Electrostatics is a crucial topic in physics that deals with the study of electric charges at rest. Understanding electrostatics is essential for students preparing for school exams and competitive tests, as it forms the foundation for many advanced concepts in physics. Practicing MCQs and objective questions on electrostatics not only enhances conceptual clarity but also boosts your confidence in tackling important questions during exams.
What You Will Practise Here
Fundamental concepts of electric charge and its properties
Understanding Coulomb's Law and its applications
Electric field and electric potential: definitions and calculations
Capacitance and capacitors: types and formulas
Gauss's Law and its significance in electrostatics
Concept of electric dipoles and their behavior in electric fields
Key diagrams and graphical representations related to electrostatics
Exam Relevance
Electrostatics is a significant topic in various exams, including CBSE, State Boards, NEET, and JEE. It frequently appears in the form of conceptual questions, numerical problems, and application-based scenarios. Students can expect to encounter questions that require them to apply Coulomb's Law, calculate electric fields, and analyze capacitor circuits. Familiarity with common question patterns will greatly aid in effective exam preparation.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Confusing the concepts of electric field and electric potential
Misapplying Coulomb's Law in multi-charge systems
Neglecting the direction of electric field lines in problem-solving
Overlooking the significance of units and dimensions in calculations
Failing to understand the behavior of capacitors in series and parallel
FAQs
Question: What is the difference between electric field and electric potential? Answer: The electric field is a vector quantity that represents the force experienced by a unit positive charge, while electric potential is a scalar quantity that indicates the potential energy per unit charge at a point in an electric field.
Question: How do capacitors store energy? Answer: Capacitors store energy in the form of an electric field created between their plates when a voltage is applied across them.
Now is the time to strengthen your understanding of electrostatics! Dive into our practice MCQs and test your knowledge on this vital topic. The more you practice, the better prepared you will be for your exams!
Q. A capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then disconnected from the battery. If the distance between the plates is increased, what happens to the charge?
A.
Increases
B.
Decreases
C.
Remains the same
D.
Becomes zero
Solution
When a capacitor is disconnected from the battery, the charge remains constant. Increasing the distance decreases capacitance but does not affect the charge.
Q. A capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then disconnected from the battery. If the distance between the plates is doubled, what happens to the voltage across the capacitor?
A.
It doubles
B.
It halves
C.
It remains the same
D.
It quadruples
Solution
When the distance is doubled, the capacitance decreases, leading to an increase in voltage since Q = CV is constant.
Q. A capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then disconnected from the battery. What happens to the charge on the capacitor if the distance between the plates is increased?
A.
Charge increases
B.
Charge decreases
C.
Charge remains the same
D.
Charge becomes zero
Solution
When a capacitor is disconnected from the battery, the charge remains constant. Increasing the distance decreases capacitance but does not change the charge.
Q. A capacitor is charged to a voltage V and then disconnected from the battery. What happens to the charge on the capacitor if the voltage is doubled?
A.
Charge doubles
B.
Charge halves
C.
Charge remains the same
D.
Charge quadruples
Solution
The charge on a capacitor is given by Q = C * V. If the voltage is doubled, the charge also doubles, assuming capacitance remains constant.
Q. A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a voltage V and then connected in parallel with another uncharged capacitor of capacitance C. What is the final voltage across the capacitors?
A.
V/2
B.
V
C.
2V
D.
0
Solution
When connected in parallel, the total charge is conserved. The final voltage across both capacitors is V/2.
Q. A capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a voltage V and then connected to another uncharged capacitor of capacitance C. What is the final voltage across both capacitors?
A.
V/2
B.
V
C.
2V
D.
0
Solution
When connected, charge redistributes between the two capacitors, resulting in a final voltage of V/2 across each.
Q. A capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a battery of voltage V. If the battery is removed and the capacitor is connected to another capacitor of capacitance 2C, what is the final voltage across the combination?
A.
V/3
B.
V/2
C.
V
D.
2V
Solution
When the charged capacitor C is connected to an uncharged capacitor 2C, the final voltage is V_final = Q_total / C_eq = V/(1 + 1/2) = V/3.
Q. A charge of +10μC is placed in a uniform electric field of strength 500 N/C. What is the work done in moving the charge 2m in the direction of the field?
A.
10 J
B.
1 J
C.
100 J
D.
0.5 J
Solution
Work done W = F * d = (E * q) * d = (500 N/C * 10 × 10^-6 C) * 2m = 0.01 J.
Q. A charge of +10μC is placed in a uniform electric field of strength 500 N/C. What is the work done in moving the charge 0.1m in the direction of the field?
A.
0.5 J
B.
1 J
C.
2 J
D.
0.1 J
Solution
Work done W = F * d = (E * q) * d = (500 N/C * 10 × 10^-6 C) * 0.1 m = 0.5 J.
