Question 2.

1:
Two charges 5 x 10 C and -3 x 10* C are located 16 cm apart. At what point(s) on
the line joining the two charges is the electric potentialzero? Take the potential at
infinity to be zero.
Answer

There are two charges,

4, =5x10"c
4, =-3x10c

Distance between the twO charges, d = 16 cm = 0.16 m

Consider a point P on the line joining the two charges, as shown in the given figure.
d

r= Distance of point P from charge q1

Let the electric potential (V)at point P be zero.
Potential at point P is the sum of potentials caused by charges q1 and qz respectively.
.:V= 4 9:
... ()
4n E, r 4nE, (d-r)
Where,

Eo = Permittivity of free space

For V = 0, equation (i) reduces to
4
4n E, r An E,(d-r)

d-r
5x10* (-3x10*)
(0.16-r)
0.16 3
-l=
5
0.16 8

.r=0.Im =10cm

Therefore, the potential is zero at a distance of 10 cm from the positive charge between
the charges.
Suppose point P is outside the system of two charges at a distance s from the negative
charge, where potential is zero, as shown in the following figure.
(s )

For this arrangement, potential is given by,

V= + ... (ii)

For V = 0, equation (ii) reduces to

4n E, S 4nE,(s-d)

S s-d
5x10* (-3x\0*)
(s-0.16)
5x10* (-3x10*)
(s-0.16)
0.16 3

0.16 2

..s=0.4 m=40cm
Therefore, the potential is zero at a distance of 40 cm from the positive charge outside
the system of charges.

Question 2.2:
A regular hexagon of side 10 cm has a charge 5 C at each of its vertices. Calculate the
potential at the centre of the hexagon.
Answer

The given figure shows six equal amount of charges, q, at the vertices of a regular
hexagon.

F
4

Where,
Charge, q = 5 uC = 5 x 10-6 c
Side of the hexagon, I = AB = BC = CD = DE = EF = FA = 10 cm
Distance of each vertex from centre O, d = 10 cm
Electric potential at point O,

V= 6x4
4n E, d
Where,

Fo= Permittivity of free space

-= 9x10°NCm?

6x9x10' x5x 10
0.1
=2.7 x1o v
Therefore, the potential at the centre of the hexagon is 2.7 x 10 V.

Question 2.3:
Two charges 2 Cand -2 uC are placed at points A and B6 cm apart.
(a) Identify an equipotential surface of the systenm.
(b) What is the direction of the electric field at every point on this surface?
Answer

(a) The situation is represented in the given figure.

2uC -2uC
6 cm +B

An equipotential surface is the plane on which total potential is zero everywhere. This
plane is normal to line AB. The plane is located at the mid-point of line AB because the
magnitude of charges is the same.
(b) The direction of the electric field at every point on this surface is normal to the plane
(b) The direction of the electric field at every point on this surface is normal to the plane
in the direction of AB.

Question 2.4:
A sphericalconductor of radius 12 cm has a charge of 1.6 x 10-C distributed uniformly
on its surface. What is the electric field
(a) Inside the sphere
(b) Just outside the sphere
(c) At a point 18 cm from the centre of the sphere?
Answer
(a) Radius of the spherical conductor, r = 12 cm = 0.12 m
Charge is uniformly distributed over the conductor, q = 1.6 x 10-7 C
Electric field inside a spherical conductor is zero. This is because if there is field inside
the conductor, then charges will move to neutralize it.
(b) Electric fieldE just outside the conductor given by the relation,

E=
4n ¬, r
Where,

Eo = Permittivity of free space

-=9x10° N m²c?

.:E=:
L.6x10 x9x10
(0.12)'
= 10 N C!

Therefore, the electric field just outside the sphere is 10' NC

(c) Electric field at a point 18 m from the centre of the sphere = E1
Distance of the point from the centre, d 18 cm = 0.18 m
E, =
9x10*x|.6x10
(18x10*)'
=4.4x 10 NIC
Therefore, the electric field at a point 18 cm from the centre of the sphere is
4.4x 10' N/C

Question 2.5:
A parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates has a capacitance of 8 pF (1pF =
101 F). What will be the capacitance if the distance between the plates is reduced by
half, and the space between them is filled with a substance of dielectric constant 6?
Answer

Capacitance between the parallel plates of the capacitor, C = 8 pF

Initially, distance between the parallel plates was d and it was filled with air. Dielectric
constant of air, k= 1
Capacitance, C, is given by the formula,
C= kE, A
d
S4
... (i)
d
Where,
 Where,
A = Area of each plate

= Permittivity of free space

If distance between the plates is reduced to half, then new distance, d = 2

Dielectric constant of the substance filled in between the plates, K = 6
Hence, capacitance of the capacitor becomes

C'= k E, A6¬, A
=
... (ii)
d
2
Taking ratios of equations (i) and (iü), we obtain
C'= 2x6C
= 12C
= 12x8 = 96 pF
Therefore, the capacitance between the plates is 96 pF.

