charge q, placed between A and B, will perform SHM of period T2 for transverse
displacement. What is the relation between T1 and T2?
Solution
From previous discussions, T2 = 2T1

3. Two charges 4q and q are separated by a distance d. A third charge Q, placed on the line joining 4q
and q keeps the system of charges in equilibrium. Then (MCMCQ)
2d
(A) Q must be placed at a distance x  from 4q, in between 4q and q
3
2d
(B) Q must be placed at a distance x  from 4q, outside the line joining 4q and q
3
4
(C) Q  q
9
(D) Q is in stable equilibrium, for slight longitudinal displacement and in an unstable equilibrium for
slight transverse displacement.
Ans (A), (C)

Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
5 The basic concepts involved in this problem are:
(a) Coulomb’s law (b) Principle of superposition (c) conditions of equilibrium

Interaction Can a system of three linear charges be in equilibrium?

Ans
6 Yes. Three linear charges of suitable magnitude, sign and separation can be in
equilibrium.

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 98
 Interaction Can a system of three non-linear charges be in equilibrium?
Ans
7 No. A system of three non-linear charges can never be in equilibrium, whatever be their
signs, magnitude and separation.
Consider two charges 4q and q, separated by a distance d. Let the charge +Q be placed at a distance x
from 4q, on the line joining 4q and q, in between them.

To determine the value of x, consider the equilibrium of Q. Q will be in equilibrium if the coulomb force
1  4q   Q 1  q   Q
on Q due to 4q and q are equal i.e., 2
 .
40 x 40  d  x  2
4 1 2 1 2d
i.e. 2  2
   2d  2x  x  x 
x d  x  x d  x  3
Hence option (A) is correct and (B) is wrong.
To determine the magnitude of Q, consider the equilibrium of 4q. The attractive force exerted by Q on
4q must balance the repulsive force exerted by q on 4q. Hence, for equilibrium of 4q,
1  4q   Q 1  4q  q 
2

40 x 40  d 2
2
 2d 
x 2   4
i.e., Q  q  2   q  3     q
d   d  9
Hence option (C) is also correct.
If Q is slightly displaced longitudinally towards 4q, it experiences a stronger attractive force from 4q
and a weaker attractive force from q. Hence Q will not be in stable equilibrium. On the other hand, if Q
is displaced transversely, it is pulled back to its original position. Hence Option (D) is wrong.
Think Further
1. In the above problem if the charges are 4q and q , separated by a distance d, what must be the sign,
position and magnitude of Q, in order that the system be in equilibrium?
Solution
In this case, Q must be negative and placed nearer the smaller charge but outside the line joining
4q and q. Let x be the distance of Q from q, as shown in the figure.

1  4q   Q  1 q  Q
Considering the equilibrium of Q, we get 2

40  x  d  4 0 x 2
4 1
i.e., 2
 xd
x  d x2
Considering the equilibrium of +q, we get
1  4q  q  1  q Q
2
  Q  4q
4 0 d 4 0 x 2
Hence for the system of two charges 4q and +q, separated by a distance d to be in equilibrium, A
charge Q = 4q, should be placed at a distance d from +q, outside the line joining 4q and +q

99
4. Three charges q1 , +q2, q3 are placed as shown in the figure. The x-
component of the force on q1 is proportional to (SCMCQ)
q q q q
(A) 22  23 sin  (B) 22  23 cos 
b a b a
q 2 q3 q2 q3
(C) 2  2 sin  (D) 2  2 cos 
b a b a
Ans (C)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
8 The basic concepts involved in this problem are: (a) Coulomb’s law (b) Principle of
superposition (c) Component of Coulomb’s force in a specified direction.
qq 1
The x-component of force on q1 due to q3 is = F13 sin  = k 3 2 1 sin  , where k 
a 4 0
The x-component of force on q1
qq
due to q2 is F12  k 2 2 1
b
Hence the total force on q1 in the x-direction is given by
qq qq
Fx = k 3 2 1 sin   k 2 2 1
a b
q 2 q3
Hence, Fx  2  2 sin  .
b a
Option (C) is correct.
Think Further
1. In the above problem what is the y-component of force on q1 proportional to?
Solution
q q q
Fy  22 cos90  23 cos 180     23 cos 
b a a
2. In the above problem, if q3 is replaced by +q3, what is the x-component of force on q1
proportional to ?
Solution
q q
Fx  22  23 sin 
b a
3. In the above problem, if q3 is replaced by +q3, what is the y-component of force on q1
proportional to ?
Solution
q q q
Fy  22 cos90  23 cos   23 cos 
b a a
5. Two point charges each of value q are fixed at the two opposite corners of a square. Two point charges,
each of magnitude Q are fixed at the remaining two corners. For the net force on Q to be zero,
Q =  nq . Determine the value of n. (Integer)
Ans 8

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 100

 Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
9 The basic concepts involved in this problem are:
(a) Coulomb’s law (b) Principle of superposition (c) Conditions of equilibrium

Interaction Can you draw a schematic diagram for the problem?

Ans
10 The schematic diagram is as shown in the figure.

Let F1, F2 and F3 be the coulomb forces on Q due to q, q and Q respectively

Interaction What is the condition for the net force on Q to be zero.

Ans
11 The net force on Q in any two arbitrary perpendicular directions must be separately
zero.
Considering forces in the horizontal direction, the condition for net force on Q to be zero is given by
F1 + F3 cos 45 + F2 cos 90 = 0
1 Qq 1 Q2 1
2
 2
 00
40 d 4 0  2d  2
Q
i.e., q   0  Q  2 2q   8q  n  8
2 2

Think Further
1. In the above problem, what should be the relation between q and Q, in order that the net force on q
is zero?
Solution
Following the same procedure, it can be shown that the net force on q is zero if q = 2 2Q
2. In the above problem, suppose there is a charge Q at one vertex of the square and q each in the
remaining three vertices of the square. What should be the relation between q and Q so that the net
force on any q is zero?
Solution
Following the same procedure, it can be shown that for the net force on any q to be zero, Q =
2 2q
3. In the above problem, suppose there is a charge Q at the center of the square and charges q each at
the four vertices of the square. What should be the value of Q so that the net force on any q is zero?

101
 Solution
Net force on q is zero, when
kq 2 kq 2 kQq
2 2  2
 2
0
d  2d   d 
 
 2
 2 2 1
Q   q
 4 

6. A metallic ring of radius R has a charge q uniformly distributed on its circumference. If a point charge q0
qq 0
is placed at the ring’s centre, the tension in the string is given by T = . Determine n. (Integer)
n 2  0 R 2
Ans 8

Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
12 The basic concepts involved in this problem are:
(a) Coulomb’s law (b) equilibrium between Coulomb force and tension.

Interaction Why does tension arise in the ring?

Ans
13 The charge placed at the centre of the ring would repel all the charges uniformly
distributed over the circumference of the ring. Hence, the ring tends to expand. This
gives rise to tension in the string.

Interaction How does the tension balance the coulombian force ?

Ans
14 At every point on the ring the coulomb force is along the radially outward direction.
Tension acts tangentially along any element of the ring, in opposite directions, trying to
elongate the element. The radial component of tension acting inwards balance the
coulomb force acting radially outward.
 q 
Consider an element dl of the ring with charge dq. Then, dq    dl . Let dl subtend an angle d, at
 2R 
the center of the ring O. The tension T in the element can be resolved into horizontal component
d d
T cos and vertical component T sin . As can be seen from the figure, the horizontal components
2 2
cancel but the vertical components add. Hence the total vertical component acting radially inward is
d  d   dl 
T  2T sin . Since d is small, T  2T    Td  T   .
2  2  R

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 102

This is balanced by the Coulomb force F, acting radially outward.

1  q 0   dq  1 q0  q 
F 2
   dl
40 R 40 R 2  2R 
 dl  1 q0  q 
In equilibrium, T = F  T      dl
 R  4 0 R 2  2R 
qq 0
T= . Hence n = 8
8 2  0 R 2

Think Further
1. In the above problem, if Y is the Young’s modulus of the material of the ring and r the radius of the wire
making the ring, what is the change in the radius of the ring due to its expansion?
Solution
We know that the tension in the charged ring is given by
qq 0
T … (1)
8 2  0 R 2
T T
stress 2 2
But Young’s modulus, Y   r  r
strain   2R  R
2R R
R  2 
T= Y r … (2)
R
R 2 qq
From equations (1) and (2), we get, Y r  2 0 2
R 8  0 R
qq 0
 R =
8  0 Yr 2 R
2

2. In the above problem, the metallic ring is of radius 0.1 m. The ring has a charge  coulomb
distributed uniformly over its circumference. The ring is made of a metallic wire of Young’s
modulus 2  1011 Nm2 and area of cross-section 106 m2. If a charge of 108 C is placed at the
centre of the ring, what is the change in the radius of the ring?
Solution
qq
From the above ‘think further’ problem, R  2 0 2
8  0 Yr R

103
 qq 0    108 
i.e., R =   7 mm
8 0 Y  r 2  R 8  8.85  10 12  2  1011 10 6   0.1
7. An insulating rod of length 2l has a total charge Q uniformly distributed along its length. A point charge
q0 is placed at a distance r from the centre of the rod along its axial line. Then (MCMCQ)
1  q0Q 
(A) The force on q0 due to the charged rod, F =  .
40  r 2  l 2 
1  q0Q 
(B) The force on q0 due to the charged rod, F =  .
40  r 2 +l 2 
1  q0Q 
(C) As r  , F  0 and if r >>> l, F =  .
4 0  r 2 
(D) As r  l, F   and as r  0, F  0
Ans (A), (C) and (D)

Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
15 The basic concepts involved in this problem are (a) Coulomb’s law (b) principle of
superposition for continuous distribution of charge.

Interaction How does the Coulomb force between a point charge and a charged rod vary with their
separation?
16 Ans
(a) For two point charges separated by a distance r,
1
F  2 . As r  , F  0 and as r  0; F  .
r
(b) For a uniformly charged rod and a point charge also, F  0 as r  .
(c) If r >>> l, the charged rod appears to be a point charge from a large distance.
1
Hence in this approximation F  2 . Hence option (C) is correct.
r
(d) as r  l, the point charge q0 comes very close to one end of the charged rod and
hence F  .
(e) as r  0, the point charge q0 will be at the centre of the rod. The force on q0 due to
the left half of the rod cancels the force due to the right half. Hence as r  0; F 
0. Hence, option (D) is correct.
(f) Since as r  l , F  ∞; option (A) must be correct and option (B) wrong. Hence
correct options are (A), (C) and (D).
To obtain an expression for F, consider a rod of length 2l with a total charge Q distributed uniformly
Q
along its length. The charge per unit length of the rod is given   . Consider an element of the rod of
2l
Q
length dl, at a distance x from q0, containing charge dQ. Then dQ = dx =   dx . The force on q0 due
 2l 
to the charge element dQ is given by

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 104

 1 q0  dQ 1 q0Q dx
dF  2

40 x 40 2l x 2
The force on q0 due to the entire charged rod is given by
r l r l
1 q 0 Q dx q 0 Q  1 
F   dF   
4 0 2l r l x 2 80 l  x  r l
q0Q  1 1  q 0 Q  2l  1  q0Q 
      2 2   
8 0l  r  l r  l  8 0l  r  l  4 0  r 2  l 2 
Hence option (A) is correct and option (B) is wrong.

Think Further
1. In the above problem if the charge q0 is on the perpendicular bisector of the charged rod at a distance
r from its centre, what is the expression for force on q0?
Solution

Consider an element of length dx at a distance x from the centre of the rod O. The charge on this
Q
element is given by dQ = dx where  = . The force exerted by dQ on q0 is given by
2l
1 q 0  dQ 
dF  . dF can be resolved into dF cos  along the perpendicular bisector and dF sin ,
40  r 2  x 2 
perpendicular to it.
Considering two symmetric elements on either side of O, we observe that dF sin  components
cancel and only dF cos  components add. Hence the net force on q0 due to the entire rod is only
along the perpendicular bisector and is given by
1 q0Q r  dx 
F   dFcos    3
. Put x = r tan , then dx = r sec2  d.
40 2l  2
r  x2 2
1 q 0Q r  rsec2   d
 
1 q0 Q
 F  r3 sec3  40 2lr  cos d

40 2l 
1 q 0Q 1 q 0Q l 1 q 0Q
 2sin   
4  0 2lr 4  0 lr 2
l r 2 4 0 r r 2  l 2
2. If the charge q0 is off the perpendicular bisector of the rod, then what are the forces on q0 due to the
charged rod?
Solution

105
 Proceeding as we did in the previous discussion, we observe that in this case the net force on q0 due
to the charged rod, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the rod is given by

qQ
F   dFsin   0  cos   cos   and

8  0lr


q0Q
F   dFcos    sin   sin  

80 lr
2 2
The resultant force on q0 is given by F  F  F
F
The angle made by the resultant with the direction of F is given by tan  =
F
3. In the above problem, if the charged rod is infinitely long, what are the forces on q0?
Solution
 
If the charged rod is infinitely long,   and   .
2 2
Q    Q q 2
Hence F  0 and F   sin  sin    0
8 0lr  2 2  40 lr 40 r
4. If the charged rod is semi infinite, and q0 lies on a perpendicular at one edge, what are the forces on
q0?
Solution

In this case   and  = 0.
2
q0Q qQ qQ
 F  and F  0 . Hence the resultant force is F  2 0 or
8 0lr 8 0 lr 8 0lr
q0Q F
F and tan     1
4 20 lr F

i.e.  =
4
8. A sphere of radius R is charged with a non-uniform volume charge density which varies with the

distance r from the centre as   0 , where 0 is a positive constant. If the total charge on the sphere is
r
2
given by Q = n0R , find the value of n.

