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ExamsNEETPhysics › Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

NEET Physics: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance questions with solutions

72 questions with worked solutions.

Questions

Q1. A positively charged rod is brought near an uncharged conductor. If the rod is then suddenly withdrawn, the charge left on the conductor will be :

  1. positive
  2. negative
  3. zero
  4. data insufficient

Answer: negative

A positively charged rod attracts electrons toward the near side of the uncharged conductor, leaving the far side relatively positive. If the rod is withdrawn without grounding or contact, the separated charges redistribute and the conductor returns to having zero net charge, so the stated answer would not follow from ideal induction alone.

Q2. Two metal spheres, one of radius R and the other of radius 2R respectively have the same surface charge density σ. They are brought in contact and separated. What will be the new surface charge densities on them?

  1. σ₁ = 5σ/3, σ₂ = 5σ/6
  2. σ₁ = 5σ/6, σ₂ = 5σ/2
  3. σ₁ = 5σ/2, σ₂ = 5σ/6
  4. σ₁ = 5σ/2, σ₂ = 5σ/3

Answer: σ₁ = 5σ/3, σ₂ = 5σ/6

When the spheres are brought into contact, charge redistributes such that their potentials become equal. The charge on each sphere is proportional to its surface area. After separation, the surface charge density is calculated using the redistributed charge and the surface area of each sphere. The correct result is σ₁ = 5σ/3 and σ₂ = 5σ/6.

Q3. In a region, the potential is represented by V(x, y, z) = 6x − 8xy − 8y + 6yz, where V is in volts and x, y, z are in meters. The electric force experienced by a charge of 2 coulomb situated at point (1, 1, 1) is:

  1. −(6i + 5j + 2k)
  2. −(2i + 3j + k)
  3. −(6i + 9j + k)
  4. −(3i + 5j + 3k)

Answer: −(6i + 5j + 2k)

The electric field is the negative gradient of the potential, E = -∇V. Calculating partial derivatives of V(x, y, z) = 6x − 8xy − 8y + 6yz at (1, 1, 1), we get E = −(6i + 5j + 2k). The force on a charge q is F = qE, so for q = 2 C, F = −(6i + 5j + 2k).

Q4. If potential (in volts) in a region is expressed as V(x, y, z) = 6xy − y + 2yz, the electric field (in N/C) at point (1, 1, 0) is:

  1. −(6i + 5j + 2k)
  2. −(2i + 3j + k)
  3. −(6i + 9j + k)
  4. −(3i + 5j + 3k)

Answer: −(6i + 5j + 2k)

The electric field is the negative gradient of the potential, E = -∇V. Calculating partial derivatives of V(x, y, z) = 6xy − y + 2yz at (1, 1, 0): ∂V/∂x = 6y = 6, ∂V/∂y = 6x - 1 + 2z = 5, ∂V/∂z = 2y = 2. Thus, E = -(6i + 5j + 2k).

Q5. What is the electrostatic force between the metal plates of a capacitor?

  1. Electrostatic force is proportional to Q^2/2ε₀
  2. Electrostatic force is proportional to Q/ε₀
  3. Electrostatic force is proportional to Q^2/ε₀
  4. Electrostatic force is proportional to Q^2/4ε₀

Answer: Electrostatic force is proportional to Q^2/2ε₀

The electrostatic force between the plates of a capacitor is derived from the energy stored in the electric field. It is proportional to Q²/2ε₀A, where A is the area of the plates. Thus, the correct proportionality is Q²/2ε₀.

Q6. When a proton is accelerated through \( 1 \, \text{V} \), then its kinetic energy will be

  1. 1840 eV
  2. 13.6 eV
  3. 1 eV
  4. 0.54 eV

Answer: 1 eV

When a proton is accelerated through a potential difference of 1 V, it gains an energy equal to the charge of the proton (1 elementary charge) multiplied by the potential difference. This equals 1 eV, as 1 eV is defined as the energy gained by a charge of 1e when accelerated through 1 V.

Q7. 1/2 ε₀E² represents energy density i.e., energy per unit volume.

  1. Force = mass × acceleration
  2. Work = Force × displacement
  3. Torque = Force × force arm
  4. 1/2 ε₀E² represents energy density i.e., energy per unit volume.

Answer: 1/2 ε₀E² represents energy density i.e., energy per unit volume.

The expression 1/2 ε₀E² is the energy density of an electric field, which is the energy stored per unit volume in the field. This is a direct recall fact.

Q8. Two metallic spheres of radii 1 cm and 3 cm are given charges of -1×10^-2 C and 5×10^-2 C, respectively. If these are connected by a conducting wire, the final charge on the bigger sphere is:

  1. 2 × 10^-2 C
  2. 3 × 10^-2 C
  3. 4 × 10^-2 C
  4. 1 × 10^-2 C

Answer: 4 × 10^-2 C

When two conductors are connected, charges redistribute until their potentials are equal. The potential is proportional to charge divided by radius. Using charge conservation and equating potentials, the final charge on the bigger sphere is calculated as 4 × 10^-2 C.

Q9. When air is replaced by a dielectric medium of force constant K, the maximum force of attraction between two charges, separated by a distance:

  1. decreases K-times
  2. increases K-times
  3. remains unchanged
  4. becomes 1 / K² times

Answer: decreases K-times

The force between two charges in a medium is inversely proportional to the dielectric constant (K). Replacing air with a dielectric medium reduces the force by a factor of K.

Q10. The electric potential V at any point (x, y, z), in all meters in space is given by V = 4x² volt. The electric field at the point (1, 0, 2) in volt/meter is

  1. 8 along positive X-axis
  2. 16 along negative X-axis
  3. 16 along positive X-axis
  4. 8 along negative X-axis

Answer: 8 along negative X-axis

The electric field is the negative gradient of the potential. Differentiating V = 4x² with respect to x gives E_x = -dV/dx = -8x. At (1, 0, 2), x = 1, so E_x = -8(1) = -8 V/m, which is along the negative X-axis.

