PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE

9, The electric field at a point due to apoint charge

TYPE I. POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE is 30 N/C, and the electric potential at
AND WORK DONE is 15 J/C. Calculate the distance of the that
point point
qand + qare located at points
the charge and the magnitude of the charge from
1. Two charges [Ans. 05 m; 083 x 10 C
A(0,0, - a) and B (0, 0, + a) respectively. How
much work is done in moving a test charge from 10. Apoint charge of 108 Cis situated at the origin
of co-ordinates. Find the potential
point P(7, 0, 0) to Q-3.0, 0)? between the points A (4, 4, 2) and B (1, 2.) dif erence
(CBSE 2009) [Ans. Zero] [Ans. - 15V)
2, If 100 Jof work must be done to move electric 11. Twenty seven charged water droplets each with a
charge equal to 4 C from a place where potential diameter of 2 mm and a charge of 10-12c Ccoalesce
is -10 V to another place where potential is Vvolt, to form a single drop. Calculate the potential of
find the value of V. [Ans. 15 V] the bigger drop. (Pb. Board 2001)
3. If 10J of work is to be done in moving a charge of [Ans. 81 V
-200 C from A to B, which of the two points is at 12. Acharge of 20 produces an electric field. Two
C
higher potential ?What is the potential difference ? points are 10 cm and 5 cm from this charge. FEind
[Ans. A ; - 0-05 V] the values of potentials at these points and
calculate work done to take an electron from one
point to the other.
TYPEI. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL|
[Ans. 1-8 x 10° V, 36 x 10° V, 2-88 x 10-13 n
4. The electric field at a point due to a point charge 13. Calculate the voltage required to balance an ojl
is 20 NC- and electric potential at that point is drop carrying 10 electrons, when located between
10JC-. Calculate the distance of the point from plates of a capacitor, which are 5 mm apart. Given
the charge and the magnitude of the charge. mass of drop = 3 x 10 1°kg, charge on electron
(CBSE 2006) =16x 10-19 Cand g =9-8 m/s. [Ans. 9-2 V)
[Ans. 05 m;0-55 x 10- C]
TYPE III. POTENTIAL GRADIENT
5. Two point charges qand-2 g are kept 'd ' distance AND ELECTRICFIELD
apart. Find the location of the point relative to
charge q at which potential due to the system of 14. An infinite plane sheet of charge density
charges is zero. (CBSE 2014) 10-8 Cm is held in air. In this situation how far
[Ans. d/3 from charge q] apart are two equipotential surfaces, whose p.d is
[Ans. 885 mm)
6. A charge of 24 uC is given to a hollow metallic 5V?
sphere of radius 0-2 m. Find the potential 15. An electric field of 20 NIC exists along the X
() at the surface of sphere axis in space. Calculate the potential difference
(iü) at a distance of 0-1 cm from the centre of (Va- VA) where the co-ordinates of Aand Bare
[Ans. 1-08 x 10º V, 1-08 x 10 VÊ given by
sphere.
(1)A(0, 0); B (4 m, 2 m)