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 106

Ans 2
Interaction What is the basic concept involved in this problem?
Ans
17 This problem is based on the non-uniform distribution of charge over the volume of a
sphere.
Consider a spherical shell of radius r and thickness dr. The volume of this spherical shell is 4r2dr. The
charge contained in this spherical shell is given by

dQ = (4r2dr) = (4r2dr) 0  40 rdr
r
The total charge in the sphere is given by
R R
R2
Q   dQ   40 rdr  40  r dr  40  20 R 2
0 0
2
n=2

Think Further
 r 
1. In the above problem if the volume charge density varies as   0 1   , what is the total charge
 R
contained in the sphere?
Solution
Following the earlier procedure
R R R
 r  r3 
Q   dV   0 1   4r 2dr  40   r 2   dr where dV = 4dr = 4r2dr
0 0
 R 0
 R
R
 r3 r 4   R3 R4  R 3 0 R 3
 40     40     40 
 3 4R  0  3 4R  12 3
2. An insulating cylinder of length L and radius R has a non uniform volume charge distribution given
 r
by   0  a   where a and b are positive constants and r is the radial distance from the axis of
 b
the cylinder. Find the total charge contained in the cylinder.
Solution
Consider a cylindrical shell of radius r and thickness dr. The volume of this
cylindrical shell is given by dV = 2rLdr. The charge in this cylindrical shell
 r  r2 
is given by dQ = dV = 0  a   2rLdr , i.e., dQ = 2 0 L  ar   dr . The
 b  b
total charge contained in the cylinder is given by
R
 r2   aR 2 R 3 
Q   dQ  20 L   ar   dr  20 L   
0  b   2 3b 
 2R 
= 0 LR 2  a  
 3b 

107
 3. A disc of radius R has a non-uniform surface charge density    0 r , where 0 is a positive
constant and r is the distance from the centre of the disc. Find the total charge on the disc.
Solution
Consider an annular ring of radius r and thickness dr. The area of this surface
element is given by ds = (2r)dr. The charge on this elemental ring is given by
dQ = (ds) = (0r) (2r)dr = 20r2dr.
The total charge on the disc is given by
R
2 20 R 3
4. Q   dQ  2  0 r dr 
0
3

II IIT-JEE ILP-8 108

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  9

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Electric field

Syllabus Electric field  Electric field due to a point charge  Electric field due to a discrete
distribution of charge  Electric field due to a continuous distribution of charge 
Electric field due to a charged rod, ring and disc.
Learning 1. To understand the significance of electric field.
objects 2. To determine the electric field due to a point charge
3. To determine the electric field due to a discrete distribution of charge
4. To determine the electric field due to a continuous distribution of charge
5. To determine the electric field due to a uniformly charged (i) rod (ii) ring (iv) disc
Concept Map

Electri c fi eld du e to S ig nific anc e of c on cept of

c ontin uous Electric field
d is tribu tion of c harge

Electri c fi eld du e to a Defin ition of electric field

u niformly ch arged rod

Electric field du e to a poin t

El ec tric field d ue to a c harge
un iformly c harged ring
Electric
Field
Elec tric field due to a Elec tric field due to a
un iforml y c harg ed disc di sc rete d istribu tion of
c harge

Electric field
Coulomb’s law gives the force exerted by one point charge on another. But it does not explain how one point
charge exerts a force on another. In other words, Coulomb’s law answers only ‘what’ of electrical
interaction, but not the question ‘how?’
Consider two point charges q and q0 separated by a large distance r. According to Coulomb’s law the force
1 qq 0
exerted by the charge q on q0 is given by F  . The moment we change the magnitude or sign of q0,
4 0 r 2
the force on q0 alters instantaneously. How does q act on q0, which may be very far away instantaneously? If
q0 is replaced by q0, the force instantaneously switches over from repulsion to attraction. How does q
‘sense’ the ‘magnitude’ and ‘sign’ of q0, instantaneously and act accordingly? Coulomb’s law has no answer
for these questions. It simply assumes ‘action at a distance’.
In 1930, Michel Faraday, solved this riddle by introducing the concept of ‘Field’. According to Faraday, an
electric charge is always associated with something called ‘electric field’, which exists everywhere around

109
the charge. A charge q0 placed in the surroundings of q, experiences a force instantaneously, since the
electric field of q is already there. Instead of the charge producing the force, here the field produces the
force.
If F is the force experienced by q0 at a given point in the field, then F  q0 or F = Eq0. The constant of
proportionality E is called the intensity of electric field. Since F is a vector, E should also be a vector. 

   F
F  Eq 0 . Hence E  . Hence, electric field at any point in the vicinity of an electric charge is defined as
q0
the force experienced by a unit charge placed at that point. The unit of electric field is NC1.
‘q’ can be called the ‘source charge’ and q0 the ‘test charge’. To calculate the electric field due to q at any

F
point, we have to place the test charge q0 at that point and calculate the force acting on q0. The ratio
q0
gives the electric field at that point. Since one coulomb is a very large unit of charge, it is impracticable to
use q0 = 1 C. Further, if q0 is considerably large, it will displace the source charge from its original position
and measures a wrong field at the point considered. Hence, to measure the correct field at the point
 F
considered, q0 must be as small as possible. Hence, we define the electric field as E = lim   . By
q0  0 q
 0
convention test charge is always taken as a positive charge.

Electric field line

Electric field is an abstract concept. To visualize the electric field, Michael Faraday introduced the concept
of electric field line.
For a point charge the field line is the path along which a free test charge would move, when placed near the
point charge. For a positive and negative point charge, the field lines will be as shown below.

For a positive charge the field consists of a series of radially diverging lines. For a negative charge the field
consists of a series of radially converging lines.
For a system of two charges fixed at a certain distance apart, the field line is a curve, the tangent to which at
any point gives the direction of resultant electric field at that point. The field pattern for a system of a
positive charge and a negative charge, for a system of two positive charges and for a system of two negative
charges are as shown in the figure. The point where the resultant field due to two or more charges is zero is
called a neutral point.

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 110

In the above examples the magnitude as well as the direction of electric field varies from point
to point. Such fields are called ‘variable fields’ or ‘non-uniform fields’. On the other hand, if the
magnitude and direction of electric field remains same at all points, the field is said to be
uniform. The electric field between two oppositely charged metallic plates, is an example for a
uniform field.

Properties of electric field lines

1. Field lines always originate from a positive charge and end on a negative charge.
2. A tangent drawn to a field line at any point gives the direction of the net field at that point.
3. The number of field lines emanating from a charge is directly proportional to the charge.
4. The number of field lines crossing a unit area around a point is proportional to the magnitude of the field
at that point.
5. Two field lines never intersect.
6. To explain the attractive force between two unlike charges, Faraday postulated that the field lines have a
tendency to contract longitudinally.
7. To explain the repulsive force between two like charges, Faraday postulated that the field lines have a
tendency to repel transversely.

Electric field due to a point charge

Consider a point charge q and point P, at a distance r from q.

To calculate the electric field at P, we place a very small positive test charge q0 at P. The force exerted by q

 1 qq 0  F  1 q
on q0 is given by F  2
rˆ . The electric field at P is given by E  .  E  rˆ . We note the
4 0 r q0 40 r 2
field due to a point charge varies inversely as the square of the distance. Hence E  0 as r   and E  
as r  0. At r = 0, E is not defined and is taken to be zero. The electric field on either side of a charge are in
opposite directions.

Electric field due to a discrete distribution of charges

Consider a discrete distribution of charges q1, q2, q3, … etc. Consider a point P at distance r1, r2, r3 … etc
from the charges q1, q2, q3 … etc. Let E1, E2, E3 … be the electric fields at P due to charges q1, q2, q3 … etc,
when each charge exists alone.
Then the net electric field at P is given by
   
E  E1  E 2  E3  
Thus the net field at P is the vector sum of the fields due to individual charges.
This is a consequence of the principle of superposition of electric forces.

111
Electric field due to continuous distribution of charge
Consider a body of arbitrary shape with a total charge Q continuously Q
distributed over its volume. Suppose we wish to calculate the electric field + ++ +
+ + + +
dQ + + r
due to this charged body at some point P. Consider a very small charge + + P
+ ++ ++ ++
element dQ, at a distance r from P. The field at P due to dQ is given by + +
+ ++ + + + +
1 dQ
dE  .
4 0 r 2
The field at P, due to the entire charged body is given by
1 dQ
E   dE   .
40 r 2
For linear charge distribution, dQ = (dx), where  is the linear charge density.
For surface charge distribution, dQ = (ds), where  is the surface charge density.
For volume charge distribution, dQ = (dV), where  is the volume charge density.

Electric field due to a charged rod – at any point on the axial line of the rod
Consider a rod of length 2l, with a total charge Q uniformly distributed along the length of the rod. The
Q
linear charge density on the rod is given by   .
2l
l O l P
 
r
In ILP-3, we had obtained an expression for the force exerted by the charged rod on a charge q0 placed at a
1  Qq 0 
distance r from the centre of the rod, on its axis as F =   along OP.
40  r 2  l 2 
F 1 Q
Hence the electric field at P is given by E   . Substituting Q = 2l, we have
q 0 4 0  r  l 2 
2

  2l 
E  .
4 0  r 2  l 2 
Interaction How does the electric field along the axial line of the rod vary with r?
Ans
1 As can be seen from the expression,
  2l 
F   Y
40  r 2  l 2 
(a) as r  , E  0
1 l l
(b) For r  l; E  2   X
r O
(c) As r  l, E  
(d) As r  0, E  0
(e) E is along positive X-axis for r > 0 and
along negative X-axis for r < 0.

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 112

 Interaction What is the graphical representation of E as a function of r?
Ans
2 The graph of E versus r is as shown in the figure.

Electric field due to a charged rod  At any point on the equatorial line of the rod
Consider a rod of length 2l, with a total charge Q, uniformly distributed along its length. Consider a point P
Q
at a distance r on the perpendicular bisector. The linear density of charge on the rod is given by   . In
2l
ILP-3, we had obtained an expression for the force exerted by the charged rod on a charge q0 placed at P as
1 Qq 0 E
F .  The electric field at P is given by
4 0 r r 2  l 2
P
F 1 Q
E  . Since Q = (2l), we have
q 0 40 r r 2  l 2 r

  2l  l l
E  
4 0  r r  l 
 2 2
O

Interaction How does the electric field along the equatorial line vary with distance r?
Ans
3   2l 
As can be seen from the expression, E 
4 0  r r 2  l 2 


(a) as r  ; E  0
(b) as r 0; E  
1 Q
(c) when r  l , r 2  l 2  r 2  E 
40 r 2

Interaction What is the graphical representation of E as a function of r?

Ans
4 The graph of E versus r is as shown in the figure.
E

O r

Interaction For a rod which is infinitely long how does E vary with r?
Ans
5  2l  2l
We have, E  
4 0 r r  l
2 2 4 0 r2
rl 1  2
l

113
  2
40 r2
r 1
l2
1  2 
As l  , E   
40  r 

Interaction If the point P lies on a line perpendicular of the rod, but not passing through its centre,
what will be the electric field at the point P?
6 Ans

In this case, the electric field will have a component parallel to the rod  E  and a
component perpendicular to the rod  E   .

Then E   cos   cos   and
4 0 r

E   sin   sin   .
40 r
Notice that
(a) When P is on a perpendicular bisector,  = .
2 2 l
 E  0 and E   sin  
4 0 r 40 r r  l 2
2

 
(b) When the rod is infinitely long,   ; 
2 2
2
E  0 and E  
40 r

Interaction If the point P lies on a line perpendicular to the rod and at one edge of the rod, the other
end extending to infinity, what is the electric field?
7 Ans
 
In this case   0 and    E  E  
2 40 r
2
 E  E 2  E 2 
40 r

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 114

Problems
1. Three charges of equal magnitude q are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side r. If the
n q
magnitude of electric field at any one vertex of the triangle is . Find the value of n.
4 0 r 2
Ans 3
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
8 The basic concepts involved in this problem are
(a) the electric field due to a point charge and
(b) the principle of superposition of electric fields.
1 q
The field produced by q at A, at C is given by E A  . EB EA
4 0 r 2
1 q q C
The field produced by q at B at C is given by E 
40 r 2 60
  r r
EA and E B , make an angle of 60 with each other. Hence the resultant field at C
is given by
q q
E  E 2A  E 2B  2  E A  E B  cos 60 A r B
   1
Since, E A  E B , E  E A2  E A2  2E A2    3E A2  3E A
2
3 q
 E n=3
40 r 2

Interaction What about the electric field produced by q at C, at the point C itself?
Ans
9 A point charge does not produce any field in its own location.

Think Further
1. In the above problem if the charge at A is q, what is the resultant field at C?
Ans
EB
In this the direction of EA is reversed. Hence net field at C is
120 q
E  E2B  EA2  2EA EB cos120 C
60
 1 EA
i.e. E  E 2A  E 2A  2E 2A     E A  E B r r
 2
1 q
= EA    q q
4 0  r 2  A r B
2. In the above problem, what is the net electric field at the in centre of the equilateral triangle?
Ans
We observe at the incentre EA = EB = EC. The angle between any pair of field vectors is also same,
being 120. Hence the resultant field at the incentre is zero.

115
 C
q

r r
EB EA

EC
q q
A r B
3. Three charges, each equal to q, are placed at the vertices of a square of side d. What is the resultant
electric field at the center of the square?
Ans
Let EA, EB and EC represent the electric field at O, produced by the charge q each at the vertices A,
    
B and C. Then E A  EB  EC and E B  E C .
  
Hence at O, EB cancels EC , leaving only EA at O, which is given by
1 q 1 2q
EA  2

40  d  40 d 2
 
 2
4. Point charges q, q, 2Q and Q are placed in order at the corners A, B, C and D qA
D
of a square of side 2d. If the field at the midpoint of CD is zero, what is the ratio EC
q EA
? d
Q d
O EB
2
5 5 B C
Ans q d q
2
AB = BC = CD = DA = 2d
q 2d q
AF = BF = 5d A B
|EA| = |EB| and |EC| = 2|ED|
Hence if the field at F is zero, then 5d 5d
2d 2d
EA cos  + EB cos  + ED  EC = 0 EB
i.e. 2EA cos   ED = 0 
Q 2Q
i.e. 2EA cos  = ED D EC F C
 ED
1 q d 1 Q q 5 5
i.e. 2 2
 2
 
40  5d  5d 40 d Q 2 EA

2. A number of identical charges, each of magnitude q are placed at distances of 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 8 m … etc

q
on the X-axis of a coordinate system. If the electric field at the origin is , find the value of n.
n 0
Ans 3 (Integer)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
10 This problem is based on (a) Coulomb’s law and (b) the principle of superposition.
The net electric field at the origin due to all point charges on the X-axis is given by
q 1 1 1  Y
E    
40 1 2 4
2 2 2 
q  1 1 1  1m 2m 4m

40 1  4  16  64   O
X

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 116

Interaction How do we simplify the expression inside the square bracket?
Ans
11 The expression inside the square bracket forms a geometric progression. The standard
form of G.P is given by a  ar  ar 2  ar 3    . The sum of this series is given by
a
S , where a is the first term and r is the common ratio.
1 r
q  1  q 1 q 4 q
Hence E =         
40 1  1 40 3 4 0  3  30
   
 4 4
n=3

Think Further
1. In the above problem, if the charges placed at the same distances are q, q, +q, q … etc, what is the
electric field at the origin?
Solution
q q q q q 
E     
40 12 22 42 82 
q  1 1 1 
40 1  4  16  64  
1
This forms a G.P. with a common ratio - . Hence
4
q  1  q  1  q 1 q 4
E          
40  1 4 0 1  1 4 0 5 4 0 5
1         
  4   4 4
q
E
50
2. In the above problem, charges of same magnitude q are placed on the X-axis, on either side of the
origin at distances (+1 m,  1 m), (+2 m, 2 m), (+4 m, 4 m) … etc, what is the net electric field at
the origin?
Y

2 m 1 m +1 m +2 m
O X
q q q q

Ans Zero
q
The charges on the positive X-axis produce an electric field towards ve X-axis as discussed
3 0
earlier. The charges on the negative X-axis also produce an equal electric field at the origin towards
+ve X-axis. These two fields, being equal and opposite, cancel each other.
3. In the above problem, if the charges on the positive X-axis are +q each and the charges on the
negative X-axis are q each, what is the net electric field at the origin.
2q
Ans towards the ve X-axis
3 0

117
 q
Following the previous discussion, all the positive charges produce a field towards ve X-
3 0
q
axis. All the negative charges produce a field towards the ve X-axis. These two fields at the
3 0
2q
origin, being in the same direction add to give a resultant field .
3 0
3. A bob of mass m and charge q is suspended from an insulating string of length l. In a horizontal uniform
electric field E, the string is found to deflect by an angle . Then (SCMCQ)
mg cos  mg sin  mg tan  mg
(A) E  (B) E  (C) E  (D) E 
q q q q
Ans (C)
Interaction What are the basic concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
12 The basic concepts involved in this problem are
(a) The force experienced by a charge in an electric field.
(b) The equilibrium of a body under the action of three concurrent coplanar forces

Interaction When the string is deflected by an angle , what are the various forces acting on the
charged bob?
13 Ans
T


q FE = qE

mg
In the deflected position, the charged bob is in equilibrium under the action of
(a) the weight mg, acting vertically downward.
(b) the tension T in the string.
(c) the electrical force FE = qE, acting along the horizontal direction.
Resolving the tension T, along the horizontal and vertical direction we get T cos  along the vertical
direction and T sin  along the horizontal direction. For equilibrium T cos  = mg and T sin  = qE.
qE Tsin 
Dividing these two equations, we get,   tan 
mg T cos 
mg tan 
 E .
q
Hence option (C) is correct.
Think Further
1. In the above problem, what is the horizontal and vertical displacement of the bob from the equilibrium
position?

