Physics Class 12 – Chapter 1
Electric Charges and Fields – Notes
1. Electric Charge
Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter responsible for electric force. Charges
are of two types:
● Positive charge (+)
● Negative charge (−)
Key Properties of Charge
1. Additivity – Net charge = algebraic sum of all charges.
2. Conservation – Total charge of an isolated system remains constant.
3. Quantisation – Charge exists in discrete packets.
Formula:
q=neq=ne
where e = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C and n is an integer.
2. Methods of Charging
1. Charging by Friction – Rubbing transfers electrons.
2. Charging by Conduction – Direct contact transfers charge.
3. Charging by Induction – Without contact; involves earthing.
3. Coulomb’s Law
It states that the force between two point charges is:
● Directly proportional to product of charges.
● Inversely proportional to square of distance.
F=kq1q2r2F=kr2q1q2
Where
k = 9 × 10⁹ Nm²/C² in vacuum.
Vector Form
F⃗=14πε0q1q2r2r^F=4πε01r2q1q2r^
4. Principle of Superposition
The net force on a charge due to multiple charges is the vector sum of individual forces.
5. Electric Field
Electric field at a point is force per unit positive test charge.
E=FqE=qF
SI Unit: N/C or V/m
Due to Point Charge
E=kqr2E=kr2q
Direction:
● Away from positive charge.
● Toward negative charge.
6. Electric Field Lines
Properties:
● Start from + charge, end at − charge.
● Never intersect.
● Tangent gives direction of field.
● Density shows strength.
● Perpendicular to conductor surface.
7. Electric Dipole
Two equal and opposite charges separated by small distance.
Dipole Moment
p=q×2ap=q×2a
Vector from − to +.
Electric Field on Axial Line
E=14πε02pr3E=4πε01r32p
Electric Field on Equatorial Line
E=14πε0pr3E=4πε01r3p
8. Torque on Dipole
τ=pEsinθτ=pEsinθ
Potential Energy:
U=−pEcosθU=−pEcosθ
9. Electric Flux
Measure of electric field lines passing through a surface.
Φ=E⃗⋅A⃗=EAcosθΦ=E⋅A=EAcosθ
SI Unit: Nm²/C
10. Gauss’s Law
Total electric flux through a closed surface equals enclosed charge divided by ε₀.
Φ=qencε0Φ=ε0qenc
Applications:
● Infinite line charge
● Infinite plane sheet
● Spherical shell
11. Electric Field Due to Infinite Line Charge
E=λ2πε0rE=2πε0rλ
12. Electric Field Due to Infinite Plane Sheet
E=σ2ε0E=2ε0σ
13. Electric Field Due to Spherical Shell
● Outside: behaves like point charge.
● Inside: E = 0
Important Constants
● e=1.6×10−19Ce=1.6×10−19C
● ε0=8.85×10−12C2/Nm2ε0=8.85×10−12C2/Nm2
● k=9×109Nm2/C2k=9×109Nm2/C2
PHYSICS CLASS 12 – CHAPTER 1
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
PAGE 1 – MCQs (Basic Concepts)
1. SI unit of electric charge is:
a) Volt
b) Coulomb
c) Ampere
d) Ohm
2. Charge on one electron is:
a) 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
b) 1.6 × 10¹⁹ C
c) 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ C
d) 1.6 C
3. Like charges ______ each other.
4. Electric field unit is:
a) N/C
b) J
c) W
d) kg
5. Electric field lines never:
a) End
b) Start
c) Intersect
d) Curve
6. Quantisation of charge formula is:
7. A proton has charge:
a) +e
b) –e
c) 0
d) 2e
8. Coulomb’s law depends on:
a) Distance
b) Charges
c) Medium
d) All
9. Field lines emerge from:
10.Direction of E due to negative charge is ______.
PAGE 2 – MCQs (Conceptual)
1. Two equal charges are placed 2 m apart. If distance becomes 4 m, force becomes:
2. Electric dipole moment direction is from:
3. Unit of electric flux is:
4. Field inside a conductor is:
5. Gauss law is related to:
6. Field at center of dipole on equatorial line is:
7. Superposition principle deals with:
8. Torque formula is:
9. ε₀ is called:
10.Electric field is a ______ quantity.