7. Two point charges, one of + 100 uC and another
of - 400 uC, are kept 30 cm apart. Find the point (ii) A(4 m, 2 m) ; B (6 m, 5m)
of zero potential on the line joining the two (Ans, - 80 V;-40 V)
charges. [Ans. 6 cm from 100 C charge] 16. What is potential gradient at a distance of
8. Two point charges 4 u Cand -2 u Care separated 10-1m from the centre of the platinum nucleus ?
by a distance of 1m in air. Calculate at what point What is the potential gradient at the surface of the
on the line joining the two charges is the electric nucleus ? Atomic number of platinum is 78 and
potential zero ? (CBSE 2007)
radius of platinum nucleus is 5 x 10-1 m.
[Ans. 1-123 x 1017 Vm-1;4-5 x1021 Vm]
around the
trom 4uC| 17. If the potential in the region of space
point (- Im, 2m, 3m) is given by
 2/89
ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
V= (10 and
+ 5 y'- 3 2), calculate the Find the intial charge
to 0-084 C cm2
components of electric field at this point. three of the spherical conductor.
capacitance x 10-12 F
(Ans. E, =20 Vm; E, =- 20 Vm; [Ans. 22C: 5-56
E, = 18 Vm] PLATE CAPACITOR
TYPEVI. PARALILEL,
TYPE IV. ELECTROSTATIC consists of two
air capacitor
26. Aparallel plate diameter &cm. At what distance
POTENTIAL ENERGY circular plates of as to have the same
18. Two charges of magnitude 5 nC should the plates be held so
and - 2 are sphere of diameter
placed at points (2 cm, 0, 0) and (r cm, 0, nC0) in a
capacitance as that of a [Ans. 4 mm]
region of space. Where there is no other external 20 cm ?
construct
field. If the electrostatic potential of paper required to
energy of 27. Calculate the areacapacitor of 0-004 u F, if the
system is 0:5 uJ. What is the value of x? the a parallelplate paper be 2-5 and its
(CBSE 2008) [Ans. x=4 cm] dielectric constant of 4-52 x 10m)
thickness 0-025 mm. [Ans.
19. Two identical particles, each having a
charge of the two plates each of area
2x 104 C and mass of 10 g, 28. What distance should
are kept at a capacitor be placed in order
0:2 x 0-1m² of anaircapacitance
separation of 10 cm and then released. What would as a spherical
be the speeds of particles when the separation to have the same (Ans. 318 mm]
conductor of radius 0-5 m ?
becomes large ? [Ans. 600 ms] capacitor are 5 mm
20. Two point charges A andB of value + 15 u C and 29. The plates of a parallel plateplates are in vacuum.
+9 uCare kept 18 cm apart in air. Calculate the apart and 2min area. The
1000 volt is applied
work done when charge B is moved by 3 cm A potential difference of the capaci
towards A. [Ans. 1:35 J) across the capacitor. Calculate (i), (ii)electric
tance (ii) the charge on each plate and
21. Set up an arrangement of three point charges: intensity in the space between the two plates.
t 4, + 2q and xq separated by equal finite
distances so that electric potential energy of the
[Ans. 3-54 x 10- F;3-54 x 10 C;
2 x 105 NC-}
system is zero. What is x ?