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 118

 Solution
Let x and y be the horizontal and vertical displacements of the bob. Then
qE qE l
x  l sin . Since, tan   , sin   
mg q E  m2g 2
2 2
ly T
qE
qEl y x
 x
q2 E 2  m 2g2
mg
and l  y = l cos   y = l (1  cos )
qE mg  mg 
Since tan  = , cos    y  l 1  
mg 2 2 2
q E m g 2 2 2 2 2
q E m g 

2. In the above problem, if the uniform electric field E is along a direction making an angle  with the
horizontal, what is the expression for tan , where  is the modified angle the string makes with the verticle?
Solution
qE
When the electric field E is horizontal, we have seen that tan   .
mg
Resolving qE along horizontal and vertical direction, we get qE cos  in the
horizontal direction and qE sin  in the vertical direction.
The three forces which are now in equilibrium are, T, qE cos  and mg  qE sin
qE qE cos 
. Hence, instead of tan   , we will now have tan   .
mg mg  qEsin 

Electric field due to a uniformly charged ring at any point on its axis.
Consider a circular ring of radius R, with a
charge Q, uniformly distributed over its
circumference.
Consider a point P on the axis of the ring at
a distance r from the centre of the ring. The
electric field at P due to any charge
1 dQ
element dQ is given by dE 
4 0 d 2
dE can be resolved into a component
dE cos  along the axis of the ring and
dE sin  perpendicular to the axis.

Considering the contributions of all charge elements, we find that the components perpendicular to axis
cancel. Hence the net electric field at P is only along the axis of the ring and is given by
1 dQ r 1  r  1 r
E   dEcos      d  40 d 3 
2
 dQ  3   dQ
4 0 d d 40
1 r 1 Qr
i.e. E  3
Q 3
along OP.
40 d 40  2 2 2
r R

119
 Interaction How does the electric field E vary for different values or r?
Ans
14 (a) As r  0; E  0 and at r = 0; E = 0
3
1
(b) For r  R,  r 2  R 2  2  r 3  E  2
r
(c) As r  ; E  0

Interaction For what value of r is E maximum?

Ans
15 Since E  0, as either r  0 or r  , E must be maximum somewhere in between.
dE d r 
When E is maximum  0 , i.e.  3 
0
dr dr  2 2 2
 r  R 
R
On simplification, we get r = 
2

Interaction What is the maximum value of E?

Ans
16 1 Qr
E max  E R  3
r 40  2
2
r  R 2 2 r R
2

1  2Q 
on simplification we get E max 
40  3 3R 2 

Interaction What is the graphical representation of variation of E with r?

Ans
17

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 120

Electric field at any point on the axis of a uniformly charged disc
Consider a circular disc of radius R, with a total charge Q,
uniformly distributed over its surface. The surface density of
Q
charge,   . Consider a point P at a distance r on the axis
R 2
of the disc. To calculate the electric field at P, we divide the disc
into a large number of annular rings of radii varying from 0 to
R. Consider one such ring of radius x and thickness dx. The
charge on the annulr ring is given by dQ = (ds) =  (2x dx).
The electric field at P due to this elemental ring is given by
1  dQ  r   2xdx  r
dE  3
 3
40  2 4 0  2
r  x2 2 r  x2 2
3
But x = r tan   dx = r sec2  (d) and  r 2  x 2  2  r 3 sec3 
2  r tan    r sec  d  r
2

 dE =  sin  d
40 r 3 sec3  2 0

 
 E   dE   sin  d    cos 0
2 0 0 2 0

E= 1  cos   or E   1  r 
1 
, along OP
2 0 20  2 2 2
 r  R 

Interaction Discuss the variation of E with r

Ans
18 (a) as r  ;   0  E  0
1
(b) For r  R , we should get, applying the large distance approximation E  .
r2
 r  1 Q  r 
To get this consider, E  1  2   2 R 2 1  2
2 0 2 
 r  R2  0  r R 
1 Q  r2  R 2  r 
i.e. E   
2 0 R 2  r 2  R 2 
Multiplying both numerator and denominator by  r2  R 2  r 
1 Q  r2  R 2  r2  1 Q
E 2  
2 0 R  r  R  r r  R  20 r  R  r r 2  R 2
2 2 2 2 2 2

1 Q
Let R  0, making the disc a point charge. Then E 
40 r 2
 
(c) as r  0;   E 
2 2 0

(d) as R  ; E 
2 0 .
This implies that a uniformly charged disc of infinite radius turns into an infinite sheet
of charge and the electric field produced by it is a constant. Considering a field point

121
 very close to a finite sized disc of uniform charge also leads us to the same conclusion.
From this discussion, we can infer that the approximation with regard to an
‘infinitesimally small distance’ as well as the ‘infinitely large radius’ reveal the same
limiting case behavior of the electric field produced by a uniform surface charge
distribution.

Electric field at the centre of a uniformly charged circular arc

Consider a uniformly charged wire of length l, containing a total charge
Q
Q. The linear charge density on the wire is   . Consider an element
l
of the arc of length dl, subtending an angle d at the centre of curvature O
of the arc. then dl = r(d). The charge on this element is given by
dQ =  dl = r (d)
The electric field at O due to this element is given by
1 dQ 1 r  d  
dE  2
 2
 d
4 0 r 4 0 r 4 0 r

Resolving dE along X and Y direction, we get dEx = dE sin  and dEy = dE cos . Considering the
contribution from all such elements of the ring, we observe that all X-components cancel and all Y-
components add. Hence the electric field due to entire arc at O is given by


2

E   dE y   dE cos    4 r cos  d
 0

2


2 
    
i.e. E   
 cos  d  40 r sin   22  40 r 2sin 2
4 0 r

2

 
i.e. E  sin   , along Y axis
20 r  2 

Interaction What is the electric field at the centre of curvature of a uniformly charged semicircular
wire?
19 Ans

In this case,  = .  E 
20 r

Interaction What is the electric field at the centre of curvature of a uniformly charged wire bent in
the form of a quarter of circle?
20 Ans
 
In this case,   E 
2 2 20 r

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 122

 Interaction What is the electric field at the centre of a uniformly charged wire bent in the form of a
circle?
21 Ans
In this case,  = 2  E = 0

Interaction How can we prove that the electric field at the centre reduces to that of a point charge
as α approaches zero?
22 Ans

sin
  Q 1  Q 2
We know that E  2sin  2sin 
4 0 r 2 r 4 0 r 2 40 r 2 
2
 
Q  sin 2  Q
 lim E  2
.lim   E
0 40 r  0    4 0 r 2
2
 2 
This is the same as the field due to a point charge.

Electric field due to a thin uniformly charged hemispherical shell of radius R, with
surface charge density , at its centre
Consider a hemispherical shell of radius R, with a uniform charge density . The shell may be considered as
being made up of a large number of annular rings. Consider one such ring of radius r, thickness dr, with its
centre at a distance x from the centre of the hemisphere O. The charge on this ring is given by
dQ = (ds) = (2r dr) =  (2)(R sin ) R d
i.e. dQ = 2R2 sin  d
The electric field at O due this elemental ring is given by
1  2R sin  d  R cos 
2
1  dQ   x 
dE  
40  2 2  32 40 R3
x r
 
 sin 2  d
4 0


 2   cos 2  2  1 1 
 E   dE   sin 2 d     
4 0 0 4 0  2  0 40  2 2 


 E , along the normal to the base of the hemisphere, outwards.
4 0

Interaction What is the electric field at the centre of a uniformly charged spherical shell?
Ans
1 The electric field at the centre of a uniformly charged spherical shell is zero. To obtain
this significant result, let us regard the spherical shell as being made of two

hemispherical shells. Each hemispherical shell produces a field at the centre, but
4 0
in opposite directions. Hence the net field at the centre is zero.

123
 Interaction An insulating spherical shell has a uniform distribution of charge +Q in one half and
Q in the other half. What is the electric field at the centre of sphere?
2 Ans

Each hemisphere produces a field at its centre. The field is away from the
4 0
positively charged hemisphere and towards the negatively charged hemisphere. Hence

the two fields at the centre add giving a resultant field at the centre.
2 0

4. An infinitely long wire with uniform charge density  is bent as shown in the
figure. If the electric field at the centre of curvature of the bent portion is

, determine the value of n.
h 0 R

Ans 8
As shown in the figure, the infinitely long wire can be regarded as being
made up of two straight parts ‘1’ and ‘3’ and one quarter circle ‘2’. Let
E1, E3 and E2 respectively represent the electric field at O produced by
  2  
these parts, as shown in the figure. E1  E 3  . E1 and E3
40 R
being equal and opposite, cancel each other.
    
E2  sin  sin 
2 0 R 2 2 0 R 4 2 20 R
 n = 8.

Think Further
1. If a uniformly charged infinitely long wire is bent as shown in the figure, what is the electric field at the point
O?

Ans
As can be seen from the figure
  2    
E1  E 3  and E 2  cos  since  = 
40 R 20 R 2 2 0 R

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 124

    
E1 and E3 are perpendicular to each other and have a resultant E  E12  E 32 
2 0 R
 
Since E and E 2 are in opposite directions the net field at O is zero.
2. If a uniformly charged infinitely long wire is bent as shown in the figure, what is the electric field at the point
O?

Ans
As can be seen from the figure
  2
E1  E 3 
40 R
 
Resultant of E1 and E2 has a magnitude given by
 
E  E12  E 22 
2 0 R
    
E and E2 are in same direction. Hence the resultant of E and E2 has a magnitude
0 R
3. A circular ring of radius R has a charge Q uniformly distributed over its circumference. An infinitely long
wire with a linear charge density  is placed along the axis of the ring. What is the force exerted by the rod on
the ring?

Ans

Consider an element of the ring with charge dQ. The electric field at dQ due to the rod is E 
40 R

parallel to the length of the rod and E   perpendicular to the length of the rod. The force due to
40 R
E  on all dQ of the ring cancel one another. The force due to E on all the dQ are in the same direction add.
 Q
Hence F  EdQ 
  dQ 
4 0 R 40 R

125
  Space for notes 

II IIT-JEE ILP-9 126

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  10

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Electric field due to an electric dipole
Syllabus Electric dipole  dipole moment  Electric field. (a) at a point on the axis of a dipole
(b) at a point on the equatorial line of a dipole (c) at any general point
Learning 1. To understand the significance of an electric dipole.
objects 2. To understand the concept of dipole moment
3. To derive an expression for the electric field at
(i) any point on the axial line of a dipole
(ii) any point on the equatorial line of a dipole
(iii) any general point.

Concept Map

Electric dipole
A system of two equal and opposite point charges separated by a very small
distance is called an electric dipole. The ability of a dipole to produce
electrical effects, that is, the strength of the dipole is measured by a quantity
called the electric dipole moment.

Dipole moment
The product of the magnitude of either charge of a dipole and the separation between them is called electric
dipole moment. Dipole moment is represented by a vector drawn from the negative charge to the positive
charge of the dipole.
The line joining the two charges of a dipole is called its axis. If a dipole consists of two charges
+q and –q separated by a distance d, then the product qd = p, gives the magnitude of its electric dipole

moment. As stated earlier, the vector p is directed from –q to +q.

127
 
Dipole moment is p  qa p , where p is a unit vector from –q to + q.
The SI unit of electric dipole moment is C-m (coulomb metre). The practical unit of electric dipole is debye
(D). 1 D = 3.336 × 1030 C-m. A typical dipole moment for a molecule is about 1D.

Significance of a dipole
Several physical and chemical properties of many substances are a result of dipole moments of its molecules.
Several properties of the molecules and the effect of applied electric fields on these molecules can be
understood using the concept of electric dipole moment of the molecule.
We know that an isolated atom or a molecule is electrically neutral. This only means that the magnitudes of
positive and negative charges are equal. In some molecules, say for example, carbon dioxide (CO2) and
(CH4), the centre of positive charge and the centre of negative charge coincide, such molecules do not have
an intrinsic dipole moment. Molecules with zero intrinsic dipole moment are called non-polar molecules.
Examples: Oxygen, Hydrogen.
When a non polar molecule is subjected to an external electric field, the field tends to displace the effective
centers of positive and negative charges of the molecule in opposite direction such that it acquires an electric
dipole moment. This is called induced dipole moment. On removing the applied electric field, the molecule
loses its polar character.
However, in a molecule of water, the centre of positive charge and that of the negative charge do not
coincide. The molecule has a dipole moment, because of its very structure and hence is said to possess an
intrinsic dipole moment.
Molecules with a non-zero intrinsic dipole moment (even when there is no external electric field) are called
polar molecules.
Examples: H2O, HCl, CO.

Interaction In a water molecule, the angle between the two O  H bonds is 104.5 and the dipole
moment of each O  H bond is 1.5D. What is the dipole moment of the water
1 molecule?
Ans

pnet  2pcos
2
104.5
 2 1.5  cos
2
= 1.84 D

Interaction An electron and a proton are separated by a distance of A. What is the dipole moment
of the system?
2 Ans
p = (q) (r) = (1.6 × 1019) (1010) = 1.6 × 1029 C m
1.6  1029
 D  4.8 D
3.336  1030

II IIT-JEE ILP-10 128

 Interaction Carbon monoxide has a dipole moment 0.12 D while carbon dioxide has zero dipole
moment. How can this be explained?
3 Ans

The bond structure of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are as shown in the figure.
Carbon monoxide has a dipole moment directed from oxygen to carbon atom. In carbon
dioxide, the net dipole moment is zero, as shown in the figure.

Dipole moment of a discrete charge distribution

Consider a system of charges, q1, q2, +q3, q4 … placed at (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2,
z2) … etc. such that the sum of the charges is zero and the charges are placed
fairly closer apart. Suppose we wish to calculate the dipole moment of this

discrete system of charges. If p is the dipole moment of the system, then we can

write p  p2x  p 2y  p2z , where p x   x i q i ; p y   y i q i and p z   z i q i .

