Chapter 1
Assignment 1
1. Can a body have a charge of 0.8 × 10-19 C? Justify your answer. ( No, n = 0.5, quantization
of charge)
2. A polythene piece rubbed with wool is found to have a negative charge of 32×10 -7 C. (i)
Estimate the number of electrons transferred. (ii) Is there a transfer of mass from wool to
polythene? [(i) n = 2 ×1012 (ii) yes]
3. The electrostatic force of repulsion between two positively charged ions carrying equal
charges is 3.7 × 10-9 N, when they are separated by a distance of 5A˚. How many electrons
are missing from each ion? (n = 2)
4. Suppose the spheres A and B have identical sizes. A third sphere of the same size but
uncharged is brought in contact with the first, then brought in contact with the second, and
finally removed from both. What is the new force of repulsion between A and B? Given
distance between spheres is 0.5 m and the charge on the spheres is 6.5 ×10 -7C.
(F = 5.7 × 10-3 N)
5. Two insulated charged copper spheres A and B have their centres separated by a distance
of 50 cm. (i) What is the mutual force of electrostatic repulsion if the charge on each is
6.5×10-7 C. (ii) What is the force of repulsion if each sphere is charged double the above
amount, and the distance between them is halved (iii) the two spheres are placed in water?
Given dielectric constant of water = 80)
[(i) F = 1.5 × 10-2 N (ii) F = 24×10-2 N (iii) F = 1.9 ×10-4 N]
6. Two identical charges, Q each, are kept at a distance ‘r’ from each other. A third charge
‘q’ is placed on the line joining the above two charges such that all the three charges are in
equilibrium. What is the magnitude, sign and position of the charge ‘q’? ( x = r/2, sign of
charge ‘q’ is opposite to that of charge ‘Q’ and q = Q/4 )
7. Two identical spheres, having charges of opposite sign attract each other with a force of
0.108 N when separated by 0.5 m. The spheres are connected by a conducting wire, which
then removed, and thereafter they repel each other with a force of 0.036 N. What were the
initial charges on the spheres? ( q1 = 3 × 10-6 C and q2 = 10-6 C )
8. Charges of +5μC, +10μC and -10μC are placed in air at the corners A, B and C of an
equilateral triangle ABC having each side equal to 5 cm. Determine the resultant force on
the charge at A. (F = 180 N and the resultant force is parallel to BC)
9. Four equal point charges each 16 μC are placed on the four corners of a square of side 0.2
m. Calculate the force on any one of the charges. ( F = 110.3 N)
10. Two equal positive charges, each of 2 μC interact with a third positive charge of 3μC
situated as shown in figure. Find the magnitude of force experienced by the charge of 3μC.
(F = 3.456 ×10-3 N)
11. A charge ‘q’ is placed at the centre of the line joining two equal charges ‘Q’. Shown that
the system of three charges will be in equilibrium if q = - Q/4. (q = - Q/4)
12. Four point charges 2μC, -5μC, 2μC and -5μC are located at the corners of a square ABCD
of side 10 cm. What is the force on a charge of 1μC placed at the centre of the square?
(F = Zero)