Class 12 Physics – Chapter: Electric

Charges and Fields (Detailed Answers)

Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)
 Q: Define electric charge.

Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an

electric field. It is of two types: positive and negative.

 Q: What is the SI unit of electric charge?

The SI unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C).

 Q: State the principle of conservation of charge.

The total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant; it can neither be created
nor destroyed.

 Q: What is meant by quantization of charge?

Quantization of charge means that charge exists in discrete packets and any charge q is an
integral multiple of the elementary charge e: q = n × e.

 Q: Write the expression for Coulomb’s law.

F = k × (q1 × q2) / r², where F is the electrostatic force, q1 and q2 are charges, r is the
distance, and k is Coulomb's constant.

 Q: What is the direction of electric field due to a positive charge?

The electric field due to a positive charge points radially outward from the charge.

 Q: What is the value of charge on an electron?

The charge on an electron is -1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.

 Q: Write the SI unit of electric flux.

The SI unit of electric flux is Nm²/C.

 Q: What is an electric dipole?

An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance.

 Q: Define electric field intensity.

Electric field intensity at a point is the force experienced by a unit positive charge placed at
that point.

Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 Marks)

 Q: State Coulomb’s law and write its mathematical form.

Coulomb’s Law states that the electrostatic force between two point charges is directly
proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of
the distance between them.

Mathematically, F = k × (q1 × q2) / r², where k = 1 / (4πε₀) ≈ 9 × 10⁹ Nm²/C².

 Q: Explain the principle of superposition of electric forces.

The principle states that the total force on a charge due to a number of other charges is the
vector sum of the individual forces exerted by each charge separately.

 Q: Define electric field and derive its expression due to a point charge.

Electric field is the force per unit positive charge: E = F/q. For a point charge q, at distance r,
E = k × q / r², directed radially.

 Q: What are electric field lines? Write any three properties.

Electric field lines are imaginary lines representing the direction of electric field. Properties:
1. They start on positive and end on negative charges.
2. They never intersect.
3. Denser lines indicate stronger fields.

 Q: Define electric dipole moment. What are its SI unit and direction?

Dipole moment p = q × 2a (charge × separation distance).

SI Unit: Cm. Direction: From negative to positive charge.

 Q: Write two differences between electric field and electric potential.

Electric Field:
1. Vector quantity
2. Units: N/C

Electric Potential:
1. Scalar quantity
2. Units: J/C or V

 Q: What is the net force on an electric dipole in a uniform electric field?

Net force is zero, but there may be a torque acting on the dipole causing it to rotate.
 Q: Explain the concept of electric flux.

Electric flux is the total number of electric field lines passing through a surface. Φ = E·A
cosθ. Units: Nm²/C.

 Q: State Gauss’s law and write its mathematical expression.

Gauss’s law: The total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to 1/ε₀ times the net
charge enclosed.
Mathematically: Φ = ∮E·dA = q_enc / ε₀

 Q: What is the value of total electric flux through a closed surface enclosing no charge?

According to Gauss’s law, the total flux is zero if no charge is enclosed, i.e., Φ = 0.

Long Answer Type Questions (4–5 Marks)

 Q: Derive the expression for electric field on the axial line of an electric dipole.

An electric dipole consists of two equal and opposite charges, +q and -q, separated by a
small distance 2a. Let us find the electric field at a point P on the axial line (line joining the
charges) at a distance r from the center of the dipole.

Electric field due to +q at point P:

E₊ = kq / (r - a)² (away from +q)
Electric field due to -q at point P:
E₋ = kq / (r + a)² (towards -q)
Net electric field:
E = E₊ - E₋ = kq [(1 / (r - a)²) - (1 / (r + a)²)]
Using identity:
A² - B² = (A - B)(A + B),
E = kq × (4ar) / (r² - a²)²
If p = 2aq, then E = (1/4πε₀) × (2pr) / (r² - a²)²
For r >> a, E ≈ (1/4πε₀) × (2p / r³)

 Q: Derive the expression for electric field on the equatorial line of an electric dipole.

At point P on the perpendicular bisector (equatorial line), distances from both charges are
equal.
Electric field due to each charge: E = kq / (r² + a²)
Due to symmetry, horizontal components cancel, vertical components add:
E_total = 2E sinθ, where sinθ = a / √(r² + a²)
So, E = 2 × (kq / (r² + a²)) × (a / √(r² + a²))
= (1/4πε₀) × (2aq) / (r² + a²)^(3/2)
Since p = 2aq, E = (1/4πε₀) × (p / (r² + a²)^(3/2))
For r >> a, E ≈ (1/4πε₀) × (p / r³)
 Q: Derive an expression for the torque on an electric dipole placed in uniform electric
field.

An electric dipole in a uniform electric field E experiences a torque.

Let dipole moment vector be p, angle with E be θ.
Torque τ = p × E = pE sinθ (magnitude)
Direction: Perpendicular to the plane containing p and E.
This torque tends to align the dipole with the electric field.
When θ = 0°, τ = 0 (stable equilibrium)
When θ = 90°, τ is maximum
When θ = 180°, τ = 0 (unstable equilibrium)

 Q: State and prove Gauss’s theorem.

Gauss's Theorem:
The total electric flux through a closed surface is equal to 1/ε₀ times the net charge
enclosed.
Mathematically:
Φ = ∮E·dA = q_enc / ε₀
Proof:
Consider a point charge q at the center of a spherical surface of radius r.
Electric field E = (1/4πε₀) × (q / r²), radially outward.
Flux through surface:
Φ = ∮E·dA = E × 4πr² = (1/4πε₀) × (q / r²) × 4πr² = q / ε₀
If the surface is not spherical, by symmetry and superposition, result remains same.
Hence, Gauss’s law is proved.

 Q: Using Gauss’s law, derive the expression for electric field due to a long straight line of
charge with uniform charge density λ C/m.

Consider a long straight wire with uniform linear charge density λ C/m.
Using Gauss’s law, take a cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius r and length L co-axial with
the wire.
Electric field is radial and same at all points on the curved surface.
Flux through ends = 0 (E ⊥ dA)
Flux through curved surface:
Φ = E × (2πrL)
According to Gauss’s law:
Φ = q_enc / ε₀ = λL / ε₀
So, E × 2πrL = λL / ε₀ => E = λ / (2πε₀r)
This is the electric field due to a long straight charged wire at distance r.