Dipole moment of a continuous charge distribution

Case (a): One kind of charge lumped at a point while the other kind of equal magnitude being
distributed.
Consider a point charge +Q and a charge dQ, being distributed continuously,
as shown in the figure. Consider an element of charge dQ at a distance x from
+Q. This dQ and +dQ in Q will form a dipole of dipole moment dp = x(dQ).
The dipole moment of the system is given by integrating over all the elemental
dipole moments.
 p   dp   x  dQ 

Case (b): Equal and opposite kinds of charges being continuously distributed over two bodies.

Consider two bodies with continuous charge distributions containing total charge +Q and Q. Consider two
charge elements +eq and dQ, in each of the bodies, separated by a distance. The dipole moment of these
two charge elements is given by dp = x(dQ). The total dipole moment of the system is given by p =
 dp   x  dQ .
Note: Since the dipole moment is a vector quantity, integration must be performed separately to obtain each
spatial component of the net dipole moment of the given configuration.

129
Electric field due to a dipole
Consider two equal and opposite point charges +q and –q separated by a distance d = 2a along the x-axis.
The field at any point due to the dipole is the resultant of the fields due to the individual charges.
(i) Field at a point on the axis:
Let P be a point on the axis of a dipole at a distance r from its centre O, as shown in figure.

Fig. Field on the axis of a dipole

q
The electric field at P due to the positive charge is given by E q  along the positive x-
4  0 ( r  a ) 2
direction.
q
The electric field at P due to the negative charge is E q  along the negative
4 0 (r  a) 2
x-direction.
We see that Eq  E q . The net electric field at P is E  E q  E q
q  1 1 
E  (r  a )2  ( r  a )2 
4 0
 
2 2

q ( r  a )  (r  a ) 
  
40  ( r 2  a 2 )2 
q  4ar 

40  ( r 2  a 2 )2 
The product q  2a  p is the dipole moment, along the positive x-direction.
 1 2 pr 
Hence, we get, E  p
4 0 ( r  a 2 ) 2
2


where p is a unit vector along dipole moment p .
If the point of observation P is far away from the dipole (i.e., r >>> 2a), a2 is negligible compared to r2
 
1 2p
and thus, E 
4 0 r 3

Interaction How is the variation of electric field with distance for a dipole is different compared to
that for an isolated charge.
4 Ans
1
(a) For an isolated charge, E  2
r
1
For a dipole, E  3 .
r

II IIT-JEE ILP-10 130

 (b) The graphical representation of electric field is as follows.

(c) The field on either side of a point charge are in opposite direction. But the axial
field on either side of dipole are in same direction, as that of the dipole moment.

(ii) Field at a point on the equatorial line

Consider a point P at a distance x from the centre of the dipole and lying in the equatorial plane
(a plane perpendicular to the axis of the dipole and passing through the centre of the dipole).

Fig. Field on the equatorial line of a dipole

q
The electric field at P due the positive charge +q is E  directed along BP produced.
4 0 (a 2  r 2 )

The electric field at P due to the negative charge –q, is

q
E  directed along PA .
40 (a 2  r 2 )
The two fields E and E are equal in magnitude but along different directions as shown in Fig. (a). The
resultant field at P is obtained by resolving the fields along x and y directions as shown in Fig. (b).
The components along the y-direction cancel each other while the components along the x-direction add
up. The resultant field is thus
E  E cos   E cos   2 E cos  , parallel to the negative x-direction (from + q to – q)
2q a q 2a
E  
2
40 ( a  r )2
 2
a r 2
 3
40  a 2  r 2  2
 
p  The negative sign indicates that 
i.e. E  3
.   
 E and p are in opposite directions 
4 0  a  r 
2 2 2

For a short dipole since a <<< r,

131
  
p
we get E 
4 0 r 3
The direction of electric field is opposite to that of the dipole moment.

Field due to a dipole at any general point

Consider a point P, at a distance r from the centre of a dipole, in a direction making an angle  with the axis

of the dipole. To determine the field at P, resolve the dipole moment p in a direction parallel to OP and in a
direction perpendicular to OP. Then the point P lies along the axial line of a dipole of dipole moment p cos .
P also lies along the equatorial line of dipole of dipole moment p sin . Hence
2p cos  psin 
Ea  and E e 
4 0 r 3 40 r 3
The resultant field at P is given by
2 2
 2p cos    p sin  
E P  E a2  E e2   3 
 3 
 40 r   40 r 
p p
 3
4cos2   sin 2   3cos 2   1
40 r 4 0 r 3
If EP makes an angle  with OP, then
E 1
tan   e  tan 
Ea 2
y y
If P  P(x, y), then tan    tan  
x 2x
Note: Since we use the approximated forms of the expressions for Eaxis and Eequatorial, point P should be far
away from the centre of the dipole, O.
Interaction Compare the characteristics of the axial field and equatorial field for a dipole.
Ans
5 (a) Both fields vary as the inverse cube of the distance.
(b) At equal distance from the dipole, the magnitude of the axial field is twice the
magnitude of the equatorial field.
(c) The direction of the axial field is parallel to the dipole moment, while that of the
equatorial field is antiparallel to the dipole moment.

For an axial point,  = 0

 cos  = 1
1 2p
E=
4 0 r 3
For an equatorial point,  = 90
 cos  = 0
1 p
E=
40 r 3

II IIT-JEE ILP-10 132

Problems
1. The electric field due to a dipole on its axial line at a distance r from the centre of the dipole is E. The
distance on the equatorial line at which the electric field has the same magnitude is
r r r
(A) r (B) (C) 1 (D) 1
2
22 23
Ans (D)
Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?
Ans
6 The concepts involved in this problem are the electric field produced by a dipole at a
1 2p 1 p
point on its axial line and equatorial line. E axial  3
, E equatorial 
4 0 r 40 r 3
1 p 1 2p 3 r3
Eeq  Eax    (r ) 
40 (r 3 ) 40 (r)3 2
r
 r  1
23
Think Further
(a) Suppose the electric field is E at a point P on the equatorial line at a distance r from the centre of the dipole. If
the dipole is rotated by 90, about the equatorial line as the axis, what is the field at the point P?
Ans
The field remains E, since P continues to be an equatorial line.
(b) Suppose the electric field is E at a point P on the axial line, at a distance r from the center of the dipole. If the
dipole is rotated by 90, about the equatorial line as the axis, what is the field at the point P?
Ans
E
After rotation, P becomes an equatorial point. Hence the field becomes
2
2. Electric charges q, +q, +q and q are placed in order along the corners of a small square of side l. The
electric field at a distance d from the centre of a square along any diagonal is (where d >>> l)
5 ql 10 ql 2ql 3ql
(A) 3
(B) 3
(C) 3
(D)
4 0 d 4 0 d 40 d 40 d3
Ans (B)

Interaction What are the concepts involved in this problem?

Ans
7 The concepts involved in this problem are
(a) Electric field at an axial point of a dipole
(b) Electric field at an equatorial point of a dipole and
(c) The principle of superposition of electric fields

133
 The point P may be regarded as lying on the axial line of a dipole of dipole l
q +q
 
moment q 2l and on the equatorial line of another dipole of equal dipole

moment. Hence, the resultant field at P is

2 q +q
 2kp   kp  kp 1 q( 2l) 10 ql
E   3  3   5 3  5 3
 d
 d  d  d 4 0 d 4 0 d3
p

Think Further
(a) What is the dipole moment of the system of charges shown in the following figure.
Ans

Zero
(b) What is the dipole moment of the system of charge shown in the following figure?

Ans
2qd , making an angle 45 with the horizontal.
(c) What is the dipole moment of the system of charges shown in the following figure?

Ans
3qd

3. Three point charges 2q, q and q are located respectively at (0, a, a), (0, a, a) and (0, 0, a). The dipole
moment of the distribution is
(A) qa (B) 13qa (C) qa (D) 17qa
Ans (B)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
8 This problem is based on the concept of calculating the electric field due to a discrete
system of charges.

p x   q i x i  (2q)(0)  (q)(0)  ( q)(0)  0

p y   qi yi  (2q)(a)  (q)(a)  (q)(0)  qa
pz   qi z i  (2q)(a)  (q)(a)  ( q)(a)  4qa

| p | p 2x  p 2y  p z2  02  (qa) 2  (4qa) 2  17 qa

II IIT-JEE ILP-10 134

4. A positive charge q is distributed over a semicircular ring with a linear charge density . A negative
charge q is placed at the centre of the ring. The dipole moment of the system is
2qR qR 2qR 2 qR 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
   
Ans (A)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
9 This problem is based on the concept of dipole moment of a system of charges, with
one kind of charge lumped and the other kind distributed.

q q
dq  (ds)  (Rd)  (d)
R 
qR +dq + + +
+ + +dq
dp  dq(R)  (d) +
 +  d +
 + +

2  + +
qR qR  qR 2qR q
p   dp cos     cos  d   [sin  ] 2
  (2) 
 
2  

2

5. A non-conducting ring of radius R has a linear charge density given by  = 0 cos , where 0 is a
positive constant. The electric dipole moment of the charge distribution is
(A) 0R (B) 20R (C) 0R2 (D) 20R2
Ans (C)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
10 This problem is based on the concept of dipole moment of a system of charges, where
both positive and negative charges are distributed continuously.
cos  is +ve in the first and fourth quadrant while it is ve in the second and third quadrant.
dq = (ds) = (0 cos )(Rd)
dp = (dq)(2R cos ) = (0R cos  d)(2R cos ) = 20R2 cos2  d  dq   +
+ + dq
  2R cos 
   +
2 2 q q
1 
p   dp  2 0 R 2  cos 2 d  2 0 R 2  2 [1  cos 2]d   +
  +
 
2 2  +
  

2

2
  +
+
2  
  0 R   d   cos 2 d   0 R 2 [  0]   0 R 2
  2 

2


135
  Space for notes 

II IIT-JEE ILP-10 136

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  11

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Electric dipole in an Electric field
Syllabus Torque acting on a dipole in an uniform electric field  Oscillations of a dipole in a uniform
electric field  Work done in rotating a dipole in a uniform electric field  Force experienced
by a dipole in a non-uniform electric field  Force of interaction between two dipoles
Learning objects 1. To derive an expression for the torque on a dipole in a uniform electric field.
2. To calculate the work-done in rotating a dipole in a uniform electric field.
3. To obtain an expression for the period of oscillation of a dipole in a uniform electric
field.
4. To derive an expression for the force of interaction between two dipoles.
5. To derive an expression for the force on a dipole in a non-uniform field.
Concept Map

Dipole in a uniform field - Torque on a dipole

Consider an electric dipole held in a uniform electric field as shown in the
figure. Let the axis of the dipole be inclined at an angle  with the electric field

E.
Force on the positive charge of the dipole is
  
F1  qE in the direction of the field E .
Force on the negative charge of the dipole is
  
F2   qE , opposite to the field E .
These two equal and opposite parallel forces, separated by a distance form a couple, which tends to rotate the
dipole until its axis becomes parallel to the applied field. If a is the distance between the two charges of the
dipole, the separation between the forces F1 and F2 is AC = a sin , as seen from figure.
Therefore, the torque on the dipole about and through the centre of the dipole is
  Fa sin   qEa sin   pE sin  [F1  F2  F ]
where p = qa is the dipole moment.
  
Torque is a vector quantity and is expressed as the cross product,   p  E .

137
However, the net force on the dipole is F1  F2  0.
Hence a dipole experiences only a torque, but no net force in a uniform electric field.

Interaction In which orientation of the dipole is the torque on it maximum? In what orientation it is
minimum?
1 Ans
    
Since   p  E , torque is maximum when p is perpendicular to E . Torque is minimum
 
when p is parallel to E .

Interaction In what orientation is a dipole stable in a uniform electric field? In what orientation it is
unstable?
2 Ans
The dipole is stable, when the torque acting on it in an electric field is zero. Hence the
dipole is stable when it is aligned parallel to the electric field. In all other positions it is
unstable.

Work done in rotating a dipole

 
Consider a dipole of dipole moment p , oriented by an angle  to an electric field E .
  
Then the dipole experiences a torque,   p  E , which tends to align the dipole along
the direction of E. If the dipole has to be rotated against the direction of torque, work has
to be done. To rotate the dipole by an angle d, the work that has to be done is given by
dW =  d = pE sin  d
The work done in rotating the dipole from an angle 1 to 2 is given by,
2

W   dW   pEsin d  pE  cos 1  cos 2 

1

The work done in rotating from the stable position 1 = 0 to 2 =  is given by W = pE (1  cos )

Interaction A dipole of dipole moment p is at rest in a uniform electric field E. What is the work done
in rotating the dipole by an angle (a) 90 (b) 180?
3 Ans
(a) W = pE (1  cos ) = pE (1  cos 90) = pE
(b) W = pE [1  cos 180] = pE [1  (1)] = 2pE

Potential energy of a dipole in an electric field

We have learnt that work has to be done to rotate the dipole in an electric field, against the direction of torque.
The work so done is stored in the dipole as its ‘Potential energy’ (U).
The potential energy of a dipole in any orientation is defined as the work done in rotating the dipole from the
position when it is normal to the field to the required orientation.
The potential energy of a dipole, in any orientation  with the electric field is given by
 
U  W90  pE  cos 90  cos     pE cos    p  E

II IIT-JEE ILP-11 138

 Interaction What is the potential energy of a dipole and the state of equilibrium when the angle of
orientation of the dipole with the field is
4 (a) 0
(b) 180
(c) 90
Ans
(a) U = pE cos 0 = pE. The potential energy is a minimum and hence the dipole is in
stable equilibrium. The orientation of the dipole in this configuration is such that its
dipole moment points in the direction of the external electric field.
(b) U = pE cos 180 = +pE. The potential energy is a maximum and hence the dipole is in
most unstable equilibrium. The orientation of the dipole in this configuration is such
that its dipole moment points opposite to the direction of the external electric field.
(c) U = pE cos 90 = 0. The potential energy is zero, when the dipole is normal to the
field. It is still in unstable equilibrium, but the degree of instability is less than that of
configuration (b)
Oscillation of a dipole in a uniform fieldWe have learnt that a dipole
is in stable equilibrium position when it is oriented along the
direction of the field. If the dipole is disturbed a little, from this
stable position, it will perform angular SHM.
Let the dipole be deflected by a small angle , from the stable
position. The restoring torque of the external electric field, acting on
the dipole in the new position is given by
  q dsin  psin  pE (since  is small, sin   )
d2
This torque produces an angular acceleration in the dipole. If I
dt 2
d2 
is the moment of inertia of the dipole, then the torque is also given by   I
dt 2
d 2 d 2  pE    
 I 2
  pE   2
    Vectorially,    p  E 
dt dt  I 
d2 
Since 2   , the dipole performs angular SHM
dt
I
The period of oscillation is given by T  2
pE
Force experienced by a dipole in a non-uniform electric field
Consider a dipole, placed in a non-uniform electric field.
For simplicity let us assume that the field varies in the direction of the dipole axis,
being E at the location of q and E + E at the location of +q.
Then the force on q is given by Fq = qE
The force on +q is given by, F+q = q(E + E)
 The net force on the dipole is given by
F = F q  F q   qE  q  E  E   q  E 

139
  dE  dE
i.e. F  q  l  p
 dx  dx
dE
In a uniform field, since 0; F = 0
dx

Interaction A dipole of dipole moment p is placed at a distance r from a point charge +Q. What is the
force experienced by the dipole?
5 Ans

dE d  1 Q
Fp p 
dr dr  4 0 r 2 
1 2pQ

40 r 3
That the force is negative indicates that the dipole is attracted by the positive charge. In

other words, the force is along p . Even if the dipole is reversed, the force will still be

along p , but now the force is repulsive.

