Solution

CHAPTERWISE SAMPLE PAPER: ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL & CAPACITANCE

Class 12 - Physics
Section A
1.
(d) A potential difference appears between the two cylinders when inner cylinder is charged.
Explanation:
λ
When the charge is given to inner cylinder, then an electric field is produced between cylinders which is given by E = 2π ε0 r

and due to this a potential difference is developed between two cylinders.

2. (a) 8μC
Explanation:
At steady state, the capacitor is open-circuited so no current flows through the 10-ohm resistor. So current will flow across 2
ohm resistor is
V 2.5 2.5
I = = = = 1Amp
R+r 2+0.5 2.5

So P.D. across 2Ω resistance V = RI = 2× 1 = 2 Volt.

As a battery, capacitor and 2Ω branches are in parallel. So P.D. will remain the same across all three branches.
As current does not flow through the capacitor branch so no potential drop will be across 10Ω
So P.D. across 4μF capacitor = 2 Volt
charge on the capacitor plate is given by:
[q = C V ] = 4μF × 2 = 8μC

3.
U
(d) 2

Explanation:
2
1 q
Initial energy stored in the capacitor, U = 2
CV
2
=
2C

When the battery is disconnected, charge q = constant. Another capacitor connected across the first capacitor is in parallel with
it. So,
Ceq = C + C = 2C
Final energy stored by the system of two capacitors,
2 2
q q 1
U = = = u
2Ceq 2×2C 2

4.
(d) 1

2
CV
2

Explanation:
1 2
U = CV
2

5.
(d) Potential difference
Explanation:
As the battery remains connected with the capacitor, the potential difference remains constant.

6.
(d) all of these
Explanation:
A positively charged body can have +ve, -ve, or zero potential.

7.
C1 V
(c) C1 + C2

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 Explanation:
The common potential difference across the parallel combination of two capacitors,
C1 V1 + C2 V2
′
V =
C1 + C2

But V1 = V, V2 = 0
C1 V
′
∴ V =
C1 + C2

8.
(b) 160 MW
Explanation:
qV 6
W 4×4×10
P = = = W
t t 0.1

= 160 MW

9.
(c) 9 × 10-3 J
Explanation:
q1 q2
potential energy = k
r
−6 −6

= 9 × 10
9 1× 10

1
×1× 10 −3
= 9 × 10 J oule ​

10.
(c) relative permittivity
Explanation:
As we know that,
ε
k=ε = = Relative permittivity
r
ε0

11.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

12. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
As there is no electric field inside the conductor, and so no energy inside it.
13.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation:
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

14.
3C
(c) 4

Explanation:

The capacitors across DE and EF are short-circuited. So the equivalent circuit is

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 1 1 1 4
= + =
Ceq 3C C 3C

3C
∴ Ceq =
4

15.
(c) 2 : 3
Explanation:
1 1 1 1 3
= + + =
CPT SR C C C C

1 1 1 2
= + =
CPQR C C C

C C 5C
CPR = CPTSR + CPQR = 3
+
2
=
6

1 1 1 1 1 4
= + + + =
C C C C C C
PTSRQ
C 5C
CP Q = C + =
4 4
CPR

CPQ
=
5C

6
×
4

5C
=
2

3
=2:3

Section B
16. Charge, q = CV = 3 × 200 = 6 × 10-14 × 10-12 C
When the separation increases from 2 mm to 6 mm, the capacitance becomes
′ d 2 −14 −14
C = ⋅ C = × 3 × 10 = 10 F
′ 6
d

i. P.D. between the plates becomes

q −12
′ 6×10
V = = = 600 V
C −14
10

ii. Initial energy stored in the capacitor,

1 2 1 −14 2 −10
U = CV = × 3 × 10 × (200) = 6 × 10 J
2 2

Final energy stored in the capacitor

′ 1 ′ ′2 1 −14 2 −10
U = C V = × 10 × (600) = 18 × 10 J
2 2

Increase in energy = U' - U = 12 × 10-10 J

17. No. This is not possible because the work done in carrying a test charge along a closed path ABCDA, as shown in Fig. (b), will
not be zero. More work is done along CD, less along AB, zero along BC and DA. But in an electric field, work done is essentially
zero as it is a conservative field.
18. From energy conservation,
Ui + Ki = Uf + Kf (Kf is the final kinetic energy ,Ki is the initial kinetic energy similarly for the potential energy)
When Q is +15 μC, q will move 15 cm away from it. Hence rf = 45 cm

Kf =E-E'= 9 × 109 × 15 × 10-6 × 5 × 10-6 × ( 1

−3
)- 1

−4
]
30×10 45×10

= 0.75 J
When Q is - 15 μC, q will move 15 cm towards it.
Hence rf = 15 cm

Kf = 9 × 109 × (-15 × 10-6) × 5 × 10-6 [( 1

30
× 10-2) - 1

−2
]
15×10

= 2.25 J
19. Let the charge on the capacitor plates at any instant, during charging process be q, amount of work done to supply further charge
dq to the capacitor
dW = Vdq
q
where V is the potential difference and equals to C

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 Total work done to charge the capacitor upto charge Q
Q
W=∫ 0
V dq
2
Q q Q
=∫ 0
dq = (
1

2
CV
2
=
1

2
QV )
C 2C

Since Energy stored = work done

2
Q
⇒ U= 2C
(
1

2
CV
2
=
1

2
QV )

2
Q 1 1
The expression for the energy stored in a capacitor connected across a dc battery is U = 2C
(
2
CV
2
=
2
QV ) .
Energy density: Electrical energy stored per unit volume is known as energy density.
Section C
20. Electrons start flowing from one plate of the capacitor to the positive terminal of the battery and from the negative terminal to the
other plate. The two plates start acquiring positive and negative charges respectively. This process of charging of the capacitor
continues until the potential across its plates becomes equal to the p.d. across the terminals of the battery.
Effect of dielectric: When the battery is disconnected, charges on the capacitor plates remain unchanged.
ε0 A
i. Initial capacitance, C 0 =
d

Initial field, E 0 =
σ

ε0

E0
Final field, E = 1

κ ε0
σ
=
κ

Thus, the electric field decreases.

