Electrostatics

SECTION 1 SINGLE CORRECT ANSWER TYPE

1. Consider a thin conducting shell of radius r carrying total charge

q. Two point charges q and 2q are placed on points A and B,
which are at distances 0.5r and 2r from the centre C of the shell
respectively. if the shell is earthed, how much charge will flow
to the earth?
(A) 2q (B) 3q
(C) 4q (D) More than 2q and less then 3q
2. Three identical electric dipoles are arranged parallel to each other at equal separations as shown in the
figure. The separation between the charges of a dipole is negligible as compared to the separation
between the dipoles. In the given configuration, total electrostatic interaction energy of these dipoles is
R
U 0 . Now one of the end dipole is gradually reversed, how much work is done by the electric forces?
SP

17U 0 17U 0 18U 0 18U 0

(A) (B)  (C) (D) 
18 18 17 17
3. A thin disk of radius R is held closing the opening of a thin hemispherical shell of the same radius. Both
the bodies are made of insulating materials and have uniform charges of surface charge density  each.
The plate is released keeping the shell fixed. How much maximum kinetic energy will the plate acquire
after it is released?
R 32 R 32
(A) (B)
80 4 0
R 32
(C) (D) Insufficient information
2 0
4. Consider a cube as shown in the figure-I; with uniformly distributed
charge in its entire volume. Intensity of electrical field and potential at
one of its vertex P are E0 and V0 respectively. A portion of half the size
(half edge length) of the original cube is cut and removed as shown in the
figure-II. Find modulus of electric field and potential at the point P in the
new structure.
E0 3V 3E0 V
(A) and 0 (B) and 0
2 4 4 2
3E0 7V0 7 E0 7V0
(C) and (D) and
4 8 8 8
5. If a dipole of dipole moment piˆ is placed at point (0, y) and a point charge at the origin of a coordinate
system, net electric field at point (x, x + y) vanishes. If x and y both are positive, the coordinate y is
equal to :
(A) x (B) 2x (C) 2.5 x (D) 3x

6. In the figure, a line of electric field created by two point charges

q1 and q2 is shown. If it is known that q1  1C , the charge q2
is closest to :
(A) 2 C (B) 4 C
(C) 6 C (D) 8 C

7. A conducting shell of radius R has charge Q. Electrostatic force between two parts of the shell which
are on either sides of a plane that is at a distance r (r  R ) from the centre of the shell is :
Q2  r Q2  r
(A) 1   (B) 1  
32 0 R 2  R  32 0 R 2  R 

Q2  r2  Q2  r2 
(C) 1  2 
2
(D) 1  2 
2
32 0 R  R  32 0 R  R 

8. An electrostatic field line leaves at angle  from point charge q1 and connects with point charge q2
at angle  [see figure]. Then the relationship between  and  is :
R
(A) q1 sin 2   q2 sin 2  (B) q1 tan   q2 tan 
 
SP
(C) q1 sin 2  q2 sin 2 (D) q1 cos   q2 cos 
2 2

9. The associated figure shows an electric charge +q located at the centre of a hollow uncharged
conducting metal sphere. Outside the sphere is a second charge +Q. Both charges are positive. Choose
the description below that describes the net electrical forces on each charge in this situation.
(A) Both charges experience the same net force directed away from each other
(B) No net force experienced by either charge
(C) There is no net force on Q but a net force on q
(D) There is no net force on q but a net force on Q

10. A charge q is placed at the top face of a frustum with height h. What is the flux through the curved
surface of the frustum ?
q
(A)
5 2 0
q
(B)
2 0
q
(C)
2 5 0
(D) Zero
 SECTION 2 MULTIPLE CORRECT ANSWER TYPE

11. Electric potential in a region is given by the relation V  4  5 x 2 If a dipole is placed at position (–1, 0)

with dipole moment P pointing along positive y direction then
(A) Net force on the dipole is zero
(B) Net torque on the dipole is zero
(C) Net torque on the dipole is not zero and it is in clockwise direction
(D) Net torque on the dipole is not zero and it is in anticlockwise direction