Force of interaction between two dipoles

Two dipoles will either attract or repel depending on how they are placed. Let us consider the following cases.
Case (i) Two dipoles placed co-axially with their dipole moments parallel.

Since the closer charges are unlike, the force between the two dipoles is attractive. The magnitude of the force can
dE
be calculated from the equation F  p . The dipole 2 may be regarded as lying in the variable electric field
dr
produced by the dipole 1. Then
dE d  1 2p1  2p1p 2 d  1 
F21  p2 1  p2    
dr dr  40 r 3  40 dr  r 3 
2p1p2  3  1  6p1p2 
 F21    4   
40  r  40  r 4 
Interaction What is the force of interaction between the dipoles, which are placed coaxially with their
dipole moments antiparallel?
6 Ans

Since the near charges are like, the force is repulsive. The magnitude of the force by a
1  6p1p2 
similar derivation can be shown to be given by a similar expression F   
4  0  r 4 

II IIT-JEE ILP-11 140

Case (ii): Two dipoles placed with their dipole moments parallel and normal to the line joining the centres
of the dipole.

Since the closer charges are like charges, the force between two dipoles is repulsive. The magnitude of the force
dE
can be calculated from the equation F  p .
dr
Consider the dipole 2 to be placed in the variable field produced by dipole 1. The force on dipole 2 due to the
dipole 1 is given by
dE d  1 p1  pp d 1
F21  p 2 1  p 2  3 
 1 2  
dr dr  40 r  4 0 dr  r 3 
1 3p1p 2

4 0 r 4

Interaction In the above problem, what is the force of interaction, if the dipole moments of the two
dipoles are antiparallel?
7 Ans

Since the nearer charges are unlike, the force is evidently attractive. The magnitude of the
force, by a similar derivation can be shown to be given by a similar expression
1 3p1p 2
F
4 0 r 4
Case (iii)
When the two interacting dipoles have their dipole moments making an angle  with each other, the force and the
torque between them are given by the general expressions
 3p1p2  2cos  rˆ  sin  rˆ 
F
40 r 4
and
 1  p1p 2 
   sin 
40  r 3 
6p1p 2
If  = 0; F  and  = 0
4  0 r 4
3p1p 2 1 p1p 2
If  = 90; F  and  
40 r 4 40 r 3

141
 Interaction A charge Q is placed on the equatorial axis of the dipole, as shown in the figure. What is
the direction of force and torque on the dipole?
8 Ans

As shown in the figure, let F be the force exerted by Q on each charge of the dipole.
Resolving this force as shown in the figure, we observe that the force on the dipole is
upward and the torque on the dipole is clockwise.

Interaction Is the dipole-dipole force a central force?

Ans
9 No. In general, the dipole-dipole force is a non-central force.

Problems

1. A short dipole of dipole moment p is placed at a normal distance r from an infinite line of charge of linear
charge density  as shown in the figure. The force on the dipole is
p
(A) towards the line of charge
4  0 r 2
p +
(B) away from the line of charge + r
2
4  0 r +  
-q p +q
+
2p 
(C) 2
towards the line of charge +
4  0 r
2p 
(D) away from the line of charge
4  0 r 2
Ans (C)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
10 This problem is based on the concept that a dipole experiences a force in a non-uniform
dE
field given by F  p
dr

dE d  1 2 
In a non-uniform field, F  p p  
dr dr  40 r 
 1 2  2p
 p  2 
 2
 4  0 r  4  0r

The force is towards the line of charge.

II IIT-JEE ILP-11 142

Think Further
(a) In the above problem what is the torque on the dipole?
Ans
Zero
(b) In the above problem if the dipole moment of the dipole is reversed what happens to the (i) force (ii) torque?
Ans
2p
(i) The force will be repulsive with magnitude F = .
4  0 r 2
(ii) Torque continues to be zero.
(c) In the above problem if the dipole is placed with its dipole moment parallel to the line of charge as shown in
the figure, what is the (i) force (ii) torque on the dipole?

Ans
(i) Force on +q is given by
 1 2 
F1 = E(+q) =    q 
 40 r 
The force on q is given by
 1 2 
F2 = E(q) =    q 
 40 r 
Since F1 and F2 are equal and opposite, the net force is zero.
(ii) F1 and F2 being equal and opposite, constitute a clockwise torque
(d) In the above problem (c), if the dipole is reversed, what will be the (i) force and (ii) torque?
Ans
(i) The force remains zero
(ii) The torque acts in the anticlockwise direction
(e) In the above problem if the same dipole is placed near a uniformly charged infinite plane, what is the force
and torque when the dipole is (i) normal to the plane (ii) parallel to the plane?
Ans

(i) The electric field produced by an infinite plane sheet of charge is uniform given by E  . Hence
2 0
both force and torque are zero.
(ii) Force is zero but torque is non-zero.

143
 
2. Work done in rotating a dipole from its stable position to a position where it makes an angle of with a
3

uniform electric field is W0. What is the work done in rotating it further by an angle of in the same
3
direction?
W0
(A) W0 (B) 2W0 (C) (D) 3W0
2

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
11 This problem is based on the concept of work done in rotating a dipole in an electric field.
The work done to rotate the dipole from its orientation 1 to 2 is given by
W1 2  pE  cos 1  cos  2 
Ans (B)
   pE
W0  pE(cos 1  cos  2 )  pE  cos 0  cos  
 3 2
  2  1 1
W   pE  cos  cos   pE     pE  2W0
 3 3  2 2

Think Further
In the above problem what is the work done in rotating the dipole from its stable position to its most unstable
position?
Ans
 
In the stable position, p is parallel to E .   = 0.
 
In the most unstable position, p is antiparallel to E   = 180
W = pE[cos 1  cos 2] = pE [cos 0  cos 180]
= pE[1 (1)] = 2pE = 4W0
3. A hypothetical dipole is made of two point charges +q and q each having mass m, joined by a massless rod
of length 2l. It is seen oscillating with a small amplitude in a uniform electric field of magnitude E. If the
xml
period of oscillation of the dipole is 2 , what is the value of x?
qE
Interaction What is the basic concept involved in this problem?
Ans
12 This problem is based on the concept that a dipole when disturbed from its equilibrium
I
position, performs SHM of period T  2
pE
Ans : x = 2
  
Restoring torque,   p  E  pE sin   pE ,
since  is small
d2
 = qlE. But  = I
dt 2

II IIT-JEE ILP-11 144

 qEl qEl 2
   2

I 2ml T
2ml 2 2ml
 T = 2  2
qEl qE
4. Figure shows a charged rod of mass m bent in the form of an arc of a Non conducting
circle of radius R. The charge distribution on the rod is shown in the E + + massless support
+
  +
figure. If the dipole moment of the system is p = xR2 sin 2  0  , 0
Pivot
 2   0

find the value of x. 
 
Ans 4
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
13 This problem is based on the concept of dipole moment of a system of continuous
distribution of charges .

We consider two differential elements on the rod as shown in figure.

These elements constitute an electric dipole whose dipole moment is

| dp | (Rd)(2R sin )
Net dipole moment of the system is

 0

| p |  (Rd)2R sin 
0

| p | 2R 2 (1  cos 0 )
  
| p | 4R 2 sin 2  0 
 2
x=4

Think Further
In the above problem, if the rod is kept in a uniform electric field E and disturbed a little from its stable position of
mR 2
equilibrium, it will perform SHM of period T  2  , find the value of x.
2 2  0 
xR sin   E
 2 
Ans
x=4
Time period of oscillation of a dipole in a uniform magnetic field is
I
T  2
pE

mR 2
T  2
 
4R 2 sin2  0  E
2

145
5. A non-conducting ring of mass m and radius R is charged as shown. The charge density, i.e., charge per unit
length is . It is then placed on a rough non-conducting horizontal plane. At time t = 0, a uniform electric field

E  E 0 ˆi is switched on and the ring starts rolling without sliding. The frictional force (magnitude and
direction) acting on the ring when it starts moving is (SC)
RE 0 E0
(A) 2RE0 along –ve x-axis (B) along +ve x-axis y
2 +
(C) RE0 along +ve x-axis (D) 2RE 0 along –ve axis ++
 x

Ans (C) 

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
14 This problem is based on the torque experienced by a dipole in a uniform electric field.
Consider an infinitesimal element subtending an angle d at the centre and at angle  as shown in figure.
dF = RdE0
A force of the same magnitude but in the opposite direction acts on a corresponding element in the region of
negative charge. Net torque due to both types of charges is d = (RdE0) (2Rsin)

2
   2R 2 E0  sin d    2 R 2 E 0
0

Equation for pure rolling motion is  = I

 2R2E0 – fR = mR2 . . . (1)
where f = ma . . . (2)
and a = R . . . (3)
Solving equations (1), (2) and (3), we get f = RE0 along positive x-axis.

Think Further
In the previous problem find the acceleration of the ring.
Ans:
RE0/m

II IIT-JEE ILP-11 146

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  12

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Gauss’ law

Syllabus Electric flux  Gauss’ law  obtaining Gauss’ law from Coulomb’s law  Electric field
due to a conducting sphere
Learning 1. To understand the concept of electric flux
objects 2. To state Gauss’ law and understand its significance
3. To obtain Gauss’ law from Coulomb’s law
4. T derive an expression for the electric field due to a charged conducting sphere, at
any point (i) inside (ii) on and (ii) outside the sphere

Concept map

Introduction
Electric field due to any charge distribution can be calculated by using Coulomb’s law. But such calculations
are very difficult, except in some simple situation. Such difficult situations can be easily handled by an
alternate form of Coulomb’s law called Gauss’ law. Gauss’ law is particularly useful in calculating electric
field due to a charge distribution which possess either, spherical or cylindrical or planar symmetry.

Flux of Electric Field ()

Generally the word flux means flow, analogous to the flow of a fluid in hydrodynamics
or the flow of heat in thermal physics. Although nothing actually flows in an electric
field, the concept of flux is still useful.

Consider a small surface element of area dS in an electric field E.
 
Then the flux d through dS is given by d  E  dS.
   
Since E  dS is a scalar, electric flux is a scalar quantity. d  E  dS  (Ecos )dS.
 
Also, d  E  dS  E(dScos )

147
 
Thus, d can be calculated either by taking the product of normal component of E and the surface dS or by

taking the product of E and the projection of surface area on a plane perpendicular to E.
 
Flux across a surface S is given by S   E  dS
S
 
Total flux through a closed surface is given by total  
 E  dS
S

Note

(i) If E is normal to the surface element,  = 0  cos  = 1. then, d = E(dS)


(ii) If E is parallel to the surface element,  = 90 and
cos  = cos 90 = 0. Then, d  0 .

(iii) For a closed surface S, the direction of dS is taken along the outward drawn normal. Hence,
(a) If the electric field is outward,  is acute and hence the flux is positive.
(b) If the electric field is inward,  is obtuse and hence the flux is negative

Interaction What is the flux through a closed surface enclosing (i) a positive charge (ii) a negative
charge (iii) a dipole ?
1 Ans
(i) Since the electric field diverges from a positive charge, the net flux is outward and
is positive.
(ii) Since the electric field converges into a negative charge, the net flux is inward and
is negative.
(iii) Since the net charge enclosed is zero, the net flux through the enclosing surface is
also zero.

Interaction In the above situation, when the positive charge/ negative charge/the dipole lies outside
a closed surface, what is the net flux through the enclosed surface?
2 Ans
From an outside charge, every field line that enters the closed surface also leaves the
surface. Flux is negative for every field line entering the surface and positive for every
field line leaving the surface. Hence the flux due to any outside charge, through a
surface is zero.

Gauss’ law
 1 
The total electric flux associated with any arbitrary closed surface in an electric field is equal to   times
 0 
the total charge enclosed within the surface.

II IIT-JEE ILP-12 148

 1
total   qenclosed 
0
Consider an arbitrary closed surface S called the Gaussian surface enclosing an
arbitrary distribution of charges. Let E be the electric field produced by all these
charges at some point P on the surface. Consider a small area ds around P, and
 
evaluate E  dS   . Do this at all points of the surface and evaluate
 
total  1  2  3     E  dS .
S

If the charges enclosed are continuous q enclosed    dV

V

1
Gauss’ law asserts that total =  qenclosed 
0

Setting up Gauss’ law from Coulomb’s law

1 Q
Consider a point charge Q. At a distance r from the charge, the electric field is given by E  .
40 r 2
Consider a sphere of radius r with the charge Q at the center. This sphere is called a Gaussian sphere.
At any point P, the flux of the electric field through ds is given by
  1 Q Q Q 
d = E  dS   2
dS  2 
 dS  2
4r 2 
S
4 0 r 40 r S 4 0 r
1
 Q
0
Gauss’ law asserts that this result is true for
(a) any arbitrary closed surface S, enclosing Q
(b) any arbitrary charge distribution enclosed by S.

Interaction Is Gauss’ law different from Coulomb’s law?

Ans
3 No. Gauss’ law is only a restatement of Coulomb’s law. Gauss’ law and Coulomb’s
law are two faces of the same coin. Gauss’ law is as fundamental as Coulomb’s law in
electrostatics

Interaction What are the advantages of Gauss’ law over coulomb’s law?
Ans
4 Coulomb’s law provides a vector approach to deal with electrical interaction, whereas
Gauss’ law provides a scalar approach. Coulomb’s law relates charges with forces,
while Gauss’ law relates charges with electric flux. It is easier to calculate the flux
which is a scalar than the force which is a vector.

149
 Interaction How does Gauss law offer a simpler method of calculating the electric field due to a
symmetric charge distribution?
5 Ans
In Coulomb’s method, the difficulty of integration cannot be avoided. But in Gaussian
approach, the difficulty of integration can be overcome by choosing a proper Gaussian
surface. Normally the Gaussian surface is so chosen that (a) electric field has a constant
magnitude at all points of the surface (b) the direction of electric field is parallel to the
 
surface element (c) direction of E is parallel to dS , at some part of the surface and

perpendicular to dS at other. Such a choice will make calculation of total flux,
 
   E  dS , very easy.
s

Application of Gauss law

Electric field due to a hollow charged spherical conductor
(i) At a point outside the sphere
Consider a hollow spherical conductor of radius R with a total charge Q. Consider a
point P at a distance r from the centre O of the sphere with r > R. Suppose we wish
to calculate the electric field due to the charged conducting sphere at P.
Imagine a sphere passing through the point P and concentric with the charged
sphere. This sphere is the Gaussian sphere, which helps us to calculate the electric
field at P.
Observe that, due to symmetry, the electric field E has the same magnitude at all
points on the Gaussian sphere. Further E at all points is directed along the outward drawn normal. Hence, the
total electric flux through the Gaussian surface s is given by
 
   E  dS   E  dS    = 0 at all points of S.
S S

= E   dS   E is constant at all points of S.

