ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE

CHAPTER-2
1. If 100 J of work must be done to move electric charge equal to 4C from a place, where potential is -10
V to another place, where potential is V volt, find the value of V.
(a) 5 V (b) 10 V (c) 25 V (d) 15 V
Ans: (d)
2. Four charges − q , − q , + q and + q are placed at the corners of a square of side 2L is shown in figure.
The electric potential at point A mid- way between the two charges + q and + q is
1 2q  1 
(a)  1−  +q -q
4πε0 L  5
1 2q  1 
(b)  1+  2L
4πε0 L  5
A
1 q  1  -q
(c)  1+  +q
4πε0 2 L  5
1 q  1 
(d)  1− 
4πε0 2 L  5
Ans: (a)
3. Which of the following is not the property of equipotential surface ?
(a) They do not cross each other.
(b) The rate of change of potential with distance on them is zero
(c) For a uniform electric field, they are concentric sphere
(d) They can be imaginary sphere
Ans: (c)
4. Equipotential surface at a large distance from a collection of charges, where total sum is not zero are
(a) sphere (b) planes (c) ellipsoids (d) paraboloids
Ans: (a)
5. Two charges 14µC and −4µC are placed at ( −12cm, 0, 0 ) and (12 cm, 0, 0 ) in an external electric field
B
E =  2  , where B = 1.2 ×106 N / cm 2 and r is in m . The electrostatic potential energy of the
r 
configuration is
(a) 97.9 J (b) 102.1 J (c) 2.1 J (d) -97.9 J
Ans: (a)
6. What is the work done in moving a 5µC point charge from corner A to corner at B of a square ABCD,
when a 20µC charge exists at the centre of square?
(a) 100 J (b) 25 J (c) 0 J (d) 5 J
Ans: (c)
7. The electric potential at a point on the axis of a short electric dipole, at a distance x from the mid-point
of dipole is proportional to:
1 1 1 1
(a) 4 (b) 1/ 2 (c) 3 (d) 2
x x x x
Ans: (d)
8. A capacitor is charged by a battery. The battery is removed and another identical uncharged capacitor
is connected in parallel. The total electrostatic energy of resulting system
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(a) increases by a factor of 4.
(b) deceases by a factor of 2.
(c) remains the same.
(d) increases by a factor o 2.
Ans: (b)
9. Which of the following options are correct ? if a conductor has a potential V ≠ 0 and there are no
charges anywhere else outside, then
(a) there must not be charges on the surface or inside itself.
(b) there cannot be any charge on the body of the conductor.
(c) there must be charges only the surface.
(d) there must be charges inside the surface.
Ans: (b)
10. Which of the following options is correct ?
(a) the electric field is uniform.
(b) the electric field is zero.
(c) there can be charge inside the region.
(d) the electric field shall necessarily change if a charge is placed outside the region.
Ans: (b)
11. Some charge is being given to a conductor. Then, its potential
(a) is maximum at surface
(b) is maximum at centre
(c) remains the same throughout the conductor.
(d) is maximum somewhere between surface and centre.
Ans: (c)
12. Equipotential surface associated with an electric field, which is increasing in magnitude along the x-
direction, are
(a) plane parallel to YZ-plane
(b) planes parallel to XZ-plane
(c) planes parallel to XY-plane.
(d) coaxial cylinder of increasing radii around the X-axis.
Ans: (a)
13. What is angle between electric field and equipotential surface ?
(a) 90° always (b) 0° always (c) 180° always (d) Between 0° to 180°
Ans: (a)
14. A positive charged particle is released from rest in an uniform electric field. The electric potential
energy of the charge.
(a) remains a constant because the electric field is uniform
(b) increasing because the charge moves along the electric field.
(c) decreasing because the charge moves along the electric field
(d) decreases because the charge moves opposite to the electric field.
Ans: (c)
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15. The variation potential V with r and electric field E with r for a point charge is correctly shown in the
graphs.