12. A charged particle q is projected in an electric field produced by a

fixed point charge Q from a faraway point as shown in the figure.
Choose correct statements:
(A) The path taken by the particle is a straight line
(B) The path taken by the particle is not a straight line
2
qQ  qQ  2 4 2
    4m u a
2 0  2 0 
(C) The minimum distance between the two particles is
2mu 2
(D) Velocity of the particle is changing in magnitude and direction both

13. A small charged bead can slide on a circular frictionless insulating wire
frame. A point like dipole is fixed at the centre of circle with the dipole’s
R
axis lying in the plane of circle as shown in the figure. Initially the bead is on
the plane of symmetry of the dipole from where it is released from rest.
SP
Ignore effect of gravity. Choose correct statements :
Q p cos 
(A) Magnitude of velocity of bead as function of its angular position  is
2 0 mr 2
(B) Normal force exerted by the wire frame on bead is zero
(C) If the wire frame were not present, bead executes circular motion and returns to initial point
after tracing a complete circle
(D) If the wire frame were not present, bead executes oscillatory and periodic motion on a circular
path between its starting point and diametrically opposite point

14. The accompanying figure shows two concentric spherical shells

isolated from each other. The smaller shell has radius b and net charge
Q . The larger shell has radius 2b and net charge Q . If R is the
distance from common center, choose correct statements :
(A) The highest electric field magnitude E occurs immediately
outside smaller shell
(B) The highest electric field magnitude E occurs immediately
outside the larger shell
(C) At R  b , potential is maximum
(D) At R  0 , potential is maximum
15. Two particles of same mass and charge are thrown in same direction along the horizontal with same
velocity v from two different heights h1 and h 2 (h1  h2 ) . Initially they were located on the same
vertical line. Choose the correct statements.
(A) Both the particles will always lie on a straight line
(B) Acceleration of the centre of mass of two particles will be g downwards
(C) Horizontal range of the particle thrown from h1 is less and particle thrown from h2 is more
than the value, which would have been in the absence of charges on them
(D) Horizontal range of both particles is same

16. In another world, instead of the Coulomb’s law, electric force F on a point like charge q due to
another point like charge Q is found to obey the following law.
 Qq (1  r ) 
F r
40 r 3

Here  is a positive constant and r is the position vector of charge q relative to the charge Q.
 Q (1  r ) 
(A) Electric field due to a point charge Q is E  r
4 0 r 3
 
(B) 
Line integral of this electric field E  dl over a closed path is also zero as in our world
  qenclosed
(C) Gauss’law  E  ds  0
also holds true for this electric field

(D) All the above statements are true but this electric field is not conservative
R
17. In the following figures, electric field lines of some electrostatic fields are shown. Which of them are
incorrect representations ?
SP

(A) (B)

(C) (D)

18. A non-conducting ring of mass m and radius R is given equal and opposite
charge on two quadrants as shown in figure. It is then placed on a rough
non-conducting horizontal plane. At time t  0 , a uniform electric field

E  E0 iˆ is switched on and the ring starts rolling without sliding. Choose
the correct options.
(A) Dipole moment of the ring is 2 2R 2
(B) Dipole moment of the ring is  R 2
E0
(C) The initial angular acceleration of the ring is
2m
(D) At t  0  , friction force acting on the ring is E0 R
19. A point charge q is located at the centre O of a spherical uncharged
conducting layer provided with a small orifice. The inside and outside radii of
the layer are equal to a and b respectively. An external agent slowly transfers
the charge q from the point O through the orifice and to infinity. Choose the
correct statements.
(A) Initially, charge on inner and outer surface of the conductor are –q and +q respectively
(B) Finally, charge on inner and outer surface of the conductor are 0 and –q respectively
q2  1 1 
(C) Work done by external agent in the process is   
80  a b 
q2  1 1 
(D) Work done by external agent in the process is   
8 0  a b 
20. Three charges q, 2q and 8q are to be placed along a 9 cm long straight line so as to make the potential
energy of the system minimum. Choose the correct statements.
(A) 2q and 8q are at the two ends of the line (B) q is placed at the mid point of the line
(C) q is placed at a distance of 3 cm from 2q (D) Electric force experienced by q is zero

