LEARNING EXPRESS

CLASS: XII
SESSION: 2024- 25
SUBJECT: PHYSICS

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 CHAPTER – 1
ELECTRIC FIELDS
1 - Mark Questions
1. What does q1 + q2 = 0 signify in electrostatics?
2. Two equal balls having equal positive charge ‘q’ coulombs are suspended by two
insulating strings of equal length. What would be the effect on the force when a plastic
sheet is inserted between the two?
3. Force between two-point charges kept at a distant d apart in air is F. If these charges
are kept at the same distance in water, how does the electric force between them
change?
4. Two electrically charged particles, having charges of different magnitude, when placed
at a distance ‘d’ from each other, experience a force of attraction ‘F’. These two
particles are put in contact and again placed at the same distance from each other.
What is the nature of new force between them?
Is the magnitude of the force of interaction between them now more or less than F?
5. A charged particle is free to move in an electric field. Will it always move along an
electric field?
6. A positive point charge (+ q) is kept in the vicinity of an uncharged conducting plate.
Sketch electric field lines originating from the point charge on to the surface of the
plate.
7. A point charge placed at any point on the axis of an electric dipole at some large
distance experiences a force F. What will be the force acting on the point charge when
its distance from the dipole is doubled?
8. Consider the situation shown in figure. What are the signs of q1 and q2? If the lines are
drawn in what is the ratio q1/q2?

9. Figure shows three charges + 2q, –q and + 3q. Two charges + 2q and –q are
enclosed within a surface ‘S’. What is the electric flux due to this configuration through
the surface ‘S’?

10. Two charges of magnitudes – 2Q and + Q are located at points (a, 0) and (4a, 0)
respectively. What is the electric flux due to these charges through a sphere of radius
‘3a’ with its centre at the origin?

11. The electric field strength at a distance r on the equatorial line of dipole is E.
If the distance of the point from the dipole is doubled, how will the electric field
intensity be affected?

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12. An arbitrary surface encloses a dipole. What is the electric flux through this surface?
13. If the radius of the Gaussian surface enclosing charge q is halved, how does the
electric flux through the Gaussian surface change?
14. What is an ideal dipole?
15. What orientation of an electric dipole in a uniform electric field corresponds to its (i)
stable and (ii) unstable equilibrium?

Mixed type for 1 mark

1. What is the value of minimum force acting between two charges placed at 1 m apart
from each other:
(a) ke2 (b) ke (c) ke/4 (d) Ke2/2
2. For a point charge, the graph between electric field versus distance is given by : -

3. In the process of charging, the mass of the negatively charged body-

(a) Increases (b) Decreases
(c) Remains Constant (d) None of the above
4. On charging a neutral Balloon its size -
(a) Increases (b) Decreases
(c) Remains same (d) No relation between charge & size
5. Net electric flux from a closed surface does not depend upon distribution of
__________ inside the surface.
6. A proton and an alpha particle enter into a region of uniform electric field. The ratio of
the force on the proton to that on the alpha particle is ________________.
7. Two identical metallic spheres of exactly equal masses are taken. One is given a
positive charge Q Coulombs and the other an equal negative charge. Their masses
after charging are different. [T/F]
8. Quantisation of charge can be neglected at macroscopic level. [T/F]
9. Electrostatic force at a point due to multiple charges is equal to algebraic sum of
forces due to all charges at that point. [T/F]
10. It is possible that two similarly charged bodies can attract each other. [T/F]
Answer for mixed type:
1. A 2. B 3. A 4.Increases 5.Charges 6. 1:2 7. True
8. True 9. False 10. True
2 and 3-Mark Questions
1. A particle of mass m and carrying charge – q1 is moving around a charge + q2 along a
circular path of radius r. Prove that the period of revolution of the charge – q1 about +
q2 is given by
163 0 mr 3
T
q1q2
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2. 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?
Q
[q  ]
4
3. Three-point charges of + 2 µC, –3 µC and –3µC are kept at the vertices A, B and C
respectively of an equilateral triangle of side 20 cm as shown in figure (a). What
should be sign and magnitude of the charge to be placed at the midpoint (M) of side
BC so that the charge at A remains in equilibrium?


