P-14

(a) surface charge density on the inner surface of the shell is non uniform.
(b) surface charge density on the inner surface is uniform.
(c) electric field outside the shell is the same as that of a point charge at the centre of the shell

(d) surface charge density on the outer surface depends on | p|

Exercise – 4
Section – I : Numerical Value / Subjective Type Questions

1. Two small equally charged spheres, each of mass m, are suspended from the same point by silk thread of
length l. The distance between the spheres x << l. The rate dq/dt with which the charge leaks off each
dq
sphere if their approach velocity varies as v = a / x , where a is a constant, and the rate with which
dt
  0 mg
the charge leaks off each sphere is given by a then the value of  +  +  is
 
2. A thin wire ring of radius r has an electric charge q. The increment of the force stretching the wire if a
q q0
point charge q0 is placed at the ring’s center is then find the value of [K], where [ ] represents
K 0 r 2
maximum integer.
3. A point charge q is located at the centre of a thin ring of radius R with uniformly distributed charge –q.
The magnitude of the electric field strength vector at the point lying on the axis of the ring at a distance x
from its centre, if x << R, is inversely proportional to xn then the value of n is
4. A system consists of a thin charged wire ring of radius R and a very long uniformly charged thread
oriented along the axis of the ring, with one of its ends coinciding with the centre of the ring. The total
charge of the ring is equal to q. The charge of the thread (per unit length) is equal to . . The interaction
q
force between the ring and the thread, is given by then the value of  is
0 R

5. A thread carrying a uniform charge  per unit length has the

configurations shown in figure a and b. Assuming a
curvature radius R to be considerably less than the length of O O +q
R
the thread, let the electric field at point O in case a is E1 and
(a) (b)
E2
in case b is E2 then is Fig. 1.1
E1

6. Suppose the surface charge density over a sphere of radius R depends on a polar angle  as  = 0 cos ,
0
where 0 is a positive constant. The magnitude of the electric field inside the sphere is given by
 0
then the value of  is, is
7. A very long uniformly charged thread oriented along the axis of a circle of radius R rests on its centre
with one of the ends. The charge of the thread per unit length is equal to  . The flux of the vector E
R
across the circle area, is given by then the value of k is
k 0

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 P-15

8. Two point charges q and –q are separated by the distance 2l (figure as

shown). The flux of the electric field strength vector across a circle of radius R

q +q –q
R= 3 l, is given by then the value ofOk is O l l
k 0 R
(a) (b)
9. The electric field strength depends only on the x and Fig.
y coordinates
1.1 to the law E = = a ( xi +Fig.
yj 1.2(
) / x2 + y 2 , )
where a is a constant, i and j are the unit vectors of the x and y axes. The flux of the vector E through a
sphere of radius R with its centre at the origin of coordinates, is given by Ra then the value of [ ] is
2
10. The field potential inside a charged ball depends only on the distance from its centre as  = ar + b,
where a and b are constants. Find the space charge distribution  ( r ) inside the ball, is given by −0 a
then the value of  is
11. Figure shows three concentric thin spherical conducting shells A, B and C of
radii a, 2a and 3a respectively. The shells A and C are given charges q and –q
respectively and the shell B is earthed. Let the surface charge density of inner
surface of B is B and the surface charge density of outer surface of shell C is

B 
C then = , the value of  +  is
C 

12. Three identical metal plates with large surface areas are kept parallel to
each other as shown in figure. The left most plate is given a charge Q, the
rightmost a charge –2Q and the middle is neutral. If the charge appearing
Q
on the outer surface of the rightmost plate is − then the value of K is
K
13. Certain amount of charge is uniformly distributed over the volume of a ball. If the energy stored in the
V
ball is V1 and the energy stored in the surrounding space is V2 then 2 =
V1
14. Two point charges +q1 and –q2 are placed at A and B, respectively.
A line of force emanates from q1 at an angle  with the line AB
  q1 
and terminates at  at –q2. If  = x sin −1 sin  then the value
 y q 2 
of (x + y) is

15. Four concentric hollow spherical conductors of ratio of radii 1 : 2 :

3 : 4 are given the charges as shown in figure
Innermost conductor and third conductor are connected by
connecting wire. Also second conductor and outermost conductor
are connected at the same time by connecting wire. Let the
potential of conductor 1 is V1 and the potential of conductor 2 is V2
V 
after connection then 1 is found to be then the value of
V2 
 +  is