SECTION 3 LINK-COMPREHENSION TYPE

PARAGRAPH FOR QUESTIONS 21 - 23

Electrons (mass m and charge e) can be projected with a certain
velocity from a point O between two parallel plate like
electrodes separated by a distance d as shown in the figure. The
bottom plate is connected to mid-point C of a rheostat, while the
R
upper plate is connected to the rheostat through a sliding jockey
J. The end terminals A and B of the rheostat are connected across
SP
an ideal battery of electromotive force V. When the jockey is
held at C, electrons move along the x-axis that is parallel to the
plates and hit a phosphorescent screen S in time T0 .
Distance d between the electrodes is large enough so that none of the electrons strikes the electrodes.
Ignore gravity, magnetic effects and electromagnetic radiations.
21. In a trial, the jockey J is held at A and an electron is projected. A time interval 0.5T0 after the electron
is projected, the jockey is suddenly made to jump to the end B. Where on the screen does the electron
make a spot ?
eVT02
(A) On the x-axis (B) above the x-axis
8md
eVT02
(C) below the x-axis (D) None of these
8md
22. In second trial, the jockey J is made to slide from C to A and then back to C with the same speed in a
total time interval T0 . Where will the electron hit the screen ?
 l
(A) On the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ
T0
 l eVT0 ˆ
(B) On the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ  j
T0 4md
 l eVT0 ˆ
(C) Above the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ  j
T0 4md
 l eVT0 ˆ
(D) Below the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ  j
T0 4 md
23. In third trial, the jockey J is made to slide from A to B with constant speed in the time interval T0 .
Where will the electron hit the screen?
 l  l
(A) On the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ (B) Above the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ
T0 T0
 l  l eVT0 ˆ
(C) Below the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ (D) On the x-axis with velocity v  iˆ  j
T0 T0 2md

PARAGRAPH FOR QUESTIONS 24 - 25

Three concentric conducting spherical
shells A, B and C having radii a, 2a and 3a
respectively are placed as shown in figure.
Shell B is having net charge +Q while
shells A & C are earthed. An uncharged
conducting spherical shell D of radius 2a
is placed at a large distance form C. There
is a switch ‘s’ connecting shell B and D.
24. Charges on shell A and C when switch S is open are respectively :
5Q 3Q 3Q 5Q Q 3Q 3Q 5Q
(A) , (B) , (C) , (D) ,
8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4
25. Final charges on shell A and C after switch S is closed are respectively :
Q 3Q 5Q 3Q 3Q 5Q 3Q Q
(A) , (B) , (C) , (D) ,
5 5 8 8 8 8 4 4
R
PARAGRAPH FOR QUESTIONS 26 - 28
Method of images
SP
A point charge q is placed in the vicinity of a grounded metallic sphere of radius R [see figure (i)], and
consequently a surface charge distribution is induced on the sphere. To calculate the electric field and
potential from the distribution of the surface charge is a formidable task. However, the calculation can
be considerably simplified by using the so called method of images. In this method, the electric field
and potential produced by the charge distributed on the sphere can be represented as an electric field
and potential of a single point charge q’ placed inside the sphere (you do not have to prove it). Note :
The electric field of this image charge q’ reproduces the electric field and the potential only outside the
sphere (including its surface).

The symmetry of the problem dictates that the charge q’ should be placed on the line connecting the
point charge q and the centre of the sphere [see figure (ii)]. The value of q’ and its distance from the
centre of sphere d’ can be found by using the fact that potential at all points of the sphere must be zero.
26. Value of q’ is :
R d R
(A) q (B) q (C) q (D) q
d R d
27. Value of d’ is :
R2 d2 2R 2
(A) d (B) (C) (D)
d R d
28. Find the magnitude of force acting on charge q.
1 q 2 Rd 1 q2
(A) (B)
40 (d 2  R 2 ) 2 40 (d 2  R 2 )
1 q 2d 2
(C) (D) zero
40 (d 2  R 2 ) 2

PARAGRAPH FOR QUESTIONS 29 - 30

A non-conducting disc of radius ‘a’ and uniform positive surface charge density  is placed on the
ground, with its axis vertical. A particle of mass m and positive charge q is dropped, along the axis of
the disc, from a height H with zero initial velocity. The particle has q / m  40 g /  .