ε0 A κC0
ii. Final capacitance, C = κ 2d
=
2
2
Q
Initial energy, u 0 =
2C0

2 2
Q Q
Final energy, U = 2C
=
2
⋅
κC0
2
=
2

κ
u0

As 1 < 2 < κ , the energy stored increases i.e., U > U0

21. As the two plates carry an equal and opposite charge, they attract each other with a force F. As a result, the spring elongates by
length l. Then
F = - kl ...(i)
ε0 A
where k is the force constant of the spring. The capacitance of the parallel plate capacitor with plate separation x is C = x
2 2
q q
The energy stored in the capacitor is U = 1

2
⋅ =
2
⋅
x

C ε0 A

As the electrostatic force is a conservative force, we can write

2 2
q x q
F = −
dU

dx
= −
dx
d
(
2 ε0 A
) = −
2 ε0 A
....(ii)
The negative sign shows that the force is attractive. From equations (i) and (ii), we get
2
q
−kl = −
2 ε0 A

2
q
or l = 2ε0 kA

22. i.

Consider a point charge 'Q' kept at point O. Let P be the field point at distance r.
At some intermediate point P the electrostatic force on the unit positive charge is :
Q×1
=
2
4πε0 r

Work done against this force from r' to r' + △r' is

Q
′
ΔW = Δr
4πε0 r2

Total work done W by the external Force from ∞ to r

r
Q
′
W = − ∫ △r
′2
4π ε0 r
∞

Q
W =
4π ε0 r

Hence potential at this point

Q
V=W= 4π ε0 r
Electrostatic potential is zero at infinity, electrostatic potential due to a single charge is spherically symmetric.

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 ii.

The potential at point P due to charge (-q)

−1 q
V1 = ⋅
4πε0 (r+a)

Potential due to charge +q

1 q
V2 = ⋅
4πε0 (r−a)

Hence total potential at point P

q −1
V = V1 + V2 = 4πε0
[
(r+a)
+
1

(r−a)
]

q×2a
=
2 2
4π ε0 (r − a )

1 p
V =
4πε0 2 2
(r − a )

where, p ⃗ = q × 2a = dipole moment for r >> a

1 p
⇒ V = ⋅
4πε0 2
r
1
⇒ V ∝
2
r

23. We know that

dV
E = −
dx
= Negative slope of V-x graph
For 0 < x < 1
= +ve constant, so field = - E
dV

dx

For 1 < x < 2

dV

dx
= 0 , so field =0
For 2 < x < 3,
= -ve constant, so field = + E
dV

dx

Consequently, we get the E-x graph as shown below:

Section D
24. i. Capacitance of an air-filled capacitor is
= 1.77 × 10-10 F.
ε0 A −12
8.85× 10 ×0.20
C0 = = =
d 0.01

ii. Charge on each plate,

q = C0V0 = 1.77 × 10-10 × 3000 = 5.31 × 10-7 C
C q/V V0 3000
iii. Dielectric constant of the material is κ = C0
=
q/V0
=
V
=
1000
=3
iv. Capacitance after the dielectric sheet is introduced
C = κ C0 = 3 × 1.77 × 10-10 = 5.31 × 10-10 F

v. Permittivity of the dielectric is ε = κε = 3 × 8.85 × 10-12 = 2.65 × 10-11 Fm-1 0

25. i. The charge q0 on the capacitor plates remains the same because the battery has been disconnected, before placing the
dielectric slab.
E0
ii. The surface charges induced on the dielectric slab reduce electric field intensity to a new value given by E = κ
E0 d V0
iii. The reduction in the electric field induces the potential difference V = Ed =
k
=
k
q0 q0 q0
iv. Due to the decrease in p.d., the capacitance increases k times C = V
= = K
V0
= κC0
V0 /k

v. Energy stored decreases by a factor of κ :

2
1 1 V0 1 1 U0
2 2
U = CV = (κC0 ) ( ) = ⋅ C0 V =
2 2 K κ 2 0 κ

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26. a. The plates P and Q divide the space between the plates A and B in three equal parts. Since V = Ed, the potentials of the plates
A, P, Q, and B will be respectively V, 2V/3, V/3 and 0.
b. When the plates P and Q are connected with a wire, the space between the plates A and B gets divided into two equal parts.
Hence, the potentials of plates A, P, Q, and B will be respectively V, V/2, V/2 and 0.
Since the potential difference between the plates A and P; and between the plates, Q and B have increased from V/3 to V/2,
the electric field between these plates will increase. As the potential difference the plates P and Q is zero, the electric field will
also be zero.
c. Since the potential difference between the plates A and P and between the plates Q and B have increased, the charge on the
plates A and B will increase.
d. Yes, the plate P will have a positive charge and the plate Q will have a negative charge.

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