Problems in Electrostatics,

Current Electricity
 Pattern: Electric Charges, Law of conservation
of charges, Charge on an electron
How many electrons would have to be removed from a coin to leave it with a charge of +𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟕 𝑪?

Solution:

What is given?: The charge on the coin q is +1 × 10!# 𝐶.

What is asked?: The number of electrons (n) that need to be removed to leave net charge (q) on the coin.
Removal of electrons results in a positive charge.
Analyse and Solve:
Recall charge is quantized and is an integral multiple of the elementary charge (in this case electron). So how
many electrons need to be removed to make the charge of coin? The charge on electron needs to be know and
is 1.6021 × 10!$% 𝐶 From this the number of electrons that needs to be removed is ‘
𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟕 𝟏𝟏 = 𝟔𝟐𝟓 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬
= 𝟔. 𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎
𝟏. 𝟔𝟎𝟐𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟏𝟗
Pattern: Electrostatic Force between Charged Particles
Two charges of +200μC and −200μC are placed at the corners B and C of an
equilateral triangle ABC of side 0.1m. The force on a charge of 5μC placed at A is :
Solution:
What is given?: Charges at two vertices B and C of an equilateral triangle ABC and the are
equal in magnitude and opposite in sign which is +200μC and -200μC. The side of the
equilateral triangle is 0.1m.
What is asked?: Force on the charge of 5μC which is at vertex A
Analyse and solve: Draw diagram to understand(shown on right). Note Force is a vector
quantity (Draw with directions two positive repel – direction is away. Opposite charges
attract). To get the net force on the charge, we need to do vector addition. the force due to
+200μC and the force due to -200 μC on the charge of 5 μC. To do vector addition , resolve
into components along(cos of angle with the horizontal) and perpendicular (sin of the angle
with the horizontal). In the equilateral triangle the angle is 60 and the perpendicular
components have opposite direction(they cancel out) and along direction reinforce each
other. Add the component of the force which is the along direction (the line joining the +200
μC and −200μC charges , along BC.
𝒌𝒒 𝒒 𝒌𝒒 𝒒
𝑭𝒏𝒆𝒕 = 𝑩𝟐 𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟔𝟎° + 𝑪𝟐 𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟔𝟎° = 900 N. (Substitute and simplify)
𝒓 𝒓
 Pattern: Motion of a charged particle in an
electric field.
A particle of mass m and charge −q enters the region between the two charged plates
initially moving along x-axis with speed vx as shown in figure. The length of the plate is
L and a uniform electric field E is maintained between the plates. Find the vertical
deflection of the particle at the far edge of the plate.
Solution: What is given?: Particle with mass m and -q moves along X-axis in a uniformly charged
electric field E. The plates have opposite charges as seen in figure and are of Length L.
What is asked?: It is asking for the vertical deflection suffered by the particle at the far edge of the
plate.
Analyze and solve: There is no x-component of the electric field and hence there is no force and
acceleration along x-axis. So, the velocity 𝑣/ along x-axis is constant. Suppose x is the horizontal
/
distance covered in time t, then x = 𝑣/ 𝑡 ⇒ 𝑡 = .
0%
Force acting along y-axis 𝐹 = 𝑞𝐸.
23
Acceleration along y-axis 𝑎1 = 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 .
4
If y is the vertical distance covered by the particle in time t, then
1 5
𝑦 = 𝑢1 + 𝑎1 𝑡
2
1 5 1 𝑞𝐸 𝐿 5 𝑞𝐸𝐿5
𝑦 = 0 + 𝑎1 𝑡 = =
2 2 𝑚 𝑣/ 2𝑚𝑣/5
 Pattern: Electric field of Electric Dipole
Two particles A and B, having opposite charges 2.0×10−6C and −2.0×10−6C, are placed at a separation of 1.0cm. Find the
following. 1) Find the electric dipole moment. 2). Calculate the electric field at a point on the axis of the dipole 1cm away
from the centre 3) Calculate the electric field at a point on the perpendicular bisector of the dipole and 1.0m away from
the centre.
Solution:
What is given?: Dipole of charges 𝑞 = 2 × 10!6 𝐶.
Distance of separation between charges of dipole (d or 2a) = 1 𝑐𝑚 = 10!5 .

What is asked?: Electric dipole moment

Electric field at a point on the axis of the dipole 1 cm from the centre
Electric field at a point on the perpendicular bisector and 1 m away from the centre.
Analyse and Solve:
1) Recall electric dipole moment is the product of the charge and the distance of separation between them.
𝝆 = 𝒒 × 𝒅 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟔 × 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟐 = 𝟐× 𝟏𝟎!𝟖 Cm.