4. A charge Q located at a point r is in equilibrium under the combined electric field of
 
three charges q1, q2, q3. If the charges q1, q2 are located at points r1 and r 2
 
respectively, find the direction of the force on Q, due to q3 in terms of q1, q2, r 1, r 2 and

r.
5. An electron falls through a distance of 1.5 cm in a uniform electric field of magnitude
2.0 × 104 NC–1 figure (a). The direction of the field is reversed keeping its magnitude
unchanged and a proton falls through the same distance figure (b). Compute the time
of fall in each case. Contrast the situation (a) with that of ‘free fall under gravity’.
[(a)2.9 × 10–9 s (b) 1.25 × 10–7 s]

6. Obtain the formula for the electric field due to a long thin wire of uniform linear charge

density λ without using Gauss’s law. [ E  ]
2 0 y
7. A charge is distributed uniformly over a ring of radius ‘a’. Obtain an expression for the
electric intensity E at a point on the axis of the ring. Hence show that for points at
large distances from the ring, it behaves likes a point charge.
kqx 1 qx
[E  2   2 .]
(x  a )2 3/ 2
4 0 ( x  a 2 )3/ 2

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  
8. An electric dipole of dipole moment p is placed in a uniform electric field E . Write the

expression for the torque  experienced by the dipole. Identify two pairs of
perpendicular vectors in the expression. Show diagrammatically the orientation of the
dipole in the field for which the torque is (i) maximum (ii) half the maximum value
(iii) zero.
9. Two small identical electrical dipoles AB and CD, each of dipole moment ‘p’ are kept
at an angle of 120° as shown in figure. What is the resultant dipole moment of this

combination? If this system is subjected to electric field ( E ) directed along + X
direction, what will be the magnitude and direction of the torque acting on this?

10. (a) An infinitely long positively charged wire has a linear charge density λ Cm–1.
An electron is revolving around the wire as its centre with a constant velocity in a
circular plane perpendicular to the wire. Deduce the expression for its kinetic energy.
(b) Plot a graph of the kinetic energy as a function of charge density.

5-Mark Questions
1. The electric field components in figure area Ex  x1/ 2 , E y  Ez  0, in which
  800 N / cm 2 . Calculate (i) the flux ∅E through the cube and (ii) the charge within the
cube. Assume that a = 0.1 m

2. An electric field is uniform, and in the positive x direction for positive x and uniform
with the same magnitude in the negative x direction for negative x. It is given that
 
E  200 iˆ NC 1 for x  0 , E  200 iˆ NC 1 for x  0 , and
A right circular cylinder of length 20 cm and radius 5 cm has its centre at the origin
and its axis along the x-axis so that one face is at x = + 10 cm and the other is at
x = – 10 cm.
(i) What is the net outward flux through each flat face?
(ii) What is the flux through the side of the cylinder?
(iii) What is the net outward flux through the cylinder?
(iv) What is the net charge inside the cylinder?
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3. You are given a charge + Q at the origin O (Refer figure). Consider a sphere S with
centre (2, 0, 0) of radius 2 m . Consider another sphere of radius 2 m centred at
the origin. Consider the spherical caps (i) PSQ (ii) PRQ (iii) PWQ, with normal outward
to the respective spheres, and (iv) the flat circle PTQ with normal along the
x-axis.
(a) What is the sign of electric flux through each of the surface (i)-(iv)?
(b) What is the relation between the magnitudes of fluxes through surfaces (i)-(iv)?
(c) Calculate the flux through the surface (ii) directly. Assume that the area of the cap
(ii) is A.

4. (a) Define electric flux. Write its SI units.

(b) State and explain Gauss law. Find the outward flus due to point charge +q placed
at the centre of a cube of side ‘a’. Why is it found to be independent of the size and
shape of the surface enclosing it? Explain.

5. A small conducting sphere of radius ‘r’ carrying a charge +q is surrounded by a large

concentric conducting shell of radius R on which a charge +Q is placed. Using
Gauss’s law, derive the expression for the electric field at a point ‘x’.
(i) between the sphere and the shell (r < x < R)
(ii) outside the spherical shell.