2q TYPEVIL. SPHERICAL AND

[Ans. Charges + , + 2q and - 3 at vertices CYLINDRICAL CAPACITORS

of an equilateral triangle ; r =- 2/3] 30. A sphere of radius 0-03 m is suspended within a

22. Three charges - q. and - q are placed at equal hollow sphere of radius 0-05 m. If the inner
distances on a straight line. If the potential energy sphere is charged to a potential of 1500 volt and
of the system of three charges is zero, then what outer sphere is earthed. Find the capacitance and
is the ratio of :q ? [Ans. 1 : 4] the charge of the inner sphere.
[Ans. &33 pF, 1-25 x 10 C
TYPE V. CAPACITANCE
31. A co-axial cable used in transmission line has
23. Ndrops of mercury of equal radii and possessing inner radius of 0-1 mm and outer radius of
equal charges combine to form a big drop. 0-6 mm. Calculate capacitance per metre of the
cable. [Ans. 71-5 pF/m]
Compare the charge, capacitance and potential
of bigger drop with the corresponding quantities 32. A spherical capacitor has an outer sphere of
of individual drops. (Pb. Board 2001) radius 0-15 m and the inner sphere of diameter
[Ans. N; N; N3 0-2 m. The outer sphere is earthed and the inner
24. When electrons equal to Avogadro number are
sphere is given a charge of 6 u C. The space
between the concentric spheres is filled with a
transferred from one conductor to another, a material of dielectric constant 6. Calculate
potential difference of 10° V appears between capacitance and potential of inner sphere.
them. Calculate the capacity of the system of two
conductors. [Ans. 9-637 x 10-2 F] [(Ans. 2x 10- F;18x 10 V]
33. A cable consisting of a wire 3 mm in
25. A charged spherical conductor has a surface
insulated with 3 diameter is
density of 0-07 C cm. When the charge is mm thick dielectric of relative
increased by 4-4 C, the surface density changes permittivity 10. Calculate the capacitance of 1
km length of the cable.
[Ans. 0-506 uf]
 TYPE I
GROUPING, OFCAPACITORS 40. There are infinite
34 Two capaitors of capacitance 1 F. number
They
of
capacitors ineach of
are
capacitances 3 uF and 6 uF are
changed to potentials of 2 V and 5 V
such that number of connected
capacitors in first, rows,
third rows are
These two charged capacitors are respectively. respectively
......second,
I, 2, 4, 8
connected in rows of these capacitors are
Aand B, as shown in Fig. connected .The
series. Find the potential across each of the
capacitors now. (CBSE Sample Paper 2004) 2(Q).40. between
[Ans. 12V;6 V]
3S. If C =20uF,C,= 30 uF and C, = 15 uF
the equivalent capacitance
between points A and B.
of
the Detnetewrmorinke
insulated plate of C, be at a potential of 90 and the
V, one
plate of C, being earthed: What is the [Link] FIGURE 2(@),.40
the plates of C,. three capacitors being connected 1uF
in series. (CBSE 2015) [Ans. 20 V] HE
36. For the network shown in Fig.2(0).38, find the 1uF
potential difference between points A and B, and
that between B and C in the steady state. HHE
1uF

FIGURE 2(Q).38 HHHHE

1uF 1uF
3uF B
HE
A
3uF

[Ans. 2uF
1uF 41. Find the equivalent capacitance of the ladder bet.
ween points Aand B, Fig. 2(Q).41.
Ad
20 2 100 V 10 S2
FIGURE 2(@).41
2uF 2uF 2uF
[Ans. VAa =25 V, VRc= 75 V]
7. Two capacitors have a capacitance of 5 uF when HE HH
connected in parallel and 1-2 F when connected 1uF
1uF
in series. Calculate their capacitances.
[Ans. 2 F, 3 uF]
Connect three capacitors of 3uF,3uF and 6 F
such that their equivalent capacitance is 5 uF.
(Ans. Series combínation of 3 F [Ans. 2]
and 6 F in parallel with 3 uF] 42. Find out the potential difference across the plates
Find the equivalent capacitance between the of l Fcapacitor in Fig. 2(Q).42.
points PandQas shown in Fig. 2(Q).39. Given
C= 18 uF and C= 12 lF
6V FIGURE 2(@).42
FIGURE 2(Q).39
C C 3uF
D 4uF

C HHH
1uF 2uF 12uF
HE
E B

[Ans. 3-82 V]
[Ans. 11 F]
 291

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE arrangement of

4

itance of 210)47
43. Find the p.d. between points Aand Rof 48, What is the capac inFig
arange distance din air
ment shown in Fig. 2(0)43 plates of area Aat

FIGURE 2Q).43 FIGURE2@)47

2uF 4uF
A/d]
3e,
[Ans. dielectrics
filled with
capacitance ?
capacitor is
24 V' parallel plate What is its
[Ans. - 8 V] 49. A Fig.2(O).48.
4. The equivalent capacitance of the combination asshownin
between Aand Bin the given Fig. 2(0).44 is 4u F. FIGURE 2(@).48
FIGURE 2(Q).44
B
HH
20uF
()Calculate capacitance of capacitor C. K2
(i)Calculate charge on each capacitor if a 12 V
battery is connected across Aand B.
(iüi)What will be the potential drop across each
capacitor ? (CBSE 2009)
[Ans. 5 F;48 u C;2-4 V, 9-6 V]
45. The capacities of three capacitors are in
the ratio [Ans.
d(K + K,)
of 1:2:3. Their equivalent capacity ininparallel flow in sections
capacity series will
isgreater than their equivalenttheir individual Calculate thecharges
which
K is pressed.
by 60/11 pF. Calculate 50. 2(0).49, when key
capacitances. [Ans. 1pE, 2 pF, 3 pFI land 2 in Fig.
capacitors is
46. A combination of four identical capacitance
FIGURE 2(Q),49
shown in Fig. 2(0).45. If resultant
points P and E
the
of the combination between
of each capacitor.
is 1u F, calculate capacitance
FIGURE 2(@).45