Question 2.6:
Three capacitors each of capacitance 9 pfF are connected in series.
(a) What is the total capacitance of the combination?
(b) What is the potential difference across each capacitor if the combination is
connected to a 120 V supply?
Answer

(a) Capacitance of each of the three capacitors, C = 9 pF

Equivalent capacitance (C) of the combination of the capacitors is given by the relation,

999 9 3
:.C=3uF
Therefore, total capacitance of the combination is r
(b) Supply voltage, V= 100 V
Potential difference (V) across each capacitor is equal to one-third of the supply voltage.
120
= 40V
3
Therefore, the potential difference across each capacitor is 40 V.

Question 2.7:
Three capacitors of capacitances 2 pF, 3 pF and 4 pF are connected in parallel.
(a) What is the total capacitance of the combination?
(b) Determine the charge on each capacitor if the combination is connected to a 100 V
supply.
Answer
(a) Capacitances of the given capacitors are
C=2 pF
C, =3 pF
C =4 pF
For the parallel combination of the capacitors, equivalent capacitor is given by the
algebraic sum,
C' = 2+3+4 = 9 pF
Therefore, total capacitance of the combination is 9 pF.
Therefore, total capacitance of the combination is 9 pF.
(b) Supply voltage, V = 100 V
The voltage through all the three capacitors is same = V= 100 V
Charge on a capacitor of capacitance C and potential difference V is given by the
relation,
q= VC... (i)
For C 2 pF,
Charge =VC =100x 2=200 pC =2x10" C
For C = 3 pF,

Charge =VC =100x 3=300 pC =3x10" C

For C = 4 pF,
Charge = VC = 100x 4= 200 pC =4x10"C

Question 2.8:
In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 6 x
10 m² and the distance between the plates is 3 mm. Calculate the capacitance of the
capacitor. If this capacitor is connected to a 100 V supply, what is the charge on each
plate of the capacitor?
Answer

Area of each plate of the parallel plate capacitor, A = 6 x 10 m

Distance between the plates, d= 3 mm = 3 x 10 m
Supply voltage, V= 100 V
Capacitance C of a parallel plate capacitor is given by,
C=94
d
Where,

Eo = Permittivity of free space

= 8.854 x 10-12 N m c-2
8.854 x 10 x6x l0
..C=
3x10
=17.7lx 10 F
-17.71 pF
Potential V is related with the charge q and capacitanceC as

C
q=lC
=|00x 17.7| xI012
=|.77|x 10 C
Therefore, capacitance of the capacitor is 17.71 pF and charge on each plate is 1.771 x
10- C.

Question 2.9:
Explain what would happen if in the capacitor given in Exercise 2.8, a 3 mm thick mica
sheet (of dielectric constant = 6) were inserted between the plates,
(a) While the voltage supply remained connected.
(b) After the supply was disconnected.
Answer

(a) Dielectric constant of the mica sheet, k =6

Initial capacitance, C = 1.771 x 1011 F
New capacitance. C" =kC = 6x|.77 |x\0" =106 pF
 New capacitance. C" =kC =6xI.77|x10" = 106 pF
Supply voltage, V= 100V

Newcharge. q' = C"V=6x|.77|x10 =1.06x l0*C

Potential across the plates remains 100 V.
(b) Dielectric constant, k= 6
Initial capacitance, C =1.771 x 10-11F
New capacitance. C" =kC =6xl.771x10"" =106 pF
If supply voltage is removed, then there will be no effect on the amount of charge in the
plates.
Charge = 1.771 x 10 c
Potential across the plates is given by,

I.771x 10
I06x102
= 16.7 V

Question 2.10:
A 12 pF capacitor is connected to a 50V battery. How much electrostatic energy is stored
in the capacitor?
Answer

Capacitor of the capacitance,C = 12 pF = 12 x 10-12 F

Potential difference, V = 50 V
Electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor is given by the relation,

1
12x10",x(s0)
=1.5x10*J

Therefore, the electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor is 1.5x10 J.

Question 2.11:
A 600 pF capacitor is charged by a 200 V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply
and is connected to another uncharged 600 pF capacitor. How much electrostatic energy
is lost in the process?
Answer

Capacitance of the capacitor, C = 600 pF

Potential difference. V= 200 V
Electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor is given by,

(60x10)-(20)
=1.2x10J
If supply is disconnected from the capacitor and another capacitor of capacitance C=
600 pF is connected to it, then equivalent capacitance (C) of the combination is given
by,

+
600 600 600 300
..C= 300 pF
 1 2
600 600 600 300
..C=300 pF
New electrostatic energy can be calculated as

;*300x(200)'
=0.6x10 J
Loss in electrostatic energy = E-E"
=1.2x10-0.6x10
=0.6x10

=6x10 J
Therefore, the electrostatic energy lost the process i_6x 10 J