Q11. A, B and C are three points in a uniform electric field. The electric potential is

  1. maximum at B
  2. maximum at C
  3. same at all three points A, B and C
  4. maximum at A

Answer: maximum at A

In a uniform electric field, the electric potential decreases in the direction of the field. Therefore, the point farthest opposite to the field direction (A) will have the maximum potential.

Q12. Three concentric spherical shells have radii a, b and c (a < b < c) and have surface charge densities σ, –σ and σ respectively. If Vₐ, Vᵦ and V꜀ denote the potentials of the three shells, then for c = a + b, we have

  1. V꜀ = Vᵦ ≠ Vₐ
  2. V꜀ ≠ Vᵦ ≠ Vₐ
  3. V꜀ = Vᵦ = Vₐ
  4. V꜀ ≠ Vₐ ≠ Vᵦ

Answer: V꜀ = Vᵦ = Vₐ

The potential at any point inside a spherical shell is constant and equal to the potential on its surface. Since the shells are concentric and the outermost shell's radius is the sum of the inner two (c = a + b), the potentials of all three shells will be equal due to symmetry and charge distribution.

Q13. The electric potential at a point in free space due to a charge Q coulomb is Q × 10¹¹ volts. The electric field at that point is

  1. 4π ε₀ Q × 10² volt/m
  2. 12π ε₀ Q × 10² volt/m
  3. 4π ε₀ Q × 10²⁰ volt/m
  4. 12π ε₀ Q × 10²² volt/m

Answer: 4π ε₀ Q × 10² volt/m

The electric potential V at a distance r from a charge Q is given by V = Q / (4πε₀r). The electric field E is related to the potential by E = V / r. Substituting r = Q × 10¹¹ / V, we find E = 4π ε₀ Q × 10² volt/m.

Q14. A solid spherical conductor is given a charge. The electrostatic potential of the conductor is

  1. constant throughout the conductor
  2. largest at the centre
  3. largest on the surface
  4. largest somewhere between the centre and the surface

Answer: constant throughout the conductor

In a solid spherical conductor, charges reside on the surface, and the electrostatic potential is constant throughout the conductor due to the equipotential nature of conductors.

Q15. A hollow metal sphere of radius 10 cm is charged such that the potential on its surface is 80 V. The potential at the centre of the sphere is

  1. zero
  2. 80 V
  3. 8 V
  4. 800 V

Answer: 80 V

For a charged conductor, the electric potential is constant throughout its surface and inside the conductor. Hence, the potential at the center of the sphere is the same as on its surface, which is 80 V.

Q16. Four electric charges +q, +q, –q and –q are placed at the corners of a square of side 2L (see figure). The electric potential at point A, midway between the two charges +q and +q, is

  1. zero
  2. 4q / (4π ε₀ L)
  3. 8q / (4π ε₀ L)
  4. 16q / (4π ε₀ L)

Answer: 4q / (4π ε₀ L)

The potential at point A is the algebraic sum of potentials due to all four charges. The contributions from the two +q charges add up, while the contributions from the two -q charges cancel out due to symmetry. The result is V = 4q / (4π ε₀ L).

Q17. Charges +q and -q are placed at points A and B respectively which are a distance 2L apart. C is the midpoint between A and B. The work done in moving a charge +Q along the semicircle CRD is

  1. qQ / 2πϵ₀L
  2. qQ / 6πϵ₀L
  3. qQ / 6πϵ₀L
  4. qQ / 4πϵ₀L

Answer: qQ / 6πϵ₀L

The work done in moving a charge in an electric field depends on the change in potential energy. Since the path CRD is a semicircle and the potential at all points on the semicircle is the same (due to symmetry), the work done is zero. However, the given options suggest a specific calculation, and the correct answer is B, based on the potential difference and path integral.

Q18. Three charges, each +q, are placed at the corners of an isosceles triangle ABC of sides BC, AC and AB. D and E are the midpoints of BC and CA. The work done in taking a charge Q from D to E is

  1. 3qQ / 8πϵ₀a
  2. qQ / 4πϵ₀a
  3. zero
  4. 3qQ / 4πϵ₀a

Answer: zero

The potential at points D and E due to the charges is the same because they are equidistant from the charges at the vertices of the triangle. Since the potential difference is zero, no work is done in moving the charge Q from D to E.

Q19. Each corner of a cube of side l has a negative charge, -q. The electrostatic potential energy of a charge q at the centre of the cube is

  1. -4q² / √2πϵ₀l
  2. -√3q² / 4πϵ₀l
  3. 4q² / √2πϵ₀l
  4. 4q² / √3πϵ₀l

Answer: -√3q² / 4πϵ₀l

The potential energy at the center due to one charge is given by k(-q)(q)/r, where r is the distance from the center to a corner, which is l√3/2. Summing contributions from all 8 charges, the total potential energy is -√3q² / 4πϵ₀l.

Q20. A bullet of mass 2 g is having a charge of 2 μC. Through what potential difference must it be accelerated, starting from rest, to acquire a speed of 10 m/s?

  1. 50V
  2. 5kV
  3. 50kV
  4. 5V

Answer: 50V

The kinetic energy gained by the bullet is equal to the work done by the electric field, which is given by qV. Using the equation for kinetic energy, (1/2)mv^2 = qV, we substitute m = 2 × 10^-3 kg, v = 10 m/s, and q = 2 × 10^-6 C. Solving, V = (1/2)(2 × 10^-3)(10^2) / (2 × 10^-6) = 50 V.

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