Class 12 Physics - Chapter 1: Electric Charges and
Fields (Important Notes)
1. Electric Charge
• Fundamental property of matter, causes electric forces.
• Two types: Positive and Negative.
• Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.
• Quantization of charge: q = ne, where e = 1.6 × 10■¹■ C.
• Conservation of charge: Charge can neither be created nor destroyed.
2. Coulomb’s Law
• Force between two charges q■ and q■ separated by distance r is:
F = (1 / 4πε■) × (q■q■ / r²)
• ε■ = 8.85 × 10■¹² C²/N·m² (permittivity of free space).
• Force acts along the line joining charges.
3. Superposition Principle
• Net force on a charge = vector sum of forces exerted by other charges.
4. Electric Field (E)
• Defined as force per unit positive charge.
E=F/q
• Unit: N/C or V/m.
5. Electric Field due to Point Charge
E = (1 / 4πε■) × (q / r²)
6. Electric Dipole
• Two equal and opposite charges separated by distance 2a.
• Dipole moment: p = q × 2a (direction from –q to +q).
• Electric field along axial line: E = (1 / 4πε■) × (2p / r³)
• Electric field along equatorial line: E = (1 / 4πε■) × (p / r³)
7. Gauss’s Law
• Net electric flux through a closed surface = (1/ε■) × (total charge enclosed).
Φ = ■ E · dA = q_enclosed / ε■
• Useful for calculating electric field of symmetric charge distributions.
8. Applications of Gauss’s Law
• Electric field due to infinite line of charge.
• Electric field due to infinite plane sheet of charge.
• Electric field inside and outside a spherical shell.