29. Find the value of H if the particle just reaches the disc.
a 4a 3a 2a
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 3 4 3
30. Find the equilibrium height of particle from the disc.
a a a
(A) (B) (C) (D) a
3 2 3

SECTION 4 COLUMN MATCHING TYPE

31. A conducting sphere of radius R has two spherical cavities of radius a and b. The cavities have charges
R
qa and qb respectively at their centres A and B. O is the centre of sphere.
SP

Column-I Column-II
qb
(A) Electric field at a distance r (r  R) from O (P)
40 r 2
Electric potential at a distance r (r  R ) from O ( qa  qb )
(B) (Q)
but outside cavities 40 r 2
( qa  qb )
(C) Electric field at a distance r (r  b) from B (R)
4 0 R
qb qb ( q  qb )
(D) Electric potential at a distance r (r  b) from B (S)   a
4 0 r 4 0 b 4 0 R
( qa  qb )
(T)
4  0 r
32. A neutral conducting sphere A has two spherical cavities B and C. Two point charges qB and qC are
placed at centres of cavities B and C, respectively. Another point charge q is fixed at large distance r
from the center of sphere.

Column I Column II
(A) Force on qB (P) Zero
(B) Force on qC (Q) Non-zero

Force on q
 qB  qC  q
(C) (R)
4 0 r 2
(D) Force on conductor (S) Rightward

33. The axis of a hollow cone as shown in figure is vertical. Its base radius is R and height is h. It is kept in a
uniform electric field E parallel to its axis.
R
SP

Column I Column II
(A) Magnitude of flux through base of cone (P) R 2 E
R 2 E
(B) Magnitude of flux through curved part of cone (Q)
2
(C) Magnitude of flux through curved part MNQP of cone (R) Zero
(D) Net flux through the entire cone (S) non zero

34. Column I gives a situation in which two dipoles of dipole moment piˆ and 3 pjˆ are placed at origin. A
circle of radius R with centre at origin is drawn as shown in figure. Column II gives coordinates of
certain positions on the circle. Match the statements in Column I with the statements in Column II.
 Column I Column II
The coordinate(s) of point on circle where potential is R 3R 
(A) (P)  , 
maximum 2 2 

The coordinate(s) of point on circle where potential is  R 3R 

(B) (Q)   ,  
zero  2 2 
The coordinate(s) of point on circle where magnitude
 3R R 
(C) 1 4p (R)   , 
of electric field intensity is  2 2 
40 R 3
The coordinate(s) of point on circle where magnitude
 3R R
(D) 1 2p (S)  , 
of electric field intensity is  2 2 
40 R 3

35. Column-I gives some system of charged conductor and column-II gives possible value of electric field
and potential then match the columns.
Column - I Column - II
(A) (P) E A  EB

Solid conductor
(B) (Q) E A  EB
R
SP

Two conducting shells inner shell is charged

(C) (R) VA  VB

Outer shell is earthed

(D) (S) VA  VB

Large plates placed near each other is equal to zero

 SECTION 5 NUMERICAL VALUE TYPE

36. Small identical balls are attached at each end of a spring of force constant k  200 N/m and relaxed
length l  20 cm. Unknown amount of charges are gradually transferred to the balls in unequal
amounts until the spring length becomes twice of its relaxed length. What amount of work (in J) must
be done by an external agency in slowly compressing the spring back to its relaxed length?

37. Two particles each of mass 100 g and charge 10C are released on a horizontal plane at a distance 1.0
m from each other. Coefficient of friction between the particles and the plane is 0.1 and acceleration of
free fall is 10 m/s2 . Maximum speed acquired by the particles after they are released is _____ (in m/s).

