Problem 1: What is the magnitude of the force of attraction between an iron nucleus

bearing charge +26e and its innermost electron, if the distance between them is 1.0 × 10 -
12m?

Solution

We know that charge on electron = e = 1.6×10-19c.

Since both an electron and a proton have charge of same magnitude but different sign, therefore,
Charge on the 26 protons of the Iron nucleus = 26e= 26 × 1.6 × 10-19c.
Distance between the nucleus and innermost electron = r = 1 × 10-12m
the electrostatic force between the nucleus and innermost electron can be found by Coulomb law.

Problem 2: Charges 2µC, 3µC and 4µC are place in air at the vertices of an equilateral
triangle of sides 10 cm. What is the magnitude of the resultant force acting on the 4µC
charge?

Solution: We calculate the individual forces due to the remaining two charges and then find the
vector sum of them.

So let q1 = 2µC
q2 = 4µC
By Coulomb law, the electrostatic force on q2 is

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Now force due to the second charge of 3µC,

To find the resultant of these forces, we add the x and y-components of these force (remember
the angles are 60° each)

And

Magnitude of the resultant force is given by,

Direction of the resultant force can be calculated by,

Therefore, θ = 83°
(Note: When you change the vertices of 2µC and 3µC charges, it will affect the direction of the
resultant force, too. Change these vertices and solve the problem yourselves!)

Problem 3: A charge q is placed at the center of a line joining two charges each of
magnitude Q. Prove that the system of three charges will be in equilibrium if q = -Q/4.

Solution: Charge q is at the center of two equal charges. Hence, it

experiences equal and opposite forces from the two charges which
cancel each other. However, the remaining two charges each of
magnitude Q experience forces from each other and charge q.
Therefore, the system will be in equilibrium if the forces on the
two charges cancel each other.

Consider the diagram. The two charges are each of magnitude Q

are at point A and B. Charge q is at the center of both of them and
its distance from both charges is r. Now forces on the charge at

point A due to charge q and Q at B are and ,

respectively.

Similarly, forces on the charge at B due to charge q and Q at A are and .

So for the system to be in equilibrium,

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 + =
Cancelling the common terms K, Q and r2

Rearranging and simplifying

Problem 4: Two opposite charges of magnitude 2 × 10 -7 are placed 15 cm apart. What is the
magnitude and direction of electric intensity (E) at a point mid-way between the charges?
What force would act on a proton placed there?

Solution:

Consider the figure. Since both the charges are opposite,

therefore, electric intensity at any point between the charges
would have the same direction, likewise, the midpoint.
We know that the electric intensity at a certain point p due to
a point charge q is given by,

.
So the resultant electric field intensity due to both charges is,

Since the distance between the charges is 15 cm and the point is mid-way between them,
therefore, its distance from both charges is 15/2 = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m. Put r = 0.075 m,

Now to find the force on a proton placed at this point, we have,

Put the values,

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Problem 5: Two positive point charges of 15 × 10 -10C and 13 × 10 -10C are placed 12 cm
apart. Find the work done in bringing the two charges 4 cm closer.

Solution

Since the charges have same sign, therefore, the force between them is repulsive. The force will
increase as they come closer to one another. So, we have to find the average force and then apply
the formula for work done, that is, W = F.d
Force between the charges when they are 12 cm apart.

When they are brought 4 cm closer, their distance is 12 - 4 = 8 cm, and hence force of repulsion
at the final position

The average force acting on the charges when they are brought 4 cm close is (F1 +F2)/2.
Therefore,
Fav = (121.88 + 274.22) × 10-8 = 198.05 × 10-8 N.
Now W = F.d, therefore, W = 198.05 × 10-8 . 0.04 = 7.92 × 10-

Problem 6: A hallow sphere is charged to 14 µC. Find the potential (a) at its surface (b)
inside the sphere (c) at a distance of 0.2 m from its surface. The radius of the sphere is 0.3
m.

Solution

The charge can be considered as point charge centered at the center of the sphere. We apply the

equation to find the potential due to the charge.

(a) Potential on the surface of the sphere is

(b) Potential inside the sphere is

Potential at a distance of (0.2 + 0.3 = 0.5)m from the center of the sphere is

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Problem 7: If 280 J of work is done in carrying a charge of 2 C from a place where the
potential is -12 V to another place where potential is V. Calculate the value of V.

Solution

We know that, so we calculate the change in the potential difference first.

If V (as given) is the potential at point B, then, ΔV = V-(-12)=V+12. Substitute this value,
V + 12 = 140 ⇒ V = 128 volts

Problem 9: The electric field at a point due to a point charge is 26 N/C and the electirc
potential at that point is 13 J/C. Calculate the distance of the point from the charge and
magnitude of the charge.

Solution

To find the distance of the point from the charge, we use the formula V = Er (where r is the
distance of the point from the point charge.) Put the values

Now . Put the values,

Problem 10: Two point charges of 8µC and -4µC are separated by a distance of 10 cm in the
air. At what point on the line joining the two charges is the electric potential zero?