Topic wise questions

ELECTRIC FORCE:
1. Two identical small non conducting balls are charged by rubbing against each other.
They are suspended from ceiling rod through two strings of length L = 20 cm each.
The separation between the suspension points being d = 5 cm. In equilibrium the
separation between the balls is r = 3 cm. Find the mass m of each ball and the tension
in the strings. The charge on each ball has magnitude 2 × 10 C.
[7.96 𝑔, 7.72 × 10 𝑁]
2. Two positively charged small particles, each of mass 1.7 × 10 kg and carrying a
charge of 1.6 × 10 C are placed apart at a separation r. If each one experiences a
repulsive force equal to its weight, find their separation. [0.117 m]

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3. Two free particles carrying charges +q and + 4q are placed apart at a distance l. Find
the magnitude, sign, and location of a third charge which makes the system in
equilibrium. [ , ]
4. Three Charges of magnitude 100μC are placed at the corners A, B and C of an
equilateral triangle of side 4m. If the charge at A and C are positive and the one at
point B is negative, what is the magnitude and direction of total force acting on
charge at C? [ 5.625 N ]
5. A charge Q is to be divided on two small objects. What should be the value of the
charges on the objects so that the force between the objects will be maximum.
𝑄 𝑄
[ 2, 2]
6. Three charges q1, q2 and q3 are shown in figure. Determine the net force acting on
charge q1. The charges and separation are given as 𝑞 = −1.0 × 10 C, 𝑞 =
3.0 × 10 C, and 𝑞 = −2.0 × 10 C, 𝑟 = 15 cm, 𝑟 = 10 cm and θ = 30°.

[ 2.64 N]
7. Two negative charges of unit magnitude and a positive charge q are placed along a
straight line. At what position and for what value of q will the system be in equilibrium?
Check whether it is stable, unstable, or neutral equilibrium. [ mid-point, 0.25 C]
8. A charge Q is placed at each of two opposite corners of a square and a charge – q is
placed at each of the remaining two corners. If the resultant force on Q is zero, how
are Q and q related. [Q = −2√2 𝑞]
9. Two balls of the same radius and weight are suspended on threads so that their
surface is in contact. A charge of 𝑞 = 4 × 10 C is given to the balls which makes
them repel each other and diverge to an angle of 60°. Find the mass of the balls if the
distance of balls from the point of suspension to the centre of ball is 20cm. Find the
density of the material of the balls if the angle of divergence becomes 54° when the
balls are immersed in kerosene of density 800kg m–3. dielectric constant of kerosene
is 𝜀 = 2 [1.592g, 2559kg/m3]
10. Two equal positive point charges are separated by a distance 2a. A point test charge
is located in a plane which is normal to the line joining these charges and midway
between them.
(a) Calculate the radius r of the circle of symmetry in this plane for which the force on
the test charge has a maximum value.
(b) What is the direction of this force, assuming a positive test charge?
[a/ √2 , radial and away from the Centre]
11. A positive point charge 50μC is located in the plane xy at the position vector 𝑟 = 2𝚤̂ +
3𝚥̂, where 𝚤̂ and 𝚥̂ are the unit vectors of the x and y axis. Find the vector of the electric
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 field strength 𝐸⃗ and its magnitude at the point with radius vector 𝑟⃗ = 8𝚤̂ − 5𝚥̂. Here 𝑟⃗
and 𝑟⃗ are expressed in meter. [4.5 KV/m]
12. Four-point charges, each of charge +q, are rigidly fixed at the four corners of a square
planar soap film of side ‘a’. The surface tension of the soap film is 𝜎. If the system of

charges and planar film are in equilibrium, then side of square is given as 𝑎 = 𝑘 .
/
Find the values of k and N. [ 1+ , 3]
√
13. Two identical beads each having a mass m and charge q. When placed in a
hemispherical bowl of radius R with frictionless, non-conducting walls, the beads
move, and at equilibrium they are a distance R apart as shown. Determine
the charge on each bead.

