02

Electrostatic Potential
and Capacitance
TREND 3 YEARS Average No. of Questions Across all Sets
ANALYSIS
Types of Questions 2023 2020 2019
1Mark 2 3 2
TOPIC O1 Electrostatic Potential and 2 Marks 2 2
Equipotential Surface 1 1
3 Marks

5 Marks
1Mark 3
TOPICO2 Dielectrics and 2 Marks 4 2
Capacitance
3 Marks
5 Marks 1

TOPIC 1
Electrostatic Potential and Equipotential Surface
Electrostatic Potential Electrostatic Potential Difference
The electrostaticpotential at any point in an electric field is It is defined as the amount of work done in moving a unit
equal to the amount of work done in bringing the unit positive test charge from one point to the other point
positive test charge without acceleration from infinity to that against electrostatic force without any acceleration (i.e. the
point. difference of electrostatic potentials of the two points in the
Work done (W) electric field).
Electrostatic potential, |V=
Charge (qo) V - Va = WAB /q0
Its SIunit is volt (V) and IV =| JC and its dimensional where, WA is work done in taking charge go from A to B
formula is ([ML' TA].It is a scalar quantity. against electrostatic force.
NOTE Electrostatic potential is a state dependent function as electrostatic Also, the line integral of electric field from initial
forces are conservative forces. Ato final position B along any path is position
given by
 Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance 37

Electrostatic Potential due to a

System of Charges
For the diagram given below, potential difference betwecn Electrostatic potential at any point P due to a system ofn
points A and B will be same for any path. point charges q,, g2,..,4, whose position vectors are
I,,,..,r, respectively is given by

4TE, i=||r-r,:
NOTE As, work done on a test charge by the electrostatic field due to any
given charge configuration is independent of the path. Hence, where, r is the position vector at a point P w.r.t. the origin.
potential difference is also same for any path.

Electrostatic Potential due to a Point Charge Electrostatic Potential due to a Thin Charged
Spherical Shell
Electrostatic potentialdue to apoint charge q at any point
P lying at a distance r from it is given by Electrostatic potential due to a thin charged spherical shell
1
carrying charge q and of radius R respectively at any point
= P lying
(i) inside the shell is V = (for r< R)
The potentialat a point due to a positive charge is positive 48n R
1
while due to negativecharge is negative. (ii) on the surface of shell isV Y(for r =R)
R
When a positive charge is placed in an electric field, it 1
experiences a force which drives it from a point of higher (iii) outside the shell is V= 4 (for r> R)
potential