K C1
C

[Ans. 4 F]
47. What is the capacitance of arangement of 4 plates
air in Fig. 2(0).46.
each ofarea Aat a distance d in ECC
FIGURE 2(@).46 Ans. BC,'C, +C,))
I d S1. In the circuit shown in Fig. 2(0).50, the emf of
each battery is E= 12 volt and the capacitances
are C, =2-0uFand C, = 3-0u [Link] the charges
which flow along the paths 1, 2, 3 when key K is
(Ans. 2G A/d] pressed.
 $5. If C; =3 pF and C, 2 pF, calculate
FYGURE 2(Q).50 valent capacitance of the network the eqi
2(0).54 between points A and B. shown in Fig.
FIGURE 2(@).54
K C1 C
1
2
A HE
C2 HE
B HE
[Ans. 24 C; -36 u C; 12 p C] C1
52. Calculate the equivalent capacitance between the
points Aand B in the combination shown in Fig.
2(Q).51. (Ans. 1pF)
56. Find the equivalent capacitance of the
nation of capacitors between the combi-
FIGURE 2(Q).51
Aand Bas shown in Fig. 2(0).55. Also points
9u F 8u F the total charge that flows in the circuit,calculate
when a
100V battery is connected between the points A
and B.

FIGURE 2(Q).55
B C=40uF C= 60uF
10u F A

C3= 60uF
(Ans. 1344 p FJ
53. Calculate the equivalent capacitance between the
points A and B in the combination shown in Fig.
2(Q).52.
=10uF| C= 10uF = 60uF
FIGURE 2(@).52

E
HHHHHHB
C,=5uF Cz=10uF Cg=15uF C4= 30uF
[Ans. 20 F;2x10g
57. Two capacitors C and C, are connected to a
battery of6 Vas shown in Fig. 2(Q).56. Find the
charge on cach capacitor.
54. The outer cylinders
[Ans. 15 F]
of two cylindrical FIGURE 2(Q).53 FIGURE 2(Q).56
capacitors of capa Cy =4uF Cz=6uf
citance 2-2 uFeach,
are kept in contact HE HH
and the inner
cylinders are
connected through a
wire. A battery of
e.m.f. 10 V is
connected as shown in Fig. 2(0).53. Find the total
charge supplied by the battery to the
cylinders. inner
[Ans. 44 C] [Ans. 24 uC;%pC]
 ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

IPEIN. ENERG) STORED IN A 62, Fid the

CAPACITOR AND I OSS OF total energy 293
network shown in Fig stored in
ENERGY ON SHARING CHARGES 2(O).39 Capacitors in the
s ASOO pFcapacitor is charged by a 100 Vbattery.
After sometime, the battery is disconnected. The
FIGURE 2(Q),59
capaitor is then connected to another 800 pF
cancitor. What is the clectrostaticenergy stored ? 6VT 1uf
(CBSE 2009)
[Ans. 2 x 106 J]
59. Net capacitance of three identical capacitors in
series is IuF. What will be their net capacitance
in parallel ? Find the ratio of energy stored in (CBSE Sample Paper
two configurations if they are connected to the 63. Net [Ans. 3-6 x2019-20)
105 J)
capacitance of
series isluF Whatthree
will beidentical capacitors in
same source.
(CBSE 2011)
[Ans. 9uF:1:9] if
connected in parallel ? Findtheir
the
net capacitance
stored in the two ratio of energy
60. Fig.2(0).57, shows a network of five capacitors configurations,
connected to the same if they are both
source. (CBSE 2011)
connected to a 100 V supply. Calculate the total
charge and energy stored in the network. 64. Three identical [Ans. 9u F;1:9)
capacitance 6 Fcapacitors C, C, and
each are connected to aC,12 ofV
3_uf FIGURE 2(@).57 battery as shown in Fig.2(0),60. Find
HH
C1 FIGURE 2(Q).60
3uF+ 2uF

