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Physics
NCERT Exemplar Problems
Chapter

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

2.1

(d)

2.2

(c)

2.3

(c)

2.4

(c)

2.5

(a)

2.6

(c)

2.7

(b), (c), (d)

2.8

(a), (b), (c)

2.9

(b), (c)

2.10

(b), (c)

2.11

(a), (d)

2.12

(a), (b)

2.13

(c) and (d)

2.14

More.

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2.15

Higher potential.

2.16

Yes, if the sizes are different.

2.17

No.

2.18

As electric field is conservative, work done will be zero in both the

cases.

2.19

Suppose this were not true. The potential just inside the surface
would be different from that at the surface resulting in a potential
gradient. This would mean that there are field lines pointing inwards
or outwards from the surface. These lines cannot at the other end be
again on the surface, since the surface is equipotential. Thus, this
is possible only if the other end of the lines are at charges inside,
contradicting the premise. Hence, the entire volume inside must be
at the same potential.

2.20

C will decrease

1
CV 2 and hence will increase.
2
Electric field will increase.
Charge stored will remain the same.
V will increase.
Energy stored =

2.21

Consider any path from the charged conductor to the uncharged

conductor along the electric field. The potential will continually decrease
along this path. A second path from the uncharged conductor to infinity
will again continually lower the potential further. Hence this result.
U

qQ

r
+ + + +
+ +

The charge q displaced would perform oscillations. We cannot conclude

anything just by looking at the graph.

4 0

R2 + z2

2.23

V=

2.24

To find the potential at distance r from the line consider the electric
field. We note that from symmetry the field lines must be radially
outward. Draw a cylindrical Gaussian surface of radius r and length l.
Then
l
r

E.dS = 0 l
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+ +

The variation of potential energy with z is shown in the figure.

4 0R 1 + z R

+ +

U=

+ + + +
+ +

2.22

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Or E r 2 rl =

2 0 r
Hence, if r0 is the radius,
Er =

r
ln 0
2 0
r

V (r) V (r0 ) = E.dl =

r0

For a given V,
ln

r
2 0
=
[V(r) V(r0 )]
r0

r = r0 e

20Vr0 / +2 0V(r) /
.e

The equipotential surfaces are cylinders of radius

r = r0 e

2.25

20 [V(r)V(r0 )]/

Let the plane be at a distance x from the origin. The potential at the
point P is

q
1/ 2

4 0 ( x + d /2 )2 + h 2

If this is to be zero.
1
1/2

q
1/ 2

4 0 ( x d /2 )2 + h 2

x
1

1/ 2

( x + d /2 )2 + h 2
( x d /2 )2 + h 2
Or, (x-d/2)2 + h2 = (x+d/2)2 + h2
x 2 dx + d 2 /4 = x 2 + dx + d 2 /4
Or, 2dx = 0
x=0
The equation is that of a plane x = 0.

2.26

h
-q

2q
-d/2

o x

Let the final voltage be U: If C is the capacitance of the capacitor without

the dielectric, then the charge on the capacitor is
Q1 = CU
The capacitor with the dielectric has a capacitance C. Hence the charge
on the capacitor is

Q2 = U

= CU 2

The initial charge on the capacitor that was charged is

Q0 = CU0
From the conservation of charges,
Q0 = Q1 + Q2
Or, CU0 = CU + CU2
U 2 + U u0 = 0

U =

1 1 + 4U 0
2

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d/2

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=

1 1 + 624
4

1 625
volts
4
As U is positive
=

U =

2.27

625 1 24
=
= 6V
4
4

When the disc is in touch with the bottom plate, the entire plate is a
equipotential. A change q is transferred to the disc.
The electric field on the disc is

V
d

V
r 2
d
The force acting on the disc is
q = 0

V
V2
q = 0 2 r 2
d
d
If the disc is to be lifted, then

V2
r 2 = mg
d2

V =

2.28

U=

mgd 2
0r 2

qd q d qu q d qu q d

4 0 r
r
r

9109
1.6 10 19
15
10

) {(1 3 )

1 4
14
= 2.304 1013 = 7.68 10 J
9 9

= 4.8 105 eV = 0.48 MeV = 5.11 104 (mnc2)

2.29

( 2 3 )(1 3 ) ( 2 3 )(1 3 )

Before contact

Q1 = .4 R 2

Q2 = .4 (2 R 2 ) = 4 ( .4 R2 ) = 4Q1
After contact :
Q1 + Q2 = Q1 + Q2 = 5Q1 ,

=5( .4 R 2 )
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They will be at equal potentials:

Q1 Q2
=
R 2R
Q2 = 2Q .

3Q1 = 5 .4 R 2
Q1 =

5
10
.4 R 2 and Q 2 =
.4 R 2
3
3

1 = 5 3 and 2 =

2.30

Initially : V

5
.
6

1
and V1 + V2 = E
C

C1

K2
()

K1
()

V1 =3 V and V 2 =6V

Q1 = C1V1 = 6C 3 =18 C

C3

E = 9V

C2

Q2 = 9 C and Q3 = 0
Later : Q2 = Q2 + Q3
with C2V + C3V = Q2

V =

Q2
= (3 2) V
C2 +C3

Q2 = (9 2) C and Q3 = (9 2) C

z
2.31

Q
R 2

dU =

Q
.2 r dr

4 0

r 2 + z2

r
U =

4 0

2rdr
r 2 + z2

R
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=

R
2 2
2
2
r
+
z
=
R 2 +z 2 z

O
4 0
4 0

2Q
R 2 +z 2 z
2

4 0R

q1

2.32

x 2 + y2 + (z d )

q1
2

x + y + (z d )

q2

x 2 + y2 + (z + d )

=0

q1

q2

x + y + (z + d )

q2

Thus, to have total potential zero, q1 and q2 must have opposite

signs. Squaring and simplifying, we get.

( q q )2 + 1
x 2 + y2 + z 2 + 1 2 2
(2zd ) + d 2 = 0
( q1 q2 ) 1

q12 + q12
This is the equation of a sphere with centre at 0,0, 2d 2
2
.
q1 q1

Note : if q1 = q2 Then z = 0, which is a plane through mid-point.

2.33

U=

1
4 0

q 2
q
+

( d x ) (d x )

O
2

U=

q
4 0

2d

(d

x2

dU q 2 .2d
2x
=
.
2
dx
4 0
d x2

U0 =

2q 2
4 0d

dU
= 0 at x = 0
dx
x = 0 is an equilibrium point.

2
d2U 2dq 2

dx 2 4 0 d 2 x 2

8x 2
2
2 3
(d x )

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2dq 2
1
2
2

=
2
2 3 2 d x
4 0 (d x )

8 x 2

At x = 0
d 2U 2dq 2 1
2
6 (2d ) , which is < 0.
2 =
dx
4 0 d

Hence, unstable equilibrium.

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