𝟐𝒌𝝆 𝟐 × 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × 𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎(𝟖 𝑵

2) Recall Electric field at the axial point on the dipole is given by 𝑬 = = 𝟑 = 𝟑𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕
𝒓𝟑 𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎(𝟐 𝑪
𝒌𝝆 𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 × 𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎(𝟖 𝑵
3) Recall Electric field at the perpendicular bisector point on the dipole is given by E = = 𝟑 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝒓𝟑 𝟏 ×𝟏𝟎(𝟐 𝑪
Pattern: Torque due to electric dipole in a uniform
electric field
An electric dipole consists of two opposite charges of magnitude 1μC separated by 2cm. The dipole is placed in
a uniform electric field of intensity 10−5Vm−1. The maximum torque that the field exerts on the dipole.

Solution:
What is given?: Magnitude of two opposite charges q = 1𝜇𝐶 = 10!6 𝐶.
Distance of separation between them (d or 2a) = 2cm = 2 × 10!5
@
Uniform Electric Field Intensity E = 10!? .
4
What is asked?: Maximum Torque experienced by the electric dipole above.

Analyse and Solve: Torque experienced by electric dipole in uniform electric filed E, 𝛕 = 𝛒 × 𝐄 = 𝛒𝐄𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉,
𝜌 is the electric dipole moment which is qd. 𝜃 is the angle the line joining two charges makes
with the electric. sin 𝜃 is the maximum 𝜃 = 90° . This means the dipole must placed perpendicular to the electric
field to experience maximum torque. Solving for maximum torque ,
𝝉 = 𝒒𝒅𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎!𝟔 × 𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎!𝟐 ×𝟏𝟎!𝟓 = 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟏𝟑 𝑵𝒎
 Pattern: Application of Gauss Law
It has been experimentally observed that the electric field in a large region of
Earth's atmosphere is directed vertically down. At an altitude of 300 m, the
electric field is 60 Vm−1. At an altitude of 200 m, the field is 100Vm−1. Calculate
the net amount of charge contained in the cube of 100 m edge, located between
200 and 300 m altitude.

Solution:
What is given?: Electric field at altitude 300m = 60 V/m. Electric field at 200 m =
100 V/m.
What is asked?: The net amount of charge contained in the cube of 100 m edge,
which is located between and 200 m and 400 m.
Analyse and Solve: The question is asking for a net amount of charge enclosed in a closed surface. Gauss relates the net
electric flux to the charge enclosed in a surface. The flux 𝛟 = 𝐄 . 𝐀. (dot product of electric field and area). Let’s diagram
(on the left) to visualize things better. We see the electric field are directed vertically top to bottom. So, the horizontal surface
of the cube only contributes to the flux. The surface area of the cube is 100 m x 100 m = 10C 𝑚5 . Flux through the top face of
the cube = 60 × 10C 𝑉𝑚 . Flux through the bottom face of the cube = 100 × 10C 𝑉𝑚. Now net flux = 100 × 10C −
60 × 10C = 40 × 10C . (Normal to surface component is opposite the electric field on the top face. The flux at top face is
𝐪
taken with a negative sign – cos 180 = -1 If we apply dot product this is the result). Applying Gauss’s law , ∅𝐭𝐨𝐭 = 𝐞𝐧𝐜 . So,
𝛜𝟎
charge enclosed inside the cube is 𝐪𝐞𝐧𝐜 = ∅𝐭𝐨𝐭 × 𝛜𝟎 = 𝟒𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟒 × 𝟖. 𝟖𝟓𝟒𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟏𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎!𝟔 𝐂.
 Pattern: Picture based questions on electric field
lines
An uncharged metal sphere is placed between two equal and oppositely charged metal plates. Draw the electric field
lines of force.
Solution:
The electric field inside a conductor is zero. At the surface , the field lines are perpendicular. (Why?). So the picture below
shows electric field for the question above.
Pattern: Electric Potential
An infinite number of charges each equal to ʹqʹ are placed along the X-axis at x=1, x=2, x=4, x=8, …. and so on. The
potential at the point x=0 due to this set of charges.

Solution:
What is given?: On the X axis, charge q is kept at x = 1, x = 2, x = 4, x = 8, ….

What is asked?: Potential at x = 0 due to charge q at x = 1, x = 2, x = 4, x = 8, x =16, ….

$ 2
Analyze and Solve: Recall What is the potential at a point due to charge q at a distance r ? The answer is 𝑉 = CLM .
.N
Electric potential potential is a scalar quantity. So, the potential due to this charges is just the sum of potential due to
individual charges which are placed at different locations. Let’s solve the problem.

V = V (due to charge at x = 1) + V (due to charge at x = 2) + V (due to charge at x = 3) + …..