S

= E(4r2)
1
By Gauss’ law,   Q
0
1 1 Q
E(4r2) =  Q .  E   … (1)
0 40  r 2 

Interaction What is the significance of this result?

Ans
6 (a) The field at P is independent of the radius of the charged sphere.
(b) The electric field P is the same as that due to a point charge Q at O.
(c) For all points, external to it, the charged sphere behaves as though its entire charge
is concentrated at its centre.

II IIT-JEE ILP-12 150

(ii) At a point on the sphere
For a point on the sphere, r  R. The Gaussian sphere coincides with the conducting sphere. Substituting r =
1  Q 
R in equation (i), we get E   
4 0  R 2 
(iii) At a point inside the sphere
Consider a point P inside the sphere, at a distance r < R. Construct a Gaussian sphere S, passing through the
point P and concentric with the charged sphere..
By symmetry, if E is the electric field on the Gaussian sphere, it should have the same magnitude. From
Gauss’ law

  1
 E  dS    q
S 0
enclosed 
Since the charge enclosed within the Gaussian sphere is zero, qenclosed = 0
  E ds cos   0
S

This result can be true only if E = 0. Hence the electric field at all points inside the charged conducting
sphere is zero. This is an important result which we obtain so easily from Gauss’ law.

Interaction What is the graphical representation of the variation of electric field (E) due to a
charged hollow conducting sphere, with the radial distance r?
7 Ans

Interaction Are the above results different if the charged hollow conducting sphere is replaced by a
charged solid conducting sphere?
8 Ans
No. For a charged solid conducting sphere also, the results will be same. Whether a
conducting sphere is hollow or solid, the charges reside only on the surface of the
sphere. Hence the results will be same.

Interaction Will the above results be different if the hollow conducting sphere is replaced by a
uniformly charged hollow insulating sphere?
9

151
 Ans
The results will be same if the surface charge density of the insulating hollow sphere is
uniform.

Problem

1. A charge q is placed at the centre of the flat surface of a hemisphere of radius R. What is the flux
through the curved surface of the hemisphere?
1 q  q q
(A)   (B) (C) zero (D) 2  
2  0  0  0 
Ans (A)
This problem is based on the concept of electric flux due to a point charge.
q
Flux coming out of a point charge is . Half of this flux passes through the curved surface of the
0
1 q 
hemisphere. Hence, the flux through the curved surface of the hemisphere is  .
2  0 
Think Further
(a) In the above question, what is the flux through the flat surface of the hemisphere?
Ans: Zero.
(b) In the above question, instead of keeping charge q, if a uniform electric field E is set up in a
direction normal to the flat surface, what is the flux through (i) the flat surface (ii) the curved
surface?
Ans: (i) R2E (ii) R2E
(c) In the above question, if the electric field is in a direction parallel to the flat surface of the
hemisphere, what is the flux entering (i) the flat surface (ii) the curved surface?
R 2 E
Ans: (i) zero (ii)
2
(d) Imagine a cone of height h and radius R placed in a uniform electric field E
parallel to its axis. What is the electric flux through (i) the flat surface of the cone
(ii) the curved surface of the cone?
Ans: (i) R2E (ii) R2E
(e) In the above cone problem, what is the electric flux that enters the curved
surface if the electric field is normal to the axis of the cone?
1 
Ans:   EA  E  (2R)(h)   ERh.
2 

h
2. A charge q is placed at a height above the centre of a square of side h. The flux through the square is
2
q q
(A) (B)
0 4 0

q
(C) (D) zero
60

II IIT-JEE ILP-12 152

 Ans (C)
This problem is based on the concept of electric flux due to a point charge.
The charge can be regarded as being at the centre of a cube whose one face is the given square. The flux
q
through all the six faces of the cube . Because the charge is situated symmetrically about each side of
0
1 q
the cube, the flux through any one face is  .
6  0 
Think Further
(a) If there is a point charge q at the centre of a cube, what is the flux through each face of the cube?
1 q 
Ans:   .
6  0 
(b) If there is a point charge q at the centre of the face of a cube, what is the flux through the cube?
1 q 
Ans:  
2  0 
(c) If there is a point charge q at the centre of a side(edge) of a cube, what is the flux through the cube?
1 q 
Ans:  
4  0 
(d) If there is a point charge q at the corner of a cube, what is the flux through the cube?
1 q 
Ans:  
8  0 

3. A charge +q is placed at one of the corners of a cube. Then

1 q 
(A) Flux through each face of the cube is  
6  0 
(B) There are three faces through which no flux passes.
1 q
(C) There are three faces through which equal flux passes.
24   0 
1 q 
(D) Flux through the cube is
8  0 
Ans (B), (C), (D)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
10 This problem is based on the concept that electric flux due to a charge q, through an
 q 
arbitrary closed surface surrounding the charge is   .
 0 

153
 Solution
Consider a charge +q at the corner C of a cube ABCDABCD. The charge q can be imagined to be at
 q 
the centre of eight cubes, one of which is the given cube. net flux through all these eight cubes is   .
 0 
1 q 
Hence the flux through any one cube is . Hence Answer (D) is correct.
8  0 
Flux through any face of the cube with which the charge q is in contact is zero. There are three such
1 q 
faces. Hence answer (B) is correct. Flux through the cube   passes only through the remaining
8  0 
1  1  q  q
three faces of the cube. The flux through each such face is     
3  8  0   240
Hence answer (B) is also correct. The answer A is wrong.
Think Further
(a) What is the flux through the right face of the cube shown, containing a
charge +q at the centre of the left face, if ϕ1 is the flux through the top face?
Ans: Zero flux passes through the face containing the charge. Equal flux
passes through the top, bottom, front and rear faces. The total flux passing
1 q
through the cube is Therefore, the flux through the right face is
2 0
1 q
 41 .
2 0
(b) What is the flux through the top face (ABCD) of the cube shown,
containing a charge +q at the centre of the edge AB, given that ϕ1 is the
flux through the right face (CDHG)?
Ans: Zero flux passes through the two faces containing the charge.
Equal flux passes through the right and the rear faces (Given to be ϕ1)
and equal flux passes through the top and the bottom faces, say ϕ2.
1 q 
Total flux through the cube is   . Therefore, the flux through the
 4 0 
1  1 q  
top face is given by 2     21  .
2  4 0  

4. A uniformly charged infinitely long line of charge with linear charge density  is placed at a normal distance
y from a point O as shown in the figure. Consider a sphere of radius r with O as centre and r > y. If the
x 2
electric flux through the sphere is r  y 2 , determine the value of x.
0
Ans: 2

II IIT-JEE ILP-12 154

 Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
11 This problem is based on the concept that the flux through a closed surface enclosing a
q
charge q is .
0

Solution
Length of the wire enclosed in the circle = 2 r 2  y 2 .

The charge enclosed in the circle is  2 r 2  y2   2 r 2  y 2

2 2
The flux through the surface of the sphere = r  y 2 . Hence x = 2
0

Think Further
(a) What is the maximum flux through the sphere?
Ans
2r
The flux is maximum, when y = 0.  max 
0
(b) What is the minimum flux through the sphere?
Ans
The flux is minimum when y = r.  min = 0.

5. A charge q is placed at the vertex of a cone of height h and semivertical angle . The electric flux through the
base of the cone is
q  q  q  q 
(A) 1  sin   (B) 1  sin  (C) 1  cos   (D) 1  cos  
20 20 2 0 2 0
Ans (C)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
12 This problem is based on the concept that the electric flux, in an electric field E over an
 
area dS is given by d = E  dS

155
 Solution
Consider a annular ring of radius x and thickness dx. Let the ring subtend an angle 2 at the chare q. The
electric flux through this annular ring is given by
  h
d  E  dS  E  dS cos   E  2x dx  cos   E  2xdx 
h  x2
2

1 q h qh xdx
 d   2x dx  2 2 
40  h  x 
2 2
h x
3
2 0  h 2  x 2  2
The flux through the base of the cone is given by
r r
qh xdx  qh 1 
 =  d   3

 1 
2 0 0  2 2 0
h  x2 2  h 2  x 2  2  0
qh  1 1  q  h  q 
   1 
  1 1 
 1  cos 
20 h  2 2  2 2 0 2 
 h  r    h  r  2 
2 2 0

Alternative Method:
Consider a spherical Gaussian surface, concentric with the vertex of the
cone and just touching the edge of its circular base.
q
The net flux through this sphere is net 
0
The flux through the cone base = (Flux per unit solid angle) x (Solid
angle subtended by the cone)
 q 2 1  cos   q
 cone base  net x 2 1  cos     1  cos  
4 0 4 20

Think Further
th
1
(a) If the flux through the base of the cone due to a charge q at its vertex is of the flux due to the charge all
4
around, what is the relation between the height h and radius r of the cone?
Ans
1
base  all around 
4
q
1  cos   1 q
20 4 0
1
 1  cos  =
2
1
 cos  =  tan  = 3
2
r
  3  or  r  h 3
h

II IIT-JEE ILP-12 156

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  13

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric Charges & Fields  Gauss’ law

Syllabus Electric field due to a uniformly charged insulating solid sphere  Electric field due to an
infinitely long wire with a uniform linear charge density  Electric field due to an
infinitely large plane sheet of charge  Electric field at any point close to the surface of
an arbitrary charged conductor  Force acting on the surface of a charged conductor.
Learning 1. To derive an expression for the electric field due to a uniformly charged insulating
objects solid sphere at any point (i) outside (ii) on and (iii) inside the sphere.
2. To derive an expression for the electric field due to infinitely long uniformly charged
wire.
3. To derive an expression for the electric field due to an infinitely large plane sheet of
charge.
4. To derive an expression for the electric field at a point due to surface of an arbitrary
charged conductor.
5. To obtain an expression for the force acting on the surface of a charged conductor.

Concept map

Electric field due to an insulating solid sphere with a uniform volume charge density
(a) At any point outside the sphere
Consider an insulating solid sphere of radius R with a total charge Q, uniformly
distributed all over its volume. Then the volume charge density of the sphere is
Q
given by  
4 3
R
3

Consider a point P at a distance r from the centre of the sphere where r > R. To calculate the electric field at
P, consider a Gaussian sphere of radius r passing through the point P and concentric with the charged sphere.
If E is the electric field at P, the total flux through the Gaussian sphere is given by

157
  
=  E  dS    E   dS cos     E   dS
S S S

Since  = 0 at all point on S.

Further  = E  dS , since E has the same magnitude at all points on S
S
2
  = E(4r )
1 1 1 Q
From Gauss’ law,    Q   E  4r 2    Q   E 
0 0 4 0 r 2

Interaction Why is this result the same as that for a charged conducting sphere?
Ans
1 As discussed earlier, for all points external to it, the charged sphere behaves as though
its entire charge is concentrated at its centre. The distribution of charge does not matter.
Hence the result is the same.

(b) At any point on the sphere

1 Q
For any point on the sphere, as r  R, E 
40 R 2
(c) At any point inside the sphere
Consider any point P inside the sphere at a distance r from its centre O from r < R. Suppose we wish to find
the electric field at P. Construct a Gaussian sphere of radius r, passing through the pint P and concentric with
the dielectric sphere. By symmetry the electric field at every point on the Gaussian sphere must have the
same magnitude and directed along the outward drawn normal. Hence the total electric flux through the
Gaussian sphere is given by
 
  E  ds  E  4r 
2

1
By Gauss’ law,  = (charge enclosed)
0
1
i.e. E(4r2) = (Charge inside the Gaussian sphere)
0
1 4 3
i.e. E(4r2) =  r  
0  3 
1 4 3 Q
i.e. E(4r2) =  r  4
0  3  R 3
3
1  Qr 
i.e. E =  
4 0  R 3 
Thus the electric field at any point inside an insulating sphere varies directly as the distance of the point from
the centre of the sphere.

Interaction What is the electric field at the centre of the sphere?

Ans
2 At the centre of the sphere r = 0. Hence E = 0

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 158

 Interaction Represent graphically the variation of electric field with distance for a uniformly
charged dielectric sphere?
3 Ans

Interaction What is the vectorial expression for the electric field at any distance r from the centre
inside the sphere?
4 Ans
  
1 Q  1 4 3 r r
E r    R  3 
40 R 3 4 0  3 R 3 0

Electric field due to an infinite line of charge

Consider an infinitely long line of charge with linear charge density . Consider a
point P at a normal distance r from the line of charge. Suppose we wish to find
the electric field at P due to the line of charge.
Consider a cylinder of radius r and length l, with its curved surface passing
through the point P and with its axis coinciding with the line of charge. This is
the Gaussian cylinder which helps us to calculate the electric field at P. The total
electric flux through the Gaussian surface s of the cylinder is given by
     
total  
 E  dS   E  dS    dS
E
S curved flatend
surface faces
 
Observe that at all points on the curved surface, E is parallel to dS and at all
 
points on the flat faces at the ends, E is perpendicular to dS . Hence
 
  dS   E  dS cos 0  E  dS  E  2rl 
E
curved
surface
 
and  E  dS   E  dS  cos90  0
end face

 total = E(2rl)
1
From Gauss’ law, total   q enclosed 
0
1 1  2 
E(2rl) =  l   E=  
0 40  r 

159
We note that the electric field varies inversely as the distance from the line of charge.
1
E
r
Interaction Represent graphically the variation of electric field due to an infinite line of charge
with distance.
5
Solution

Electric field due to an infinite sheet of charge with uniform charge density 
Consider an infinite sheet of charge with uniform surface charge density , a small portion of which is
shown in the figure. Consider a point P, in front of the sheet, where we wish to find the electric field.
Consider a small circular area dS around P. Construct a cylinder whose one end face is dS and whose other
end face lies on the other side of charge sheet. This cylinder is the Gaussian cylinder, calculation of the flux
through the surface of which gives the electric field at P. This cylinder encloses an amount of charge (dS).

       

From Gauss’ law total =  E  dS  
S end
E  dS  
end
E  dS  
curved
E  dS
face1 face2 surface
     
But  E  dS   E  dS  E  dS , since E and dS are parallel and
end end
face1 face2
   
 E  dS  0, since E and dS are perpendicular.
curved
surface

 total = 2E(dS)
1
From Gauss’ law total   q enclosed 
0
1
2E(dS) =   dS 
0

 E
2 0
Thus the electric field is independent of the distance, and is uniform.

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 160

 Interaction Plot the electric field due to an infinite sheet of charge with distance normal to the field.
Ans
6

Interaction How is the variation of electric field with distance for a charged sphere, line of charge
and sheet of charge related to the nature of symmetry of charge distribution?
7 Ans
1
For a spherical charge distribution, the electric field varies as 2 . For a cylindrical
r
1
charge distribution, the field varies as . For a planar charge distribution, the field
r
1
varies as 0 .
r

Interaction Is the relation between the nature of symmetry and the type of distancedependence of
the field special to the electric field?
8 Ans
No, such a relation is universal and exists for all fields which follow inverse square
laws. For example, the luminous intensity due to a point source of light varies as
inverse square of the distance. But due to a linear source of light, the luminous intensity
varies as inverse distance. Due to a plane source of light, the luminous intensity is
independent of the distance.