Solution

The point at which the potential is zero is the one on which the potential of the two opposite
charges is equal. Suppose this point is at a distance x from 4µC charge. Then it would be at a
distance 10-x cm from 8 µC charge. Therefore,

OR

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So the -4 µC charge is at a distance of 3.3 cm from point of zero potential and hence the 8 µC
charge will be at a distance of 10 - 3.3 = 6.6 cm from the point.

Problem 11: An electron with an initial speed of 29 × 10 5 m/s is fired in the same direction
as a uniform electric field of 80 N/C. How far does the electron travel before brought to rest
and turned back?

Solution

Since electron has negative charge, therefore, it will be retarted in the given conditions. Using

the equation and then equating with F = ma, we get,

OR

Here the negative sign accounts for the direction of the acceleration (retardation).

Now using the equation , we have,

Problem 12: Two capacitors of capacitances 4µF and 8 µF are first connected (a) in series
and then (b) in parallel. In each case external voltage source is 200 V. Calculate in each case
the total capacitance, the potential drop across each capacitor and charge on each
capacitor.

Solution
(a)
We know that when capacitors are connected in series, then

Therefore, the equivalent capacitance in series combination will be

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Now the charge Q on each capacitor is, Q = CeV, therefore,
Q = 2.66 × 10-6×200 = 532 × 10-6 = 5.32 × 10-4C.
To calculate the potential drop across each capacitor, we use V = Q/C

(b)

When the capacitor are connected in parallel, then the equivalent capacitance Ce is
Ce = C1 + C2 = 8 + 4 = 12 µF

Voltage across both capacitors connected in parallel is same; the voltage applied.
V1 = V2 = 200 V

Charges on the capacitors can be calculated with Q = CV

Q1 = C1V = 4 × 10-6× 200 = 800 × 10-6 = 800 µC
Q2 = C2V = 8 × 10-6× 200 = 1600 × 10-6 = 1600 µC

Problem 14: If C1 = 14 µF, C 2 = 20 µF and C 3 = 12 µF and the insulated plate of C 1 be at a

potential 100V while one plate of C 3 being earthed. What is the potential differene between
the plates of C 2 when the three capacitors are connected in series.

Solution

Earth is referred to be at 0 potential. Thus the potential applied to

the system of capacitors is 100 V.

We find the equivalent capacitance and the charge on the

capacitors. In series combination of capacitors, the equivalent
capacitance is

Therefore, the equivalent capacitance of the combination is

The charge on each capacitor will be same, given by,

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The potential difference between the plates of C2

Problem 15: Find the charge of 5 µF capacitor in the circuit shown:

Solution

Let C1 = 3 µF
C2 = 2 µF and
C3 = 5 µF
From the figure, C2 and C3 are in parallel. Therefore, by the formula for
the equivalent capacitance of capacitors in parallel,
C2,3 = 2 + 5 = 7 µF

Now this capacitor is in series with C1 and by the formula for the
equivalent capacitance for series combination

So the equivalent capacitance of the circuit is

1/Ce = 1/3 + 1/7 = 10/21
OR Ce = 21/10 = 2.1 µF.

To calculate charge on the equivalent capacitance of the circuit, Ce,

Q = 2.1 × 6 = 12.6 µF

The voltage drop across the capacitance C2,3 = 12.6/7 = 1.8 V

This is the voltage across the parallel combination of C2 and C3. Now we can calculate charge on
C3 .
Q3 = 5 × 1.8 = 9.0 µF

Problem 17: A 6 µF capacitor is charged to a P.D 120 V and then connected to an

unchanged 4 µF capacitor. Calculate the P.D across the capacitors.

Solution

When the capacitor is at a potential 120 V, its charge is,

Q = CV ⇒ Q = 6 × 10-6 × 120 = 720 × 10-6F.
When it is connected to the uncharged capacitor, then the equivalent capacitance of the
combination is
Ce = C1 + C2. Put the values,
Ce = 6 + 4 = 10 µF. So the resultant voltage is V = Q/Ce = 72 V

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Problem 18: Two capacitors of capacitance 8 µF and 10 µF are connected in series to a
source of P.D of 180 V. The capacitors are disconnected from the supply and are connected
in parallel with each other. Find the new potential difference and charge on each capacitor.

Solution

The equivalent capacitance when the capacitors are connected in series with the battery is
1/Ce = 1/8 + 1/10 = 18/80
So Ces = 80/18 µF
The charge on each capacitor is
Q = CesV = 80/18 × 180 = 800 C.
Total charge on the system of capacitors = 800 + 800 = 1600 µC.

As the capacitors are now connected in parallel, their equivalent capacitance is given by
Cep = 8 + 10 = 18 µF
Therefore, potential across the capacitors = V = (total charge on the capacitors)/Cep = 1600/18 =
88.8 V
The charge on the individual capacitors in the parallel combination is,
Q1 = 8 × 88.8 = 710.4 µC
Q2 = 10 × 88.8 = 888 µC

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