V or E

V or E

V or E
V or E
E
E
E E
V V V
V

(a) (b) (c) r (d) r

Ans: (b)
16. n identical capacitors joined in parallel are charged to a common potential V. The battery is
disconnected. Now, the capacitors are separated and joined in series. For the new combination:
(a) energy and potential difference both will remain unchanged
(b) energy remain same, potential difference will become nV
(c) energy and potential both will become n time
(d) energy will become n times, potential difference will remain V.
17. Two capacitors of capacitance 3µF and 6µF are charged to a potential of 12V each. They are
connected to each other, with the positive plate of each joined to the negative plate of the other. The
potential difference across 3µF will be
(a) 3V (b) zero (c) 6V (d) 4V
Ans: (d)
18. The plates of a parallel plate capacitor are 4 cm apart, the first plate is at 300V and the second plate at -
100 V. The voltage at 3 cm from the second plate is
(a) 200V (b) 400V (c) 250V (d) 500V
Ans: (a)
19. Electrostatic potential V at a point, distant r from a charge q varies as
(a) q / r 2 (b) q 2 / r (c) q / r (d) q 2 / r 2
Ans: (c)
20. The correct relation between electric intensity E and electric potential V is
dV dV dE dE
(a) E = − (b) E = (c) E = − (d) E =
dr dr dr dr
Ans: (a)
21. A charge of 10µC lies at the centre of a square. Work done in carrying a charge of 2µC from one
corner of square to the diagonally opposite corner is
(a) 20J (b) 5J (c) Zero (d) 20µJ
Ans: (c)
22. Electric potential V and electric flux φ are
(a) both vectors (b) both scalar (c) V is scalar, φ is vector (d) V is vector, φ is scalar
Ans: (b)
23. A uniform electric field of 100N/C exists in vertically upward direction. The decreases in electric
potential as one goes up through a height of 20cm is
(a) 20V (b) 120V (c) 5V (d) Zero
Ans: (a)
24. A hollow metallic sphere of radius 10 cm is charged such that potential of its surface is 80 V. The
potential at the centre of the sphere would be :
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(a) 80 V (b) 800 V (c) zero (d) 8 V
Ans. (a)
25. In bringing an electron towards another electron, the electrostatic potential energy of the system :
(a) become zero (b) increases (c) decreases (d) remains same
Ans. (b)
26. A bullet of mass 2 g is having a charge of 2 µC. Through what potential difference must it be
accelerated, starting from rest, to acquire a speed of 10 m/s?
(a) 5 kV (b) 50 kV (c) 5 V (d) 50 V
Ans. (b)
27. The electric potential at a point in free space due to charge Q coulomb is Q ×1011 volts. The electric
field at that point is :
(a) 4πε 0Q ×10 20 volt/m (b) 12πε 0Q ×1022 volt/m
(c) 4πε 0Q ×10 22 volt/m (d) 12πε 0 × 1020 volt/m
Ans. (c)
28. The number of electric lines of force radiating from a closed surface in vacuum is 1.13 × 1011 . The
charge enclosed by the surface is
(a) 1C (b) 1µC (c) 0.1 C (d) 0.1µC
Ans: (a)
29. When a number of capacitors are connected in parallel between two points, the equivalent capacitance
(a) increase (b) decrease (c) remains the same (d) none of these
Ans: (a)
30. When a number of capacitors are connected in series between two points, the equivalent capacitance
(a) increase (b) decrease (c) remains the same (d) none of these
Ans: (b)
31. When a number of capacitors are connected in series between two points, all the capacitors posses
same
(a) capacity (b) potential (c) charge (d) none of these
Ans: (c)
32. When a number of capacitors are connected in parallel between two points, all the capacitors posses
same
(a) capacity (b) potential (c) charge (d) none of the these
Ans: (b)
33. The relation between dielectric constant K and electric susceptibility χ of a material is
(a) K = χ (b) K = 1 + χ (c) χ = K + 1 (d) none of these
Ans: (b)
34. A conducting sphere of radius R is given a charge Q. The electric potential and the electric field at the
centre of the sphere respectively are :
Q Q
(a) zero and (b) and zero
4πε 0 R 2
4πε 0 R
Q Q
(c) and (d) both are zero
4πε 0 R 4πε 0 R 2
Ans. (b)
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35. A parallel plate air capacitor has capacity C , distance of separation between plates is d and potential
difference V is applied between the plates. Force of attraction between the plates of the parallel plate
air capacitor is :
CV 2 C 2V 2 C 2V 2 CV 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
d 2d 2 2d 2d
Ans. (d)
36. A parallel plate air capacitor of capacitance C is connected to a cell of emf V and then disconnected
from it. A dielectric slab of dielectric constant K , which can just fill the air gap of the capacitor, is
now inserted in it. Which of the following is incorrect?
1 1 
(a) The change in energy stored is CV 2  − 1 .
2 K 
(b) The charge on the capacitor is not conserved.
(c) The potential difference between the plates decreases K times.
(d) The energy stored in the capacitor decreases K times.
Ans. (b)
37. Two thin dielectric slabs of dielectric constants K1 and K 2 ( K1 < K 2 ) are inserted between plates of a
parallel plate capacitor, as shown in the figure. The variation of electric field E between the plates
with distance d as measured from plate P is correctly shown by :

