ELECTROSTATICS - MARK GUIDE
Tutor: Desmond D Nchia
1) Two parallel metal plates carrying equal but opposite charges are positioned so that at a point S
midway between them, the resultant electric field strength is E. If the distance from each plate to S is
doubled, the strength of the electric field at S would be?
A. E
B. E/6
C. E/4
D. E/2
E. None
Correct Answer: A. E
Explanation:
The electric field between two large parallel oppositely charged metal plates is uniform and independent
of the distance between the plates (E = σ / ε₀). Therefore, changing the separation distance does not
affect the electric field strength at the midpoint S.
2) In an electric field strength E a charge Q is accelerated through a distance y, the work done by the
electric force is?
A. QEy
B. QE/y
C. Qv/E
D. QE
Correct Answer: A. QEy
Explanation:
The electrostatic force on a charge Q in a uniform electric field E is given by F = QE. Work done is the
product of force and displacement in the direction of the force: W = F × y = QEy.
3) Three isolated identical spheres M, N, and P are mounted on insulating stands. Charges of +4Q and
-1Q are introduced on M and N respectively while P is left electrically neutral. The spheres are then
made to touch each other in such a way that their centers of mass are at the respective apices of an
equilateral triangle.
A. Each of the spheres is now neutral
B. Each sphere now carries a net charge of +Q
C. Each sphere now carries a net charge of +1.67Q
D. P now carries a net charge of +3Q while M and N are now electrically neutral
Correct Answer: B. Each sphere now carries a net charge of +Q
Explanation:
When identical conducting spheres touch, the total charge is conserved and redistributes equally among
them. Total charge = (+4Q) + (-1Q) + 0 = +3Q. Divided equally among 3 spheres: +3Q / 3 = +Q per sphere.
4) Two charged metal plates are place one meter apart creating a constant electric field between them.
A one Coulomb charged particle is placed in the space between them. The particle experiences a force of
100N due to the electric field. What is the potential difference between the plates.
a) 100V
b) 10V
c) 1000V
d) 100000V
Correct Answer: a) 100V
Explanation:
First, find the electric field: E = F / q = 100N / 1C = 100 N/C. For a uniform field, the potential difference is
V = E × d. Given d = 1 m, V = 100 N/C × 1 m = 100V.
5) The electric field for two point charges a and b is shown below which of the following is true:
a) Both charges are positive
b) Both charges are negative
c) The charges have opposite charges
d) The charges cannot be determined
Correct Answer: a) Both charges are positive
Explanation:
Electric field lines by convention originate and point outward away from positive charges, while they
point inward toward negative charges. Because the field lines emerge outward from both point sources,
both charges must be positive.
6) Two identical conducting spheres carrying charges +Q and -3Q are separated by a distance r (much
larger than the radii of the spheres). They experience an attractive electrostatic force F. If the spheres are
brought into brief contact and then returned to their original separation, what is the new electrostatic
force between them?
A) F/3 (repulsive)
B) F/3 (attractive)
C) F/4 (repulsive)
D) 3F/4 (attractive)
Correct Answer: A) F/3 (repulsive)
Explanation:
Initial force: F = k * |(+Q)(-3Q)| / r² = 3kQ²/r². Upon contact, total charge (+Q - 3Q = -2Q) splits equally,
leaving each with -Q. New force: F' = k * |(-Q)(-Q)| / r² = kQ²/r². Thus, F' = F/3. Since both are now
negatively charged, they repel.
7) A parallel-plate capacitor is charged by a battery and then disconnected. If the plate separation is now
doubled, how do the charge (Q) and the potential difference (V) change?
A) Q remains constant, V is halved
B) Q remains constant, V is doubled
C) Q is doubled, V remains constant
D) Q is halved, V is doubled
Correct Answer: B) Q remains constant, V is doubled
Explanation:
Since the capacitor is isolated (disconnected), charge Q cannot escape and remains constant.
Capacitance C decreases by half when separation d doubles (C = ε₀A/d). From V = Q/C, halving C causes
the potential difference V to double.