$ 2 $ 2 $ 2 $ 2 $ 2 2 $ $ $ $ 2 $ 2
= + + + + + …. = 1+ + + + + … = 2 =
CLM. $ CLM. 5 CLM. C CLM. O CLM. $6 CLM. 5 5/ 50 51 CLM. $ !/ 5LM.
 Pattern: Electric Potential Energy
When a 2μC charge is carried from point A to point B, the amount of work done by the electric field is 50 μJ. What is the
potential difference and which point is at a higher potential?

Solution:

What is given?: Charge 𝑞 = 2𝜇𝐶. Work done by the electric field in moving a charge from Point A to B, 𝑊 = 50 𝜇J

What is asked?: Potential difference between points A and B. 𝑉PQ = 𝑉P − 𝑉Q

Analyse and Solve: What relates the potential difference between points and the work done in bringing a charge in electric
field. The work done in bringing a charge q from a point A to point B in an electric field is given by:
𝐖 = 𝐪 𝐕𝐀 − 𝐕𝐁 = 𝐪𝐕𝐀𝐁

𝐖 𝟓𝟎
Therefore, we find the find the potential difference as 𝐕𝐀 − 𝐕𝐁 = 𝐪
= 𝟐
= 𝟐𝟓𝐕.

Since the difference is positive, point A is at a higher potential than point B.

 Pattern: Capacitance of capacitor
The ratio of the resultant capacitances when three capacitors of 2μF,4μF and 6μF are connected first in series and
then in parallel is
Solution:
Recall formula equivalent capacitance for capacitors connected in series:
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
= + + …+
𝑪𝒆𝒒𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑪𝒏

Recall formula equivalent capacitance for capacitors connected in parallel:

𝐂𝐞𝐪𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 = 𝐂𝟏 + 𝐂𝟐 … + 𝐂𝐧
What is given?: 𝐶$ = 2𝜇𝐹, 𝐶5 = 4𝜇𝐹, 𝐶U = 6𝜇𝐹.

V;<_>;?@;>
What is asked?: Ratio of resultant capacitances when in series and in parallel
V;<_AB?BCC;C

Analyze and Solve: 1) Find equivalent capacitances when the capacitors are connected in series. This is
$ $ $ $ $ 6[U[5
= + + => = => 𝐶W2_YWNZWY = 12/11
V;<_>;?@;> 5 C 6 VW2_YWNZWY $5
2) Find equivalent capacitances when the capacitors are in parallel. This is
𝐶W2_\]N]^^W^ = 2 + 4 + 6 = 12
𝑪𝒆𝒒_𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
3) The ratio of 𝑪 is 𝟏𝟏 ÷ 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟏𝟏 × 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟏𝟏
𝒆𝒒_𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒍
 Pattern: Ohm’s Law
If the resistance of a circuit is halved and the potential difference is kept constant, then the current will become

Solution: Ohm’s law relates the potential difference (V), Current (I) and Resistance (R) in a circuit. It is stated as
𝑉 = 𝐼𝑅.
$
Form this, 𝐼 = 𝑉𝑅. 𝐼 𝛼 _
𝟏
This means I is inversely proportional to 𝑹
Hence the resistance and the current are inversely related. This is also intuitive. When resistance decreases and
current increases and vice-versa. The relationship is a proportionality relationship. Hence if resistance decreases
to half , the current doubles in the circuit.
 Pattern: Circuit problems based on Kirchhoff's Rules
In the given circuit the current I1 (magnitude only) is:

Solution: We need to apply Kirchhoff's law. Recollect Kirchhoff’s Current Law and Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law. See
the redrawn diagram indicating labels that makes easier to apply Kirchhoff’s law.
Apply Kirchhoff’s current law at Junction E: 𝐼$ = 𝐼5 + 𝐼U ….(1)
Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law in the loop AEFD: 40𝐼$ + 30𝐼5 = 40 ⇒ 4𝐼$ + 3𝐼5 = 4 … (2)

Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law in the loop EBCF4: 40𝐼$ + 40𝐼U = 40 − 30

Substitute 𝐼U = 𝐼$ − 𝐼5 (from (1))
4𝐼$ + 4 𝐼$ − 𝐼5 = 1
$
8𝐼$ − 4𝐼5 = 1 => 𝐼5 = C 8𝐼$ − 1 . Now substitute this value in
3
4𝐼$ + 8𝐼$ − 1 = 4
4
Solving we get, 𝐼$ = 0.475 A
 Pattern: Problems based on Wheatstone
bridge/Resistor Networks
The equivalent resistance between the points x and y of the circuit. If each resistance is 25 ohm is

Solution: C and B are at same potential. Why? Figure can also be

redrawn to make things clear. Redrawn figure show. Since B and C
at same potential, the figure can be redrawn (No current flows in
the resistor between B and C. Hence the equivalent Resistance
(based on final figure ) is
$ $
1/𝑅W2 = + .
5?[5? 5?[5?
$ $ 5 ?a
1/𝑅W2 = + = . 𝑅W2 = = 25Ω
?a ?a ?a 5