38. A positively charged small disc is released on the top of fixed hemispherical
frictionless dome in presence of a uniform horizontal electric field. If the
disc leaves the dome after an angular displacement   sin 1 (3 / 5), find ratio
of gravitational and electrostatic forces on the disc. Assume that the dome
does not exhibit any electrical property.
39. The electric field intensity at the center of a uniformly charged
hemispherical shell is E0 . Now two portions of the hemisphere are

removed from either side and remaining portion is shown. If    
3
then field intensity due to remaining portion at the center is nE0 , where
R
n is _______ .

40. Two identical point charges are moving in free space. When they are
SP
60 cm apart; their velocity vectors are equal in modulus and make
angles of 45° from the line joining them as shown in the figure. If at
this instant, their total kinetic energy is equal to their potential energy,
what will be the distance (in cm) of closest approach between them?

41. Two mutually perpendicular infinitely long lines of charge having charge per unit length as 1 and  2
11
are located in air at separation a. The electrostatic force of interaction between them is , where n is
n 0
______ .
42. The intensity of an electric field depends only on the coordinates x and y as
follows:

 a xiˆ  yjˆ
E 2

x  y2
Where a is a constant and iˆ and ĵ are the unit vectors along the x and y-
axes. The charge within a sphere of radius R with the centre at the origin is
n0 aR. Find n.

43. Two fixed charges 2Q and Q are located at the points with co-ordinates   3a , 0  and  3a , 0 
respectively in the x-y plane. Show that all the points in the x-y plane where the electric potential due to
the two charges is zero lie on a circle. The radius of this circle is na, where n is ________ .
44. Three large conducting plates are placed a distance d apart in air. The
space between the first two plates is completely filled with a dielectric
slab of dielectric constant K  2 as shown in figure. The plates are given
charges Q1  7Q, Q 2  3Q and Q3  2Q respectively. The outer two
plates are now connected with a conducting wire. The final charge on the
left surface of the middle plate is nQ. Find n.

45. A conducting sphere of radius ‘R’ carries a charge Q. It is enclosed in another concentric spherical shell
of radius 2R (neglect its thickness). Charge from inner sphere is transferred in infinitesimally small
installments to the outer sphere. The work done is transferring the entire charge from inner sphere to
Q2
outer sphere is  , then value of n is_____.
n0 R

SECTION 6 SUBJECTIVE TYPE

46. Two concentric shells of radii R and 2R are shown in figure. Initially a
charge q is imparted to the inner shell. Now key K1 is closed and opened
and then key K 2 is closed and opened. After the keys K1 and K 2 are
alternately closed n times each, find the potential difference between the
shells. Note that finally the key K 2 remains closed.

47. A thin non-conducting ring of radius R has a linear charge density    0 cos 
R
where 0 is a constant,  is the azimuthal angle. Find the magnitude of the
electric field strength on the axis of the ring as function of the distance x from its
SP
centre. Investigate the obtained function at x > > R.
48. Two concentric rings are placed in a gravity free region in yz-plane, one of radius R and charge Q and
the second of radius 4R and charge 8Q distributed uniformly over them. Find the minimum velocity
with which a point charge of mass m and charge  q should be projected from a point at a distance 3R
from the centre of the rings on axis so that it will reach to the centre of the rings.
49. Figure shows a charged rod, bent in the form of an arc of a circle.
The charge distribution on the rod is shown in figure. The
assembly is kept in a uniform electric field parallel to the plane of
the arc.
(a) show that for small angular displacement the system will
perform SHM. Determine its time period.
(b) Determine the work done required to turn it through 180°.
50. Find the potential energy of one dipole P1 in the presence of another dipole P2 (their interaction
energy) if
(a) The two dipoles are placed in line with one another as shown in figure (a).
(b) The two dipoles are placed in a plane as shown in figure (b).
Assume r is much larger than the length of each dipole. The vector dipole moments P1 and P2 point
form the negative charge toward the positive charge of dipole.

Figure (a) Figure (b)