1

SVPrecis_12
th
_Physics_Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

1. A charge
o
q is taken from P to A, P to B and P to C in which case work done is
maximum?



2. Figure given below shows three points A, B and C in a uniform electrostatic field. At
which of the points will the electric potential be maximum?







3. Derive an expression for the electric potential at a point along the axial line of an electric dipole. At a point due to a point charge,
the values of electric field intensity and potential are 32N/C and 16J/C respectively. Calculate (i) magnitude of the charge and (ii)
distance of the charge from the point of observation. Ans
10
(i) 8.89 10 , (ii) 0.5m C

(


4. A proton is moved in a uniform electric field of
4
1.7 10 / N C

between two points A and B

separated by a distance of 0.1n
a. What is the potential difference between the points?
b. How much work is done in the above process?
5 24
(i) 1.7 10 , ( ) 2.72 10 Ans volt ii J

(


5. If a point charge q + is taken first from A to C and then from C to B of a circle drawn with another
point charge +q as centre, then along which path more work will be done?

6. What is the work done in moving a 2 c point charge from corner A to corner B of a square
ABCD (as shown in the fig) when a 10 c charge exists at the centre of the square?








7. Find the ratio of linear momenta acquired by an o -particle and a proton accelerated through the same potential.
8 :1 Ans
(


8. In a hydrogen atom, the electron and proton are bound at a distance of about 0.53
A
.
a. Estimate the potential energy of the system in eV, taking the zero of potential energy at infinite separation of the
electron from proton.

2

b. What is the maximum work required to free electron, given that its kinetic energy in the orbit is half the magnitude of
potential energy obtained in (a)? Ans | | ( ) -27.17eV, (b) -13.585ev a
9. Two point charges, each of
9
3 10 C

located at the two vertices of an equilateral triangle of side 20 cm. How much work must
be done to bring a charge of
9
10 C

upto to the third corner of the triangle from infinity?

7
. 2.7 10 Ans J

(


10. Three point charges q, Q and q are placed at equal distance on a straight line. If the potential energy of the system of three
charges is zero, then what is the ratio of : ? Q q [Ans. 1:4]
11. Find the electrostatic potential energy of the configuration of four charges +q, -q, +q and q placed at the four corners A,B,C and D
of a square of side r.
( )
2
2 4
1
.
4 60
q
Ans
r t
(

(
(


12. In the electrostatic field of two point charges Q and Q. Mark two points A and B which are at the same electric potential.
13. The figure given below shows a network of capacitors where the numbers indicate the capacitance in microfarads. Find the value
of capacitance C if the equivalent capacitance between A and B is to be 2 F .
[Ans. C = 32/7F]







14. Three capacitors
1 2 3
, and C C C are connected to a battery of 6V as shown in the fig. Given below. Find the charges on the three
capacitors. [Ans:







15. X and Y are two parallel plate capacitors having the same area of plates and same separation between the plates. X has air
between the plate and Y contains a dielectric medium of K=5.
a. Calculate the potential difference between the plate of X and Y.
b. What is the ratio of electrostatic energy stored in X and Y.
[Ans. ) 10 and 2 , (b) 5:1] a V V








3

16. Find the total energy stored in the capacitors in the network as
shown in the fig. Given that
1 5 2 3 4
1 , 2 C C F C C C F = = = = =





17. A 4 F capacitor is charged by a 200V supply. It is then
disconnected from the supply and is connected to another
uncharged 2 F capacitor. How much electrostatic energy of the first capacitor is lost in the form of heat and electromagnetic
radiation? [Ans.
2
2.67 10 J

]
18. A parallel plate capacitor with air between he plates has a capacitance of 8pF. What will be the capacitance if the distance
between the plates is reduced by half and the space distance between the plates is reduced by half and the space between them
is filled with a substance of dielectric constant 6.
[Ans. 96 pF]
19. A parallel plate capacitor is filled with two dielectrics as shown in fig. given below. What is its capacity?
[Ans
( )
1 2
2
o
A
K K
d
e
+ ]





20. A parallel plate capacitor is filled with dielectrics as shown fig, given below. What is its capacitance?
[Ans.
( )
0 1 2
1 2
2 Ak k
d k k
e
+
]






21. Two capacitors of 25 F and 100 F are connected in series to a source of 120V. keeping their charges unchanged, they are
separated and connected in parallel to each other. Find out
a. Potential difference between the plates of each capacitor.
b. Energy loss in the process. [Ans. (i) 38.4 , (ii) 0.052] V
22. Two capacitors of capacitance 6 and 12 F F are connect in series with a battery,. What will be the battery voltage if the
voltage across 6 F capacitor is 2 volts ? [Ans. 3 V]
23. In a van de Graff generator, a spherical metal shall is to be a
5
15 10 electrode. This dielectric strength of the gas surround the
electrode is
7 1
5 10 vm

. What is the minimum radius of the spherical shell require.[Ans. 3cm]

24. Obtain the equivalent capacitance of the network in the given for 300V supply, determine the charge and voltage across each
capacitors.

4

[Ans.
18
1 1
8
2 3
2 3 4 4
200
3
10 , 10
10
50 ; 200
eq
C
Q C V
Q Q C
V V V Q V V

=
= =
= =
= = = =



25. The graph shows the variation of voltage V across the plates of two capacitors A and
B versus increase of charge Q stored on them. When of the two capacitors has higher
capacitance? Give reason for your answer. [Ans A has higher
capacitance]



26. The graph shows the variations of charge q various potential difference V for two
capacitors
1 2
and . C C the two capacitors have same plate separation but the plate area of
2
C is double than that of
1
C . Which
of the lines in the graph correspond to
1 2
and C C and why? [Ans. line A
represents
2
C , line B represents
1
C ]


27. Calculate the equivalent capacitance between P and Q in network shown below.





28. A parallel plate capacitor with each plate of area A and separation d is charged to a potential difference V. the battery used to
charge its is then disconnected. A dielectric slab of thickness d and dielectric constant k is now placed between the plates. What
change, if any will take place in
a. Charge on the plates.
b. Electric field intensity between the plates?
c. Capacitance of the capacitor?
Justify your answer in each case.
29. A parallel plate capacitor of plate separation d is charged to a potential difference V. A dielectric slab of thickness d and dielectric
constant K is introduced between the plates while the battery remains connected to plates.
a. Find the ratio of energy stored in the capacitor after and before the dielectric slab is introduced. Give the physical
explanation for this change in stored energy.
b. What happens to the charge on the capacitor?
30. A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of 2F. A slab of dielectric constant 5 is inserted between the plates and the capacitor
is charged to 100 V and then isolated.
(a) what is the new potential difference, if the di-electric slat is removed?
(b) How much is required to remove the dielectric slab? [Ans. 500V: 0.2J]