Electric field at any point close to the surface of an arbitrary charged conductor.
As we have seen so far, Gauss law is a powerful tool to determine the electric
field due to charge distribution. The same results which we had obtained with
complex integration can now be obtained in a simple way. Though Gauss law is
applicable for any complex charge distribution, its solution is simple if there is
some symmetry in the charge distribution. However, Gauss law can be used to
calculate the field close to the surface of a charged conductor, however arbitrary
its surface is.
Consider an arbitrary charged conductor as shown in the figure. Since the curvature of the surface is not
uniform, the charge density on the surface is also not uniform. Consider a point P, very close to the surface
of the conductor. Let  be the surface charge density near the point P. To calculate the electric field at P,
consider a circular area ds around the point P. Construct a cylinder with dS as one end face. Let the other end

161
face of the cylinder be inside the conductor. This is the Gaussian cylinder which encloses an amount of
charge (dS). The total electric flux through the surface of the Gaussian cylinder S given by
       
total =  E  dS   E  dS   E  dS   E  dS
S dS dS curved
outside inside surface
   
But  E  dS  E  dS  , since E and dS are parallel and
ds
outside
  
 E  dS  0, since E = 0 inside the conductor
ds
inside
   
 E  dS  0, since E and dS are perpendicular.
curved
surface

 total = E(dS)
1
From Gauss’ law total   charge enclosed 
0
1 
E(dS) =   dS E=
0 0
Sometimes, this general result is also called Gauss theorem.

Interaction Obtain the electric field at a point outside and close to the surface of a charged
conducting sphere by using the above result.
9 Ans
 1 Q 1 Q
E=  2

0 0 4R 4 0 R 2
Since the point P is close to the surface
r  R
1 Q
E=
4 0 r 2

Interaction Obtain the electric field at a point close to the surface of a charged conducting cylinder
by using the above result.
10 Ans
Q
 1 Q 1 l
E  
 0 0 2rl 20 r
1  1  2 
   
2 0 r 40  r 
Q
where  = , the linear charge density of the cylinder
l

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 162

Force acting on the surface of a charged conductor
Consider an arbitrary charged conductor as shown in the figure. Since the
like charges tend to repel, there is an outward force at every pint on the
surface.
Consider a small surface element dS, with a charge density . The electric

field produced by all the rest of the charges just outside the element is .
0
The electric field inside the conductor is zero. Hence dS can be regarded as

0
0 
lying in an average electric field  . The charge on the element is
2 2 0
( dS).
Hence the force experienced by surface element is given by F = (charge) (electric field)
2
     
= ( dS)    dS .
 20  2 0
2
The force per unit area of the surface element = . This force per unit area can be called the electric
2 0
2
pressure. Hence there is an outward pressure at every point on the surface of a charged conductor.
2 0
Problems
1. A solid metallic sphere with a charge Q is enclosed within a thick conducting spherical shell, which is
uncharged. What are the charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the spherical shell?

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
11 This problem is based on Gauss’ law and the law of conservation of charge.
Solution
Consider a Gaussian spherical shell, as shown in the dotted lines, in the wall of the conducting shell.
Since E = 0 inside the wall, the net charge enclosed by the Gaussian shell must be zero. Hence a charge
Q should appear on the inner surface of B. But B was earlier neutral. The law of conservation of charge
demands +Q should also appear on the outer surface of B.

Q
Q  –Q +Q
A A
B
B

Think Further
(i) In the above problem if a charge q is added to the inner sphere, what will be the charges on all the
surfaces?
Ans (Q + q)
On the outer surface of A, (Q + q) on the inner surface of B and (Q + q) on the outer surface of B.

163
 (ii) In the original problem if a charge +q is placed on the outer spherical shell, what will be the charges
on all the surfaces?
Ans
Q on the outer surface of A, Q on the inner surface of B and +(Q + q) on the outer surface of B
(iii) In the above problem draw the field line configuration
Ans
+Q

–Q

(iv) If a point charge Q is placed off the centre of the spherical shell, draw the field configuration.
Ans

Q

k
2. An insulating solid sphere of radius R is charged non-uniformly with volume charge density (r)  ,
r
where r is the distance from the centre of the sphere and k is a positive constant. The electric field inside
the sphere varies as
1 1
(A) (B) r (C) 2 (D) r0
r r
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
12 This problem is based on Gauss’ law
Ans (D)
Let E be the electric field at a distance r < R from the centre of the sphere. Thus by Gauss’ law
1 1
E(4r 2 )  (q enclosed )   (r)dv R
0 0
r r
1 k 2 4k 4k r 2 O r
   
0 0 x 0 0
4 x dx xdx x P
0 2
k
 E , a constant independent of r.
20
Note: If the charge distribution were uniform throughout the volume, the electric field would increase
linearly from the center towards the surface of the given dielectric sphere. Because the charge density in this
case falls in inverse proportion to the distance from the center, the linear rise in Electric field is exactly
negated. That is the reason why the Electric field is uniform inside the sphere.

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 164

 Think Further
(i) How does the electric field vary at r > R?
1
Ans: E  2
r
(ii) Draw the graph of variation of electric field versus distance.
Ans: E

r
-R O R
3. The region between two concentric spheres of radii R1 and R2 includes a volume charge density given by
k
(r)  , where k is a positive constant and r is the distance from the centre of the spheres. The charge
r
Q that must be located at the centre in order that the electric field is constant in the region R1  r  R2 is
given by
(A) Q  2kR 22 (B) Q  2kR 12 (C) Q  4kR 22 (D) Q  4kR 12

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
13 This problem is based on Gauss’ law.
Ans (B)
1  
r
E  4 r 2   2
 Q   (r)4 r dr 
0  R1  R2
1 
r
k
  Q   4 r 2dr 
0  R1
r  R1 r
P
1 1 Q
E  Q  2k  r 2  R 12    2kr 2  Q  2kR 12 
2
4r 0   2
4r  0
k Q  2kR12
 
2 0 40 r 2
k
E , a constant if Q  2kR 12
2 0
4. Two thick large metallic plates have charges q1 and q2 when they are far apart. The two plates are
brought close and kept parallel to each other. Then
q q
(A) their facing surfaces have equal and opposite charges of magnitude 1 2
2
q q
(B) their facing surfaces have equal charges of magnitude 1 2
2
q q
(C) their outer surfaces have equal and opposite charges of magnitude 1 2
2
q1  q 2
(D) their outer surfaces have equal charges of magnitude
2

165
 Ans (A), (D)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
14 This problem is based on the concept of electric field due to large thick charged
metallic plate.
Consider a Gaussian surface ABCD.
AB = CD = 0 ( E is perpendicular to the surface of the metallic sphere)
AC = BD = 0 ( E = 0 inside a metal)
ABCD = 0. Hence the charge enclosed within ABCD must be zero.
Hence the charges on the surfaces 2 and 3 must be equal and opposite,
say +q and q
To determine q, consider a point P inside the metal plate.
Then EP = 0
q1 q2
i.e., Eq1 q  Eq  E q  Eq2 q  0
1 2 3 4
q1  q q q q q
    2 0
0 A  0 A 0 A 0 A
q  q2
2q  q1  q 2 (or) q  1
2 q1 q2
q q A B
 Charge on surface 2  1 2
2
q 2  q1
Charge on surface 3 
2 C D
q1  q q
q q q q
Charge on surface 1  q1  q  q1  1 2  1 2
2 2 1 2 3 4
q1  q 2 q1  q 2 p
Charge on surface 4 = q 2  q  q 2   q
2 2 q2 + q

Hence, the charges on the facing surfaces are equal and opposite and the magnitude is equal to half the
difference of two charges. The charges on the outer surfaces are equal and the magnitude is equal to half
the sum of two charges.

Think Further
(i) In the above problem, if q1 = q and q2 = q, what will be the charges on the four faces?
Ans

q 0 0 q

(ii) In the above problem, if q1 = q and q2 = q, what will be the charges on the four forces?
Ans

0 q –q 0

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 166

 (iii) Three parallel plates with charges Q, 2Q and 3Q are brought closer. What will be the charges on
their six faces?
Ans
Q 2Q 3Q
3Q –2Q 3Q
 +2Q 0 0

5. A solid sphere of radius R has a charge Q distributed in its volume with a charge density  = k ra, where
R
k and a are constants and r is the distance from the centre of the sphere. If the electric field at r  is
2
1
  times that at x = R, find the value of a.
8
Ans: 2
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
15 This problem is based on the electric field due to a charged insulating sphere.
Solution
In general, at any distance r < R inside the dielectric sphere, from Gauss’ law we have
  1 1 1
S  dS  0  q   0   dV  0  4r dr
2
E
r
1
i.e. E(4r2) =    r  4r 2 dr … (1)
0 0
R
Let E1 be the electric field at r = . Then from Eqn. (1) we have
2
R R
  R 2  1 2 4k 2 a  2
E1 4      kr a  4r 2 dr  
0 0
r dr
  2   0 0
R
2 a 3
R k r a 3 2 k R
i.e. E1      
 2   0 a  3 0  0  a  3  2 
a 3 a 1
4k R k R
 E1  2      … (2)
0  a  3 R  2   0  a  3  2 
Let E2 be the electric field at r = R. Then again from Eqn. (1)
R
4k a  2 4k R a 3
E2(4R2) = 
 0 0
r dr
0 a  3
k
 E2  2
R a 3 … (3)
 
0 a  3 R
E
But it is given that E1  2
8
a 3
4k R 1 k
i.e. 2    2
R a 3
 
0 a  3 R  2   
8 0 a  3 R
4 1
i.e. a  3   2a  3  32  25  a  2
2 8

167
 Think Further
A dielectric sphere has a uniform charge density. At what distance outside the sphere is the field the same as the
field at a distance half the radius?
Ans
The electric field inside the dielectric sphere is given by
1 Qr
E1 
40 R 3
At a distance R1 outside the sphere, the electric field is given by
1 Q
E2 
40 R12
 R
But E 2  E1  at r 

 2
R
Q 
1 Q 1  2   1  1  R  2R
  1
4 0 R 1 4 0 R 3
2
R 12 2R 2
6. A spherical portion is removed from a solid insulating sphere with a uniform volume charge density ,
as shown in the figure. The electric field inside the cavity is
(A) zero everywhere
(B) zero only at the centre of the cavity
(C) non-zero and uniform
(D) non-uniform
Ans (C)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
16 This problem is based on the electric field at a point inside a uniformly charged
dielectric sphere. At a distance r from the centre of an insulating sphere is given by
 r
E
3 0

Interaction How do we calculate the electric field at any point inside the cavity?
Ans
17 The electric field at any point inside the cavity can be calculated from the principle of
superposition. The electric field at any point inside the cavity is the difference between
the electric field at that point due to the sphere without the cavity with charge density
+ and field at the same point due to a sphere of cavity dimension with charge density


II IIT-JEE ILP-13 168

 Solution
Suppose we wish to calculate the electric field at a point P inside the cavity.
Let O be the centre of the sphere and O1 be the centre of the cavity. Let
    
OP  r , OO1  r1 and O1O  r2 . Using the principle of superposition,

The field at P inside the cavity = (Field at P due to the sphere without the cavity with charge density + )
+ (Field at P due to a sphere of cavity size with charge density  )
 r r2   

 r1
 E    2
r  r 
30 3 0 3 0 30
Thus the electric field at any point inside the cavity is the same as that at the centre of the cavity. Hence
the field inside the cavity is non-zero and uniform.

Think Further
(a) If the charged dielectric sphere contains a concentric cavity, what is the nature of the field inside the cavity?
Ans
The electric field is zero at all points of the cavity
(b) Sketch the field lines inside the cavity in the original problem.

7. Two parallel plane sheets 1 and 2 carry uniform charge densities + and  as + 
shown in the figure. The electric fields marked in the regions I, II and III are E1,
E2 and E3 respectively. Then
I II III

(A) E1 = 0 (B) E 2 
0
2 1 2
(C) E3 = 0 (D) E1  E 3 
0
Ans (A), (B), (C)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
18 This problem is based on the concept that the electric field due to a large sheet of

charge is uniform and is given by E  .
2 0

169
 Solution
Mark the field due to each charge sheet as shown in the figure. The field due to + is away from the
sheet. The field due to  is towards the sheet. Hence,
+ 
 
in the region I, E1  E   E    0
2 0 2 0 E+   E+  E+
   E  E   E
in the region II, E 2  E   E    
2 0 2 0  0 I II III
 
In the region III, E3  E   E    0
2 0 2 0
8. A spherical shell with a uniformly distributed charge +Q is cut into two halves. A negative charge q0 is
placed at its centre. The minimum value of q0 for the two halves of the sphere to stay in equilibrium is
Q
given by , find the value of n.
n
Ans 2
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Solution
19 This problem is based on the concept of electric pressure on the surface of a charged
conductor. The surface of a charged conductor with charge density , experiences an
2
outward pressure given by p 
20
Solution
If p1 is the outward pressure on the surface of the sphere due to its own charge Q, then we have
2
2 1  Q  Q2
p1      … (1)
2 0 20  4R 2  32 2 0 R 4

If p2 is the inward pressure due to the charge q0, then

 Q   q0  Qq 0
p2  E   2  2 
 … (2)
 4R   4 0 R  16 2 0 R 4
For equilibrium, p2  p1
Qq 0 Q2 Q
i.e. 2 4
 2 4
 q0 
16 0 R 32 0 R 2
Q
  q 0 min 
2

Think Further
A spherical shell of radius 1.5 cm has a charge Q = 20 C uniformly distributed over it. What is the force exerted
by one half of the shell over the other half?
Solution
2 2
 2   Q  R
2
Q2  20  106 
  R   
2
F = PA =      4000 N
 0   4R 2  0 16R 2  0 16  3.14  1.5  102 2  8.85  10 12

II IIT-JEE ILP-13 170

II IIT – JEE PHYSICS

Interactive Learning Plan  14

Chapter/Topic Electrostatics: Electric charges and fields  Motion of a charged particle in an electric
field.
Syllabus Motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field. Motion in a non-uniform electric
field.
Concept list Force on a charged particle in an electric field  Acceleration  Velocity  distance
traveled  trajectory
Learning 1. To understand the force acting on a charged particle in an electric field.
objects 2. To discuss the motion of a charged particle in a uniform electric field
3. Velocity, acceleration, and trajectory of the particle
4. Motion in a non-uniform electric field
Concept map

Motion of charged particle in a uniform electric field


The force experienced by a charged particle of mass m and charge q in an electric field E , is given by
    
F  qE . The force F is along E for a positively charged particle and opposite to E for a negatively charged
 
particle.The acceleration of the particle due to this force is given by F  ma .

   qE
 We have ma  qE , (or) a  .
m
 
If E is uniform, then a is a constant. If the particle has a positive charge, its acceleration is in the direction
of the electric field. If the particle has negative charge its acceleration is in the direction opposite to the
electric field.