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 P-18

Comprehension # (9-10)
27 3 3
Four point charges + 8C, − 1C, − 1C and +8 C, are fixed at the points, − m, − m, + m and
2 2 2
27
+ m respectively on the y-axis. A particle of mass 6 × 10–4 kg and of charge +0.1C moves along
2
the x-direction. Its speed at x = + is v0. Assume that space is gravity free. Given :
1/(40 ) = 9 109 Nm2 / C2
9. The least value of v0 for which the particle will cross the origin
(a) 2 m/s (b) 2.5 m/s (c) 3 m/s (d) 3.5 m/s
10. The kinetic energy of the particle at the origin.
(a) 0 (b) 125 J (c) 200 J (d) 250 J

Exercise - 5
Revision Exercise (Moderate to tough)

1. Figure shows a rod of length L which is uniformly charged with linear

charge density  kept on a smooth horizontal insulated surface. Right
end of rod is in contact with a vertical fixed insulated wall. A block of
mass m and charge q is projected with a velocity v from a point very
far from rod in the line of rod. Find the distance of closest approach
2 0 mv 2
between the block and the left end A of the rod, if = n2 .
q
2. A conducting sphere S1 of radius r is attached to an insulating handle. Another conducting sphere S2 of
radius R is mounted on an insulating stand. S2 is initially uncharged. S1 is given a charge Q, brought into
contact with S2 and removed. S1 is then recharged such that the charge on it is again Q and it is again
brought into contact with S2 and removed. This procedure is repeated n times.
(a) Find the electrostatic energy of S2 after n such contacts with S1.
(b) What is the limiting value of this energy as n →  ?
3. A triangle is made from thin insulating rods of different lengths, and the linear charge density on each rod
is uniform and the same for all three rods. Find a particular point in the plane of the triangle at which the
electric field strength is zero.
4. A square of side d, made from a thin insulating plate, is
uniformly charged and carries a total charge of Q. A point
charge q is placed on the symmetrical normal axis of the
square at a distance d/2 from the plate. How large is the force
acting on the point charge?

5. A very thin disc is uniformly charged with surface charge density   0. Find the electric field intensity E
on the axis of this disc at the point from which the disc is seen at an angle  .
6. Find the potential at the edge of a thin disc of radius R with a charge uniformly distributed over one of its
sides with the surface density  .
7. An uncharged metallic sphere of radius R is placed into an external uniform field, as a result of which an
induced charge appears on the sphere with surface density  = 0 cos , where 0 is a positive constant
and  is a polar angle. Find the magnitude of the resultant electric force acting on like charges.
8. A point charge q is at a distance l from an infinite conducting plane. Find the density of surface charges
induced on the plane as a function of the distance r from the base of the perpendicular dropped from the
charge q onto the plane.

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 P-19

9. A small charged ball is in state of equilibrium at a

height h above a large horizontal uniformly
charged dielectric plate having surface charge
density of  C / m2 .
(a) Find the acceleration of the ball if a disc of
radius r(<<h) is removed from the plate
directly underneath the ball.
(b) Find the terminal speed (V0) acquired by the
falling ball. Assume that mass of the ball is
m, its radius is x and coefficient of viscosity
of air is  . Neglect buoyancy and assume
that the ball acquires terminal speed within a
short distance of its fall.
10. A soap bubble of radius R = 1 cm is charged with the maximum charge for which breakdown of air on its
surface does not occur. Calculate the electrostatic pressure on the surface of the bubble. It is know that
dielectric breakdown of air takes place when electric field becomes larger then E0 = 3 × 106 V/m.
11. On a horizontal table, there is a smooth circular groove
of mean radius R. The walls of the groove are non
conducting. Two metal balls (each having mass m and
radius r) are placed inside the groove with their centers
R apart. The balls just fit inside the groove. The two
balls are given charge +3q and –q and released from
state of rest. Ignore the non-uniformity in charge
distribution as the balls come close together and
collide. The collision is elastic. Find maximum speed
acquired by each ball after they collide for the first
time.
12. A thin insulating rod of mass m and length L is hinged at its upper end (O)
so that it can freely rotate in vertical plane. The linear charge density on the
rod varies with distance (y) measured from upper end as
L
 = y 2 ; 0  y 
2
L
= −y n ;  y  L
2
where  and  both are positive constants. When a horizontal electric
field E is switched on the rod is found to remain stationary.
(a) Find the value of constant  in terms of  . Also find n.
(b) Find the force applied by the hinge on the rod, if EaL3 = 45 mg.

13. A and B are two large identical thin metal plates placed
parallel to each other at a small separation. Plate A is
given a charge Q.
(i) Find the amount of charge on each of the two faces of
A and B.
(ii) Another identical plate C having charge 3Q is
inserted between plate A and B such that distance of C
from B is twice its distance from A. Plate A and B is
shorted using a conducting wire. Find charge on all six
faces of plates A, B and C.
(iii) In the situation described in (ii) the plate A is
grounded. Now write the charge on all six faces.

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