12V C
2uF

H
100 V

() charge on cach capacitor

(CBSE Sample Paper 2008) (i)equivalent capacitance of the network
[Ans. 4 x 104 C;002 J] (ii) energy stored in the network of capacitors.
(CBSE 2009)
61. InFig. 2/0).58, the energy stored in C is 27 J.
Calculate the total energy stored in the system. [Ans. q =9, =36 C9) =72 C;9 uF:
E, =E, =108 J, E, =432 J)
charged by a 30 Vd.c.
FIGURE 2(Q).58 65. A20 u F capacitor is uncharged
Cz=2uF Supply and then connected across an potential
HE Calculate (i) the final
50 [Link] (i) initial and final
diff. across the
C=1uF Cg=3uf account for the difference
energies. How willyou
P HE R in energies ?
2-57 x1o J)
Cj-6uF [Ans. 8-57 V;9x 10-J,
parallel plate capacitors X and Yhave the
66. Two and same separation
between
same areaofplates
[Ans. 5940 J]
 69. 68.
between Anplates thcapacitance
e?
original 67.
between thickness
with mmThe
electric A
TYPE isopened
instored In (ii) (i)Calculate
incapacitance
a
the apat. twoCONDUCTOR
CAPACITOR
PARALLEL PLATE
BETWEEN found free the
and X
What pot. dielectricthem.
the value.
faces 3 plates X. spaces and circuit in [Ans.
of the
X
plates field mm A EFFECT
to both Y? isdiff. () has
What the plates slab be a the capacitance
of
En=3x parallel is of FIGURE
2(0).62 of
U,dielectric
. capacitors shown 5 between medium air
0-05 capacitor introduced of a THE the combination
ratio 2(@).61
FIGURE between
is parallel Calculate F,
m the is dielectric DIELECTRIC / OF capacitors, in 20 of
12V
of
apart, 10 new so to PLATES slab Fig. electrostatic the e, the
becomnes adjusted betweenthem. plate INTRODUCNG
F, plates is of
Vm- is =
of [CBSE 2008
(C)]
distance U,/U. 2(Q).62,
of Uj. 9-6 X plates
4,
a is constantand 3 the 4and
parallel [Ans.
mm) 8 The capacitor OF
constant
If (CBSE V, of u Fig.
established energy 2009) X [Link] and
between
yrdits3of distance
that the SLABA
[Ans.
5/13] switch the 2-4 energy andequivalent Y. 2(Q).61.
plates V;4:1]
5energy Ycontains
plate the are 4 stored is stored
put S
is
74.
73. 72. 71. 70.
requiredtothe 10-9ABCD capacitance
Corner
minimumexceeddielectric
corners 10' voltage A permittivitycitance (iii) placing th e
Determineinsulating 3000 The 0-2dielectric The the
the introduced
capacitor, When capacity between apart. The introduction
plate capacitor place ifaacross capacitor. is an
C, parallel potential m² plates inserted
uncharged
TYPE Vm. [Ans. dielectric potential area capacity
D
4 isa V. and a were An two dielectric of the
to x 10% rating afer the When of
constant has slab [Ans. ? the
ebonite are metal
transfer 10C
centre A,square constant plate material it Take of circular between After
B XI. ofarea For 531 1-77 placingof sheetdifference () the
parallel
to
between
to is of plates. 8 capacitor. of metal
and of capacitor theconstantcapacitance difference distance beinsulating 3-71 K=
found copper, slab
cm 1500 plate. plates
TYPICAL 50ofsafety, of x a its plate in [Ans. removing
Crespectively. of of pF? x increased
of capacitor plate
the a and dielectric
plate 3 10l0F;
dielectric.
10-10 (i) is0-01 plates original the Calculate
x2-5. plates (K =
charge side 1 the placed the t10-14F;4-45
hat what diameter 0-5 (iii) ()
8 weand kV charge decreases between plates 2) ofhe
Square. of m material. material4 cm of V, what
x0-2 like using is F;
is dielectric insulator
of
between of by the were
beforethickness
plates.
(Ans.627 x of PROBLEMS 10 m. required to 5:31 material between thick anvalue. distance of
would its thick cach a1200 would charging
2 Charges strength. the be2-66 capacitor
on them air
3-2
a capacity. parallel (ii)
C mm introduced in Find
Calculate
x [Ans.19 never fieldto a
designed x10-7 x (v) each 1000 to sheet thcapacitor e parallel mm be isand V,
10 are material
strength (iv) the is Calculate to
x introduced
the 1350
be
after battery, t
=
to 10-1 absolute plates is 0-01 [Ans. between thick 10-12 15 the 0-01m
the
placed restore new theIf plate
107 J] work C of have What C;3; capa platebefore [Link], of plate m V p.d the p.d
from cm) with Fm] an m. is 5) is F
2 of of
at x a
ELECTROSTATICPOTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE 295