/
[ ]
√
ELECTRIC FIELD

1. A simple pendulum has a bob of mass m = 40 gm and a positive charge 𝑞 = 4 × 10

C. It makes 20 oscillations in 45 s. A vertical upward electric field of magnitude 𝐸 =
2.5 × 10 N/C is switched on in space. How much time the simple pendulum will now
take to complete 20 oscillations. [ T=52 s]
2. A block of mass m with a positive charge q is placed on a smooth horizontal table
which terminates in a vertical wall as shown in figure. The distance of the block from
the wall is d. A horizontal electric field E is switched on in the space in rightward
direction. Consider elastic collisions with the wall, find the time-period of resulting
oscillatory motion of the block. Analyse the motion and state if it is a simple harmonic
motion.

[𝑇=2 ]
3. Two horizontal parallel conducting plates are kept at a separation d = 1.5 × 10 m
apart one above the other in air as shown in figure. The upper plate is maintained at a
positive potential of 1.5kV while the other plate is earthed which maintains it at zero
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 potential. Calculate the number of electrons which must be attached to a small oil drop
of mass m = 4.9 10 kg between the plates to maintain it at rest. Consider density of
air is negligible in comparison with that of oil. If the potential of above plate is suddenly
changed to –1.5 kV, what will be the initial acceleration of the charged drop? Also
calculate the terminal velocity of the drop if its radius is r = 5.0 × 10 m and
the coefficient of viscosity of air is 𝜂 = 1.8 × 10 Ns/m2.

[ 3, 2 gm, 5.7 x 10 𝑚. 𝑠 ]
4. A uniform electric field of intensity E = 10 V/m exist in vertically downwards direction
in a region. A particle of mass m = 0.01kg and charge q = 10 C is suspended by an
inextensible thread of length l = 1m. The particle is displaced slightly from its mean
position and released. Calculate the time-period of its oscillation. What minimum
velocity should be given to the particle at rest from its equilibrium position so that it
completes a full circle in vertical plane? Calculate the maximum and minimum tension
in the thread in its circular motion in vertical plane. [ 0.6 s, 23.42 m/s, 6.59 N, 0]
5. Figure shows an assembly of deflecting plates A and B of an ink-jet printer which
causes moving ink droplets to deflect at desired displacements by continuously
varying electric field between the plates. An ink drops with a mass m = 1.3 × 10 kg
and a negative charge of magnitude q = 1.5 × 10 C enters the region between the
plates, initially moving along the x-axis with speed 𝑣 = 18m/s. The length of plates is
L = 1.6 cm. The plates are connected with a varying voltage and thus produce an
electric field at all points between them. Assume that field E for some duration is
constant and it is acting in downward direction as shown and has a magnitude of E =
1.4 × 10 N/C, find the vertical deflection of the drop at the far edge of the plate? As
the gravitational force on the drop is very small relative to the electrostatic force acting
on the drop, it can be neglected for this analysis.

[ 6.4× 10 𝑚]
6. A uniform electric field E is established between two parallel charged plates as shown
in figure. An electron enters the field symmetrically between the plates with a speed u.

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 The length of each plate is l. If the electron does not strike any of the plates, find the
angle of deviation of the electron as it comes out of the field at the other end of plates.

[ 𝑡𝑎𝑛 ]
7. In a region an electric field is setup with its strength E = 15 N/C and it makes an angle
of 30° with the horizontal plane as shown in figure-1.64. A ball having a charge 2C,
mass 3kg and coefficient of restitution with ground 0.5 is projected at an angle of 30°
with the horizontal along the direction of electric field with speed 20 m/s. Find the
horizontal distance travelled by ball from first hit with the ground to the second time
when it hits the ground.