8) Two capacitors, C₁ = 3 μF and C₂ = 6 μF are connected in series across a 12V battery. What is the
potential difference across the 3 μF capacitor?
A) 4 V
B) 6 V
C) 8 V
D) 12 V
Correct Answer: C) 8 V
Explanation:
Equivalent capacitance C_eq = (3 × 6) / (3 + 6) = 2 μF. Total series charge Q = C_eq × V = 2 μF × 12V = 24
μC. Voltage across the 3 μF capacitor is V₁ = Q / C₁ = 24 μC / 3 μF = 8 V.
9) A parallel-plate air capacitor has capacitance C. A dielectric slab of dielectric constant K = 4 is inserted
to completely fill the space between the plates. If the capacitor remains connected to the battery
throughout, the energy stored in the capacitor changes by what factor?
A) Increases by a factor of 4
B) Decreases by a factor of 4
C) Increases by a factor of 16
D) Remains unchanged
Correct Answer: A) Increases by a factor of 4
Explanation:
Remaining connected to the battery keeps potential V constant. Stored energy is U = 0.5 * C * V². Since
introducing the dielectric scales capacitance to 4C, the total stored energy increases by a factor of 4.
10) Three capacitors of capacitances 2 µF, 3 µF, and 6 µF are connected in parallel. What is their
equivalent capacitance?
A) 1 µF
B) 5 µF
C) 11 µF
D) 6 µF
Correct Answer: C) 11 µF
Explanation:
For capacitors in parallel, the total equivalent capacitance is simply the sum of individual capacitances:
C_parallel = 2 μF + 3 μF + 6 μF = 11 μF.
11) A point charge +q is placed at the center of an uncharged, hollow conducting sphere. What is the
total electric flux passing through the outer surface of the sphere?
A) Zero
B) q / εo
C) 2q/ε₀
D) q/(4πε₀)
Correct Answer: B) q / εo
Explanation:
By Gauss's Law, the total electric flux out of any closed surface is equal to the net enclosed charge
divided by ε₀. The internal distribution or metallic shield does not change the net enclosed charge (+q),
so flux = q / ε₀.
12) The electric potential at a distance r from an isolated point charge is 100 V. What is the electric
potential at a distance 2r from the same charge?
A) 25 V
B) 50 V
C) 100 V
D) 200 V
Correct Answer: B) 50 V
Explanation:
The electric potential V of a point charge is inversely proportional to distance (V = kq/r). Doubling the
radial distance from r to 2r cuts the electric potential exactly in half: 100V / 2 = 50 V.
13) A 10 µF capacitor is charged to a potential of 50V. How much electrostatic energy is stored inside it?
A) 1.25 × 10⁻² J
B) 2.50 × 10⁻² J
C) 5.00 × 10⁻¹ J
D) 2.50 × 10⁻⁴ J
Correct Answer: A) 1.25 × 10⁻² J
Explanation:
U = 0.5 * C * V² = 0.5 * (10 × 10⁻⁶ F) * (50 V)² = 5 × 10⁻⁶ * 2500 = 0.0125 J = 1.25 × 10⁻² J.
14) An electron and a proton enter a region of uniform electric field with the exact same initial kinetic
energy, moving perpendicular to the field lines. Which particle will experience a greater deflection from
its original straight-line path by the time they exit the field?
A) The proton
B) The electron
C) Both will undergo the exact same deflection
D) Neither will deflect because their kinetic energies are equal
Correct Answer: B) The electron
Explanation:
Both experience the same electrostatic force magnitude (F = eE). Deflection is inversely proportional to
mass under identical kinetic energy criteria when entering a field orthogonally. Since the electron's mass
is significantly smaller than the proton's, it exhibits much higher acceleration and greater deflection.
15) Two point charges, +q and +4q, are fixed at a distance L apart. At what distance from the charge +q
along the line joining them is the net electric field intensity equal to zero?
A) L/2
B) L/3
C) L/4
D) 2L/3
Correct Answer: B) L/3
Explanation:
Equate fields: k(q)/x² = k(4q)/(L-x)². Take the square root: 1/x = 2/(L-x) => L - x = 2x => 3x = L => x = L/3.