Case (i) When the charged particle is released from rest

In a uniform electric field when a positively charged particle is released from rest, the particle starts moving
qE
in the direction of electric field with uniform acceleration a given by a 
m
 qE 
The velocity after a time t is given by, v = u + at = at =  t
 m
The distance travelled by the particle in a time t is given by

171
 1 1   qE  2
y  ut  at 2  at 2   t
2 2 2 m 
and kinetic energy is
1 1  q2E 2  2
KE  mv 2    t  yqE
2 2 m 

Case (ii) When the charged particle is released with an initial velocity, perpendicular to the electric
field.
When a positively charged particle is released with non-zero initial velocity ‘u’ perpendicular to an uniform
electric field, then
Velocity at any instant is given by
    
v  u  at Considering E  Ejˆ and u  uiˆ

here v  v iˆ  v ˆj
x y

 qEt  ˆ
we have uiˆ    j  v x ˆi  v y ˆj
 m 
qEt
vx = u and vy =
m
q2 E 2 t 2
and v  v 2x  v2y  u 2 
m2
 v y qEt
and the angle  made by v with the x axis is given by tan  = 
v x mu
Case (iii): When the charged particle is thrown in a uniform electric field in a direction different from
the direction of electric field.
Let a charged particle of mass m and charge q be projected at an angle  with
the X-axis. If the electric field is in the vertically downward direction, along

the direction of the acceleration due to gravity g , then the effective
qE
acceleration of the particle will be g  g  . Under this acceleration the
m
particle moves along a parabolic path. All parameters of projectile motion
discussed in mechanics holds good, with the replacement of g by g. If the
qE
electric field is in the downward direction g  g  .
m
The law of conservation of linear momentum, angular momentum and energy can also be used to analyse the
motion of a charged particle in an electric field.

Problems
1. A negatively charged oil drop is falling with a constant speed in a vertical electric field
2.5  104 NC1. If the mass of the oil drop is 1.6  1015 kg, the number of excess electrons it carries is
[Assume g = 10 ms2]
(A) 2 (B) 20 (C) 4 (D) 40
Ans (C)

II IIT-JEE ILP-14 172

 Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
1 This problem is based on the concept that a charged particle experiences a force in an
electric field given by F  qE

If the drop carries n excess electrons, the charge on the drop is q = ne. The electric force on the drop qE
must be balanced by the weight of the drop, mg.
mg 1.6 1015 10
Hence, qE = mg  (ne) E = mg  n   4
eE 1.6 1019  2.5  104

Think Further
(i) An oil drop of mass m charge q is falling with a terminal velocity in a medium of viscosity . What
is the magnitude of the electric field required to make it move up with the same terminal velocity?
Ans
When the drop is falling down, the viscous force 6rv = mg
2mg
When the drop is moving up, 6rv + mg = qE i.e. 2mg  qE  E 
q
(ii) An oil drop of mass m and charge q falls with a terminal velocity v1 when an electric field E is
switched on downward. The same drop rises with a terminal velocity v2 when the electric field is
v
switched on upward. What is the ratio 1 ?
v2
Ans
For the falling drop, 6rv1 = qE + mg
For the rising drop, 6rv2 = qE  mg
v qE  mg
 1
v 2 qE  mg

2. A proton and an -particle are subjected to the same electric field. The ratio of their acceleration is
(A) 1 : 2 (B) 2 : 1 (C) 1 : 4 (D) 4 : 1
Ans (B)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
1 This problem is based on the concept that a charged particle is accelerated in an electric
qE
field, with an acceleration a =
m
A particle of mass m and charge q experiences a force F = qE in an electric field E. Hence, it will have
an acceleration,
F qE q
a   for a given field.
m m m
a  q   m   e  4m  4 2
 p   p         
a   q    m p   2e  m  2 1

173
3. A particle of mass m and charge q is projected horizontally with a velocity v into an electric field E
directed vertically downward. The trajectory of the particle is a
(A) straight line (B) circle (C) hyperbola (D) parabola
Ans (D)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
2 This problem is based on the concept that the motion of a charged particle in an electric
field can be analysed in a manner similar to the motion of a mass particle in a
gravitational field.
In a time t the horizontal distance traveled,
x  vt … (1)
The vertical distance traveled,
1 1  qE  2
y  at 2   t
2 2 m  … (2)
1  qE  2 1  qE  x 2  qE  2
Substituting for t from equation (1) into equation (2), we get y   t     x
2 m  2  m  v 2  2mv 2 
y = kx2. Hence, the trajectory is a parabola.

Think Further
(i) An electron is projected horizontally with an initial velocity of 106 ms1 into a vertical electric field
of strength 1820 NC1. What is the vertical displacement of the electron after it has travelled a
horizontal distance of 1 cm?
 19 2 2
 eE  2 1.6  10  1820  (10 )
Ans y   2 
x  31 12
 1.6 cm
 2mv  2  9.1  10  10
(ii) An electric field E is established between two parallel plates as shown in the
figure. What must be the magnitude of the electric field so that an electron
projected horizontally with a velocity of 107 ms1 near the bottom plate can
just miss hitting the upper plate?
2
 eE   x 
Ans y    2 
 2m   v 
2
2(1.6  1019 )(E)  0.91   E  12.5 NC 1
0.91  10 =
2  9.1 1031  107 
(iii) An electron is projected vertically upwards from the lower plate to the upper
plate. What must be the minimum velocity of projection so that it can just reach
the upper plate?
1 2eEd
Ans mv 2  Fd  eEd  v 
2 m

II IIT-JEE ILP-14 174

Read the following passage and answer questions from 4 to 6 by choosing the correct
alternative
In a certain region, uniform electric field exists as E  E 0ˆj. A proton and an electron are projected from
origin at t = 0 with certain velocities along the +ve X-axis. Due to the electric field, they experience force
and move in the x-y plane along different trajectories. Neglect gravity and answer the following questions.
4. If they have same initial kinetic energy, then for the same displacement along X-direction, deflection in
Y-direction is
(A) more for proton (B) more for electron
(C) equal for both (D) independent of kinetic energy
Ans (C)
qE
a x  0, ay 
m
1 qE 2
ux = u0  x = u0t and y  t
2 m
1 qE x 2 1 qE
y .  .x 2
2 m u 02 4 (K.E.)
If K.E. is same y is same for both.
5. If they have same initial velocity, then for same X-axis displacement, deflection is
(A) more for proton (B) more for electron
(C) equal for both (D) independent of kinetic energy
Ans (B)
1
If u0 is same, y  (for same x).  Deflection is greater for electron.
m
6. A small ball of known charge q and unknown mass m, initially at rest, falls freely from a height h in a

uniform electric field E that is directed vertically downward. The ball hits the ground at a speed of
v  2 gh . The mass of the ball in terms of q, E and g is
(A) 2qE / g (B) 2qE / g (C) qE / 2g (D) qE / g
Ans (D)
Using the work energy theorem, relate the work done by the electric field to the change in the energy of
the system:
1 1
qEh  mv 12  mgh  m( 2 gh ) 2  mgh  mgh v0 = 0
2 2
ya = h
Welectric field = K + Ug.
Solving for m; 
E
qE
We get, m 
g

v1  2 gh
y1 = h
Ug = 0

175
7. Two charged particles of charges Q and q and masses M and m respectively are placed inside
Q
a vertical tube. The charged particles are rough and so is the tube. At equilibrium, the forces +
 1 
of friction on Q and q are  k  
 4πε 0 
l
kqQ kqQ kqQ kqQ
(A) f Q  2  Mg, f q  2  mg (B) f Q  2  Mg, f q  2  mg
l l l l
kqQ kqQ kqQ kqQ +
(C) f Q  2  mg, f q  2  Mg (D) f Q  2 , f q  q
l l l 2l2
Ans (A)

Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?

Ans
3 This problem is based on the concept of equilibrium of a charged particle under the
combined action of Coulomb force, weight and frictional force.
For Q, Fe = fQ + Mg Fe
kqQ + Q
 f Q  2  Mg
l (fQ/2) (fQ/2)
For q, Fe + mg = fq Mg

kQq (fq/2) (fq/2)

 fq   mg
l2 +
mg + Fe

Think Further
In the above problem if +q is replaced by q, what are the forces of friction on the charges Q and q?
Ans
kq
f Q  2  mg
l
kqQ
f  q  2  mg
l
8. A small block of mass m is kept on a smooth inclined plane of angle 30, placed in an elevator going
upward, with acceleration a0. Electric field E exists between the vertical sides of the wall of the elevator.
The charge on the block is +q. The time taken by the block to come to the lowest point of inclined plane
is a0
  + 
  +
 2h   2h  
(A)   (B)
 g    qE   + 
 (g  a 0 )    3  + +q
m
 h
 m 
+ 30

   
   
 2 h   2h 
(C) 2 (D)  
 qE   qE  2
 (g  a 0 )  3  (g  a 0 ) 2   h 
 m   m 

II IIT-JEE ILP-14 176

 Ans (C)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
4 This problem is based on the concept of the motion of a charged body under the
combined action of coulomb force, gravity and pseudo force.
Solution
m(g  a 0 ) sin   qE cos  m(g  a 0 )sin 30  qE cos30
The acceleration is a  
m m
1 3 N
m (g  a 0 )  qE qE cos 
or a  2 2
m qE
h h m(g + a0) + sin  m(g + a0)
Now, sin 30   s  2h + qE sin 
s sin 30 mg + ma0

1
 s  at 2
2
 2  2h  2h
 t   2
 a  qE
(g  a 0 )  3
m
9. A charged particle of mass m, charge -q, moves with a speed v in a circular path of radius r around an
infinitely long uniformly charged wire with linear charge density . Then (MC MCQ)
1 1
(A) v  q (B) v   (C) v  (D) v 
m r
Ans (A), (B) and (C)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
5 This problem is based on the concept of circular motion of a charged particle in an
electric field.
The centripetal force for circular motion is provided by the electric force qE, where
1 2
E is the field due to the charged wire.
40 r
Solution
mv 2    q
 qE  q   v
r  2 0 r  2m 0

10. A block having mass m = 4 kg and charge q = 50 C is connected to a E
spring (with force constant k = 100 Nm1). The block lies on a
q, m
frictionless horizontal track and a uniform electric field E = 5  105 Vm1
exists as shown. The block is released from rest when the spring is
unstretched (at x = 0). Then, (MCMCQ)
(A) The motion of the block is oscillatory but not simple harmonic
(B) The motion of the block is SHM
(C) The amplitude of oscillation is 0.35 m
(D) The amplitude of oscillation is 0.25 m

177
 Ans (B) and (D)
Interaction What is the concept involved in this problem?
Ans
6 This problem is based on the oscillatory motion of a block under the combined action
of spring force and electric force.
Solution
As x increases, electric force qE will accelerate the block, while elastic force in the spring kx will oppose
the motion. The block moves away from its initial position, x = 0, till it comes to rest. Here work done
by the electric force is equal to the energy stored in the spring.
1 2qE
 kx 2max  (qE)x max  x max 
2 k
In equilibrium position Fnet = 0
 kx0 = qE
qE
 x0 
k
 Amplitude is
2qE qE qE (50  106 )(5  105 )
x max  x 0      0.25 m
k k k 100
11. A particle of mass m and charge q is subjected to the combined action of gravity and a uniform
horizontal electric field of intensity E. It is projected with a speed v in the vertical plane parallel to the
field at an angle  to the horizontal. Then (MCMCQ)
mg
(A) The range is maximum when tan 2 
Eq
mg
(B) The range is maximum when tan 2  
Eq
v2 
(C) The maximum range is 2 
Eq  m 2 g 2  E 2 q 2 
mg
v2 
(D) The maximum range is 2 
Eq  m2 g 2  E 2 q 2 
mg
Ans (B) and (D)

What is the concept involved in this problem?

Interaction
Ans
8 This problem is based on the concept of motion of a charged particle in a region
containing both gravitational field and electric field.
Let at any instant t, P(x, y) be the position of the particle. Then
1  qE  2
x   vcos   t   t … (1)
2 m 
1
and y   vsin   t  gt 2 … (2)
2
2vsin 
To get the range, let us put y = 0 in Eqn. (2), to get t 
g

II IIT-JEE ILP-14 178

 Substituting this in equation (1), we get the range, R
2
 2vsin   1  qE  2vsin  
 R =  v cos       
 g  2  m  g 
v2  Eq
= sin 2  1  cos 2  

g  mg 

dR Eq
R is maximum, when  0 . i.e. 2 cos 2 + 2sin 2  0
d mg
mg
i.e. when tan 2 = 
Eq
 Option (B) is correct

Interaction What must be the angle of projection in order to take advantage of the ‘wind’ provided
9 by the electric field?
Ans

Since tan 2 is ve for +q,  >
4
mg mg Eq
Since tan 2 =  ; sin 2  ; cos 2  
Eq m 2g 2  E 2q2 m 2g 2  E 2q 2
v2  mg Eq  Eq 
 Rmax =   1 
g  m g E q
2 2 2 2 mg 2 2 2 2
m g  E q  
 
v2 
Rmax = 2 
Eq  m 2 g 2  E 2 q 2 
mg
Ans (D) is correct
12. In a region, the electric field varies along x-axis according to the equation E = P – Qx. A particle having
charge q and mass m is released from point (0, 0). Neglecting gravity mark the correct option/s:
(MC MCQ)
(A) The particle will execute SHM
2P
(B) The maximum displacement along x-axis that particle can attain is
Q
P
(C) The amplitude of oscillation is
Q
(D) The time period is independent of P.
Ans (A), (B), (C) and (D)
q
The acceleration of particle is a   P  Qx  .
m
m
Hence motion of the particle is SHM with time period T  2 which is independent of P.
qQ
The particle has maximum displacement when its velocity becomes zero again. By extension, therefore,
the change in KE of the particle should also be zero.
Using Work-Energy Theorem,
x x x
K   F dx  q  E dx  q  (P  Qx) dx
0 0 0

179
 1
K  q(Px  Qx 2 )  0
2
2P
x 
Q
At the mean position of the particle, the net force is zero.
P
Therefore, P – Qx = 0 or xmean=
Q
2P P P
The Amplitude is equal to  
Q Q Q

13. In a region, electric field varies as E = 2x2  4, where x is distance in SI from origin along
x-axis. A positive charge of 1 C is released with minimum velocity from infinity and crosses the origin.
The kinetic energy at (SCMCQ)
(A) the origin must be zero (B) the origin may be zero
(C) x  2 m must be zero (D) x = 2 m may be zero
Ans (C)
For minimum velocity, the velocity of point charge will be zero at the point where electric field is zero.
Let at x = x0, electric field is zero.
 E = 2x2  4 or 0  2x 20  4
 x 0  2 m . Hence, (C) is correct.

Think Further

The electric field in a region of space is given by E  yiˆ  xjˆ . A charged particle having charge q and

mass m enters the region from origin with velocity v  aiˆ . Find the speed of particle when it reaches
point P(x, y).
2qxy
Ans: v   a2
m
The work done by the Electric Field is
( x,y)
  ( x,y)
 
W   F.dr  q  E.dr
(0,0) (0,0)

( x,y)

q  (yiˆ  xj).(dxi
ˆ ˆ  dyj)
ˆ
(0,0)

W  qxy
The increase in KE due to the work done is
1 1 2qxy 2
mv 2  ma 2  qxy  v  a
2 2 m

***

II IIT-JEE ILP-14 180