[ 70√3 m]
8. In a hydrogen atom an electron of mass 9.1 × 10 kg revolves about a proton in
circular orbit of radius 0.53 Å. Calculate the radial acceleration and angular velocity of
electron. [ 8.9 x 10 𝑚. 𝑠 , 4.1 × 10 s-1]
9. An electron is released with a velocity of 5 × 106 m/s in an electric field of 103 N/C in
same direction of its motion. What distance would the electron travel and how much
time would it take before it is brought to rest? [ 0.07 m, 2.9 × 10 s]
10. A particle is thrown vertically upward from ground level with a speed of 5√5 m/s in a
region of space having uniform electric field. As a result, it attains a maximum height
h. The particle is then given a positive charge q and it reaches the same maximum
height h when thrown vertically upward with a speed of 13 m/s. Next, the particle is
given a negative charge q. Ignoring air resistance, determine the speed with which the
negatively charged particle must be thrown vertically upward so that it attains the
same maximum height h. [ 9 m/s ]
11. A particle of charge q and mass m is suspended from a point on the wall by a rigid
massless rod of length L = 3 m as shown. Above the point of suspension another
particle is clamped which has a charge –q at a distance L from point of suspension.
On slight displacement from the mean position, the suspended particle is observed to
executes SHM. Find the time-period of SHM. (For calculations consider Kq2 = 2mgL2

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 and g = 𝜋 ) [4 s ]

12. A non-conducting ring of mass m and radius R is charged as shown in figure and
placed on a rough horizontal non-conducting plane. The charge per unit length on the
charged quadrants of ring is l. At time t = 0, a uniform electric field 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸 𝚤̂ is switched
on and the ring starts rolling without sliding. Determine the magnitude and direction of
friction force acting on the ring when it starts rolling. [ 𝜆𝑅𝐸 ]

13. In the given arrangement find the electric field at C in the figure. Here the U-shaped
wire is uniformly charged with linear charge density l.

[0]
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14. A thin half-ring of radius R = 20cm is uniformly charged with a total charge q =
0.70nC. Find the magnitude of the electric field strength at the curvature centre of this
half-ring. [ 100 V/m]
15. Given an equilateral triangle mode up of three rods each of length l. Find electric field
strength at the centroid of triangle. The linear charge density on the sides of triangle is
as shown in figure.

[ ]
16. A thin wire ring of radius r carries a charge q. Find the magnitude of the electric field
strength on the axis of the ring as a function of distance l from the centre. Investigate
the obtained function at l >> r. Find the maximum strength magnitude and the
corresponding distance l. [( ) /
, , , ]
√ √
17. A circular wire-loop of radius a carry a total charge Q distributed uniformly over its
length. A small length dL of the wire is cut off. Find the electric field at the centre due
to the remaining wire.

[ ]
18. An electron is constrained to move along the central axis of a ring of radius R having
uniformly distributed charge q. Show that the electrostatic force exerted on the
electron can cause it to oscillate through the centre of the ring with an angular
frequency of 𝜔 = 𝑒𝑞/4𝜋𝜀 𝑚𝑅 , where m is the mass of the electron.
19. Two-point charges Q1 and Q2 are positioned at points 1 and 2. The field intensity to
the right of the charge Q2 on the line that passes through the two charges varies
according to a law that is represented in the figure. The field intensity is assumed to
be positive if its direction coincides with the positive direction on the x-axis. The
distance between the charges is l.
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 (a) Find the sign of each charge
(b) Find the ratio of the absolute values of the charges
(c) Find the value of b where the field intensity is maximum.
[(a) Q2 is negative and Q1 is positive, (b) , (c) / ]

20. Two wires AB & CD, each 1m length, carry a total charge of 0.2 microcoulomb each
and are placed as shown in figure. The ends B & C are separated 1m distance.
Determine the value of electric intensity at the mid-point P in terms of unit vector 𝚤̂ and
𝚥̂.

[ (−839𝚤̂ + 1980𝚥̂)𝑉/𝑚 ]
21. A solid sphere of radius R has a charge Q distributed in its volume with a charge
density 𝜌 = 𝑘𝑟 , where k and a are constants and r is the distance from its centre. If
the electric field at r = R/2 is 1/8 times that at r = R, find the value of a. [2]
22. The diagram shows a uniformly charged hemisphere of radius R. It has volume
charge density 𝜌. If the magnitude of electric field at a point A located a distance 2R
above its centre is E, then what is the electric field at the point B which is 2R below its

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 centre as shown in figure.

[ −𝐸 ]
23. An infinitely long solid cylinder of radius R has a uniform volume charge density r. It
has a spherical cavity of radius R/2 with its centre on the axis of the cylinder, as
shown in the figure. Find the magnitude of the electric field at the point P, which is at a
distance 2R from the axis of the cylinder.