PAGE 3 – Very Short Answer (1 Mark)
1. Define electric charge.
2. State conservation of charge.
3. Write Coulomb’s law formula.
4. What is electric field?
5. Define electric flux.
6. Write value of ε₀.
7. What is quantisation of charge?
8. Define dipole moment.
9. Unit of dipole moment?
10.What is test charge?
PAGE 4 – Short Answer (2 Marks)
1. Properties of electric field lines.
2. Methods of charging.
3. Difference between conductor & insulator.
4. State superposition principle.
5. Define electric dipole with diagram.
6. What is earthing?
7. Write formula of torque.
8. Define Gauss law.
PAGE 5 – Short Numericals
1. Two charges 2 C and 3 C are 2 m apart. Find force.
2. Find electric field due to 5 C at 3 m.
3. Dipole moment for q = 2 C, distance = 4 m.
4. Flux when E = 10 N/C, A = 2 m².
5. Charge enclosed = 4 C. Find flux using Gauss law.
PAGE 6 – Medium Numericals
1. Charges 4 C & 6 C at 5 m distance. Find force.
2. Electric field at 2 m from 10 C charge.
3. Dipole moment for ±3 C, separation 0.2 m.
4. Torque if p = 4, E = 5, θ = 30°.
5. Line charge formula question.
PAGE 7 – Theory (3 Marks)
1. Explain Coulomb’s law with limitations.
2. Derive electric field due to point charge.
3. Electric field lines properties.
4. Define dipole and derive moment formula.
5. Explain superposition principle.
PAGE 8 – Gauss Law (3–4 Marks)
1. State and explain Gauss law.
2. Field due to infinite line charge.
3. Field due to plane sheet.
4. Field inside spherical shell.
5. Gaussian surface meaning.
PAGE 9 – Long Answer (5 Marks)
1. Derive electric field on axial line of dipole.
2. Derive electric field on equatorial line.
3. Explain torque on dipole with derivation.
4. Electric flux derivation.
5. Field due to spherical shell (inside & outside).
ase 1 – Charging by Friction
Riya rubs a plastic scale with a wool cloth. After rubbing, the scale attracts small paper
pieces. The wool loses electrons while the plastic gains electrons.
Questions
1. What type of charge appears on the plastic scale?
2. Name the method of charging used.
3. Why do paper pieces get attracted even though they are neutral?
4. Which fundamental property of charge is observed here?
Case 2 – Coulomb’s Law
Two point charges +2 C and +4 C are placed 3 m apart in air. The force between them is
calculated using Coulomb’s law.
Questions
1. Write the formula of Coulomb’s law.
2. Is the force attractive or repulsive? Why?
3. What happens to force if distance becomes 6 m?
4. Name the constant used in Coulomb’s law.
Case 3 – Superposition Principle
Three charges are placed on a straight line: +q, −q, +q at equal distances. A test charge is
placed near them.
Questions
1. What principle is used to find net force?
2. Is force a scalar or vector quantity?
3. What will happen if one +q is removed?
4. Why do we add forces vectorially?
Case 4 – Electric Field Concept
A small positive test charge is brought near a large positive charge. It experiences a force
away from the large charge.
Questions
1. Define electric field.
2. What is the direction of field near a positive charge?
3. Write formula of electric field due to point charge.
4. State SI unit of electric field.
Case 5 – Electric Field Lines
A diagram shows field lines starting from a positive charge and ending on a negative charge.
The lines are dense near charges and never cross.
Questions
1. What do dense field lines indicate?
2. Can field lines intersect? Why?
3. Where do field lines start and end?
4. What does the tangent to a field line show?
Case 6 – Electric Dipole
Two equal and opposite charges are placed 10 cm apart forming a dipole. The dipole is
placed in a uniform electric field.
Questions
1. Define electric dipole.
2. Write formula of dipole moment.
3. Direction of dipole moment is from ___ to ___.
4. What happens when dipole aligns with field?
Case 7 – Torque on Dipole
A dipole of moment p is placed in an electric field E at an angle θ. It experiences torque and
tries to rotate.