q moves from a point Pto

a point
pontcharge
the path
PORS in a uniforn electric field
6. A
Salong FIGURE 2(0).64
positive direction of r-axis. Calculate
along
F donein this process, when co-ordinates of
work
are (a, b, 0),, (2 a,
0, 0), (a, - b, 0) and
respectively. (Ans. -qEa]
(0. 0. 0) C
clectricfield outside a charged long straight
The
76. 1000 Vm-,and is directed B
wireisgiven
by E = HH
C4
outwards. What is the sign of the charge on the
wire ?If two
points Aand Bare situated such that
0-2 m and ra = 0-4 m, find the value of
TA =
(Ans. +charge ;- 693-1 V] 80. Acapacitor is made of a flat plate of area Aand a
(Vs-V). second plate havinga stair like structure as
2(0).63 shows a parallel plate capacitor of in Fig. 20).65. The width of each stair is shown
a and
77. Fig.
platearea, and plate separationd. Its entire space the height is b. Find the capacitance of the
Glled with three different dielectric slabs of assembly.
same thickness. Find the equivalent capacitance
of the arTangement. FIGURE 2(0).65

FIGURE
2(Q).63
A

3E
dr3

dr3
Ans,Co4(34*+6bd +2b2,]
3d (d + b(d + 2b)
81. Find the capacitance of three parallel plates, each
of area A m and separated by d, and d, metre.
B The inbetween spaces are filled with dielectrics
of relative permittivity E, and E2. The
permittivity of free space is Eo
Ans, C = 3e, AK,K,K,
dK,k, +K,Ky+Kk})] |Ans,C=E;¬;¬,4
78. A slab of material of dielectric constant K has 82. Find the equivalent capacitance between the
the same area as the plates of a parallel plate terminals Aand Bin he given Fig. 2().66. Take
capacitor but has thickness d/2, where d is the
C= 1 uf.
separation between the plates. Find the
expression for the capacitance when the slab is FIGURE 2(@).06
inserted between the plates.
A H
CRSE 2013, 2010) A C I1
79. Five capacitors of capacitances C, =Cg=lF:
C,= C= C = 2 uF are connected as shown in
Fig 2(Q).64. Calculate equivalent capacitance of
the system between points A and B. [Ans. 0-62 uF]