[ ]
24. Figure shows two uniformly and oppositely charged spheres with volume charge
density +𝜌 and −𝜌 are intersecting with some overlapped neutral region with their
centres at a separation a, find the electric field strength in the overlapped region
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 between the two spheres.

[ ]
25. An infinite non-conducting sheet having surface charge density 𝜎 has a hole of radius
R in it. An electron with charge e and mass m is released on the axis of the hole at a
distance √3𝑅 from the centre. What will be the velocity with which it crosses the plane
of sheet. [2 ]
OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS (Only one option correct)
1. A particle of charge – q and mass m move in a circle of radius r around an infinitely
long line charge of linear charge density +𝜆. Then time-period will be given as

2. Electric charge is uniformly distributed along a long straight wire of radius 1mm. The
charge per cm length of the wire is Q coulomb. Another cylindrical surface of radius 50
cm and length 1m symmetrically encloses the wire as shown in the figure. The total
electric flux passing through the cylindrical surface is:

3. A copper (density of Cu = 𝜌 ) ball of diameter d is immersed in oil of density 𝜌

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. What is the charge on the ball if, in a homogeneous electric field E directed vertically
upward, it is suspended in the oil? 𝑘 ≡ 𝜋𝑑

4. A particle of mass m and charge q is fastened to one end of a string of length l. The
other end of the string is fixed to the point O. The whole system lies on a frictionless
horizontal plane. Initially, the mass is at rest at A. A uniform electric field in the
direction shown in then switched on. Then:

5. A small ball of mass m and charge + q tied with a string of length l, rotating in a
vertical circle under gravity and a uniform horizontal electric field E as shown in figure.
The tension in the string will be minimum at an angle:

6. If uniform electric field 𝐸⃗ = 𝐸 𝚤̂ + 2𝐸 𝚥̂ , where 𝐸 is a constant, exists in a region of

space and at (0, 0) the electric potential V is zero, then the potential at (x0, 0) will be:

7. Two metal pieces having a potential difference of 800V are 0.02m apart horizontally. A
particle of mass 1.96 × 10 kg is suspended in equilibrium between the plates. If e is
the elementary charge, then charge on the particle is:

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8. A sphere of radius 2R has a uniform charge density 𝜌. The difference in the electric
potential at r = R and r = 0 from the centre is:

9. A sphere of radius R carries charge density r proportional to the square of the

distance from the centre such that 𝜌 = 𝐶𝑟 , where C is a positive constant. At a
distance R/2 from the centre, the magnitude of the electric field is:

10. The work done in bringing a 20C charge from point A to point B for distance 0.2m is
2J. The potential difference between the two points will be:

11. In an electric field region, the electric potential varies along the x axis as shown in the
graph. The x components of the electric field in the regions for the intervals PQ and
QR as marked in the graph, are given as:

12. Two spheres A and B of radii 17 cm each and having charges of 1 and 2 coulombs
respectively are separated by a distance of 80 cm. The electric field at a point on the
line joining the centres of two spheres is approximately zero at some distance from
the sphere A. The electric potential at this point is:

13. Electric potential at any point in a region is given as 𝑉 = −5𝑥 + 3𝑦 + √15𝑍 In this
region the magnitude of the electric field is:

14. A charge +Q is uniformly distributed in a spherical volume of radius R. A particle of

charge +q and mass m projected with velocity 𝑉 from the surface of the spherical
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 volume to its centre inside a smooth tunnel dug across the sphere. The minimum
value of 𝑉 such that it just reaches the centre (assume that there is no resistance on
the particle except electrostatic force) of the spherical volume is:

15. A charge +q is fixed at each of the points x = x0, x = 3x0, x = 5x0 …upto infinite, on
the x-axis and a charge –q is fixed at each of the points x = 2x0, x = 4x0, x = 6x0 …
up to infinite. Here x0 is a positive constant. Take the electric potential at a point due
to a charge Q at a distance r from it to be Q/(4pe0r). Then, the potential at the origin
due to the above system of charges is:

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