Questions
1. Write formula of torque.
2. At which angle is torque maximum?
3. At which angle is torque zero?
4. What is the physical effect of torque on dipole?
Case 8 – Electric Flux
A flat surface of area 2 m² is placed in a uniform electric field of 10 N/C perpendicular to the
surface.
Questions
1. Define electric flux.
2. Write formula of flux.
3. Calculate flux for the given case.
4. What happens if surface is parallel to field?
Case 9 – Gauss’s Law
A closed spherical surface encloses a charge of +5 C. The electric flux through the surface is
calculated using Gauss’s law.
Questions
1. State Gauss’s law.
2. Does flux depend on radius of sphere?
3. Write formula relating flux and enclosed charge.
4. What happens if enclosed charge is zero?
Case 10 – Spherical Shell
A hollow metallic spherical shell carries charge +Q. A student checks electric field inside and
outside the shell.
Questions
1. What is electric field inside the shell?
2. How does field behave outside the shell?
3. Which law explains this result?
4. Why is field zero inside conductor?
1. Coulomb’s Law – Statement & Explanation
State Coulomb’s Law in electrostatics. Write its mathematical expression in scalar and
vector form. Explain the meaning of each term and state the limitations of the law.
2. Electric Field Due to a Point Charge – Derivation
Derive the expression for electric field intensity due to a point charge at a distance r in
vacuum. Also mention the direction of the electric field for positive and negative charges.
3. Electric Field Lines
Explain electric field lines in detail. Draw neat diagrams and write any five properties of
electric field lines. Also explain what the density of field lines represents.
4. Electric Dipole & Dipole Moment
Define an electric dipole. Derive the formula for electric dipole moment. Explain its
direction and SI unit with a neat labelled diagram.
5. Electric Field on the Axial Line of a Dipole –
Derivation
Derive the expression for the electric field at a point on the axial line of an electric
dipole. Show all steps clearly and mention the direction of the resultant field.
6. Electric Field on the Equatorial Line of a Dipole –
Derivation
Derive the expression for the electric field at a point on the equatorial line of an electric
dipole. Compare its magnitude with the axial field at large distances.
7. Torque on an Electric Dipole in Uniform Electric Field
Derive the expression for torque acting on an electric dipole placed in a uniform electric
field. Also derive the expression for potential energy of a dipole and explain stable and
unstable equilibrium.
8. Electric Flux & Gauss’s Law
Define electric flux and derive its formula. State Gauss’s Law and explain its physical
significance. Give one example where Gauss’s law is useful.
9. Electric Field Due to an Infinite Plane Sheet of
Charge
Using Gauss’s law, derive the expression for electric field due to an infinite plane sheet of
charge. Draw the Gaussian surface and explain each step.
10. Electric Field Due to a Charged Spherical Shell
Using Gauss’s law, derive expressions for electric field:
● (a) Outside the spherical shell
● (b) On the surface
● (c) Inside the spherical shell
Draw proper diagrams and explain the physical meaning of each result.
1. State and Explain Coulomb’s Law
Write the statement, formula in scalar and vector form, define permittivity, and mention
limitations.
2. Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
Derive the expression for electric field intensity at a distance r from a point charge. Show
direction for +q and –q.
3. Properties of Electric Field Lines
Draw diagrams and write any five properties. Explain why field lines never intersect.
4. Define Electric Dipole and Dipole Moment
Explain with neat diagram, formula p=q×2ap=q×2a, SI unit, and direction.
5. Electric Field on Axial Line of a Dipole
Complete derivation with diagram and final formula. Mention direction of field.
6. Electric Field on Equatorial Line of a Dipole
Derivation + comparison with axial field for large distance.
7. Torque on Electric Dipole in Uniform Field
Derive τ=pEsinθτ=pEsinθ.
Also explain stable and unstable equilibrium.
8. Electric Flux and Gauss’s Law
Define electric flux, write formula, state Gauss’s Law, and explain its physical significance.
9. Electric Field Due to Infinite Plane Sheet of Charge
Derivation using Gauss’s Law with diagram.
10. Electric Field Due to Charged Spherical Shell
Using Gauss’s Law, derive electric field:
● Outside the shell
● On the surface
● Inside the shell (E = 0) and explain why.