P + − Q
−
+
+ −
+ −
+ −
−
+ −
+ −
K1 <K2

E E E E

(a) (b) (c) (d)

d d d d
0 0 0 0
Ans. (c)
38. Four point charges −Q, − q, 2q and 2Q are placed, one at each corner of the square. The relation
between Q and q for which the potential at the centre of the square is zero is :
1 1
(a) Q = −q (b) Q = − (c) Q = q (d) Q =
q q
Ans. (a)
39. A parallel plate capacitor has a uniform electric field E in the space between the plates. If the distance
between the plates is d and area of each plate is A, the energy stored in the capacitor is :
1 E 2 Ad
(a) ε0E2 (b)
2 ε0
1
(c) ε 0 E 2 Ad (d) ε 0 EAd
2
Ans. (c)
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40. Three charges, each + q, are placed at the corners of an isosceles triangle ABC of sides BC and AC ,
2a. D and E are the mid points of BC and CA. The work done in taking a charge Q from D to E
is :
A

B C
D
3qQ 3qQ qQ
(a) (b) (c) (d) zero
4πε 0 a 8πε 0 a 4πε 0 a
Ans. (d)
41. A series combination of n1 capacitors, each of value C1 , is charged by a source of potential difference
4V . When another parallel combination of n2 capacitors, each of value C2 , is charged by a source of
potential difference V , it has the same (total) energy stored in it, as the first combination has. The
value of C2 , in terms of C1 , is then :
2C1 n2 n2 16C1
(a) (b) 16 C1 (c) 2 C1 (d)
n1n2 n1 n1 n1n2
Ans. (d)
42. Two parallel metal plates having charges +Q and −Q face each other at a certain distance between
them. If the plates are now dipped in kerosene oil tank, the electric field between the plates will :
(a) become zero (b) increase
(c) decrease (d) remain same
Ans. (c)
43. Three capacitors each of capacitance C and of breakdown voltage V are joined in series. The
capacitance and breakdown voltage of the combination will be :
V C C V
(a) 3C , (b) , 3V (c) 3C , 3V (d) ,
3 3 3 3
Ans. (b)
44. Two condensers, one of capacity C and other of capacity C / 2 are connected to a V-volt battery as
shown in the figure. The work done in charging fully both the condensers is :

V C C/2

1 3 1
(a) CV 2 (b) CV 2 (c) CV 2 (d) 2CV 2
4 4 2
Ans. (b)
45. A parallel plate air capacitor is charged to a potential difference of V volts. After disconnecting the
charging battery the distance between the plates of the capacitor is increased using an insulating
handle. As a result the potential difference between the plates :
(a) increases (b) decreases (c) does not change (d) becomes zero
Ans. (a)
46. A, B and C are three points in a uniform electric field. The electric potential is :

B A
E
C
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(a) maximum at C (b) same at all the three points A, B and C
(c) maximum at A (d) maximum at B
Ans. (d)
47. A network of four capacitors of capacity equal to C1 = C , C2 = 2C , C3 = 3C and C4 = 4C are
connected to a battery as shown in the figure. The ratio of the charges of C2 and C4 is :

C2
C3 C1
C4

4 3 7 22
(a) (b) (c) (d)
7 22 4 3
Ans. (b)
48. As per the diagram a point charge + q is placed at the origin O. Work done in taking another point
charge −Q from the point A [coordinates (0, a ) ] to another point B [coordinates (a, 0) ] along the
straight path AB is :
y
A

x
O B

(a) zero
 qQ 1 
(b)  2 
. 2a
 4πε 0 a 
 −qQ 1 
(c)  2 
. 2a
 4πε 0 a 
 qQ 1  a
(d)  2 
.
 4πε 0 a  2
Ans. (a)
49. Three capacitors each of capacity 4 µF are to be connected in such a way that the effective
capacitance is 6µF. This can be done by :
(a) connecting all of them in series (b) connecting them in parallel
(c) connecting two in series and one in parallel (d) connecting two in parallel and one in series
Ans. (c)
50. Identical charges ( − q ) are placed at each corners of cube of side b then electrostatic potential energy
of charge ( + q ) which is placed at centre of cube will be :

−4 2q 2 −8 2q 2 −4 q 2 8 2q 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
πε 0b πε 0b 3πε 0b 4πε 0b
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Ans. (c)
51. A capacitor of capacity C1 charged upto V volt and then connected to an uncharged capacitor of
capacity C2 . The final potential difference across each will be :
C2V C1V  C   C 
(a) (b) (c)  1 + 2  (d)  1 − 2  V
C1 + C2 C1 + C2  C1   C1 
Ans. (b)
52. Some charge be being given to a conductor. Then its potential is :
(a) maximum at surface
(b) maximum at centre
(c) remain same throughout the conductor
(d) maximum somewhere between surface and centre.
Ans. (c)
53. Energy per unit volume for a capacitor having area A and separation d kept at potential difference V
is given by :
1 V2 1 V2 1 Q2
(a) ε0 (b) (c) CV 2 (d)
2 d2 2ε 0 d 2 2 2C
Ans. (a)
54. A capacitor is charged with a battery and energy stored is U . After disconnecting battery another
capacitor of same capacity is connected in parallel to the first capacitor. Then energy stored in each
capacitor is :
U U
(a) (b) (c) 4U (d) 2U
2 4
Ans. (b)
55. The potential energy of a charged parallel plate capacitor is U 0 . If a slab of dielectric constant K is
inserted between the plates, then the new potential energy will be
U U
(a) 0 (b) U 0 K (c) 02 (d) U 02
K K
Ans: (b)
56. If a parallel plate capacitor is charged with a battery and potential energy stored in capacitor is U 0 .
After charging battery is disconnected. If a slab of dielectric constant K is inserted between the plates,
then the new potential energy will be
U U
(a) 0 (b) U 0 K (c) 02 (d) U 02
K K
Ans: (a)
57. What is the effective capacitance between points X and Y ?
C1= 6 µF

C3= 6 µF C5= 20 µF C2= 6 µF

X A C B D Y

C4= 6 µF
(a) 12µF (b) 18µF (c) 24µF (d) 6µF
Ans. (d)
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58. A particle of mass m and charge q is placed at rest in a uniform electric field E and then released.
The kinetic energy attained by the particle after moving a distance y is :
(a) qEy (b) qE 2 y (c) qEy 2 (d) q 2 Ey
Ans. (a)
59. The energy stored in a capacitor of capacity C and potential V is given by :
CV C 2V 2 C 2V CV 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 2 2 2
Ans. (d)
60. Charge q2 is at the centre of a circular path with radius r. Work done in carrying charge q1 , once
around this equipotential path, would be :
1 qq 1 qq
(a) × 1 22 (b) × 1 2 (c) zero (d) infinite
4πε 0 r 4πε 0 r
Ans. (c)
For question number 61, 62, 63, 64,65, 66, 67, and 68, two statements are given-one labelled
Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R), select the correct answer to these questions
from the code (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not correct explanation of A
(c) A is true R is false
(d) A is false and R is also false
61. Assertion (A):
Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor increases when distance between the plates is decreased.
Reason (R):
Capacitance of capacitor is inversely proportional to distance between them.
Ans: (a)
62. Assertion (A):
When a dielectric medium is filled between the plates of a capacitor, its capacitance increases.
Reason (R):
The dielectric medium reduces the potential difference between the plates of the capacitor.
Ans: (a)
63. Assertion (A):
Increasing the charge on the plates of a capacitor, capacitance increases.
Reason (R):
Capacitance is directly proportional to charge.
Ans: (d)
64. Assertion (A):
Polar molecules have permanent dipole moment.
Reason (R):
In polar molecule, the centres of positive and negative charges are separated by small separation even
there is no external field.
Ans: (a)
65. Assertion (A):
An applied electric field will polarize the polar dielectric material.
Reason (R):
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In polar dielectrics, each molecule has a permanent dipole moment but these are randomly oriented in
the absence of an externally applied electric field.
Ans: (b)
66. Assertion (A):
In the absence of an external electric field, the dipole moment per unit volume of a polar dielectric is
zero.
Reason (R):
The dipole of a polar dielectric are randomly oriented absence of an external electric field.
Ans: (a)
67. Assertion (A):
The surface of a conductor is an equipotential surface.
Reason (R):
Conductor allows the flow of charge
Ans: (a)
68. Assertion (A):
Work done in moving a charge between any two points in an electric field is independent of the path
followed by the charge, between these points.
Reason (R):
Electrostatic force is a non-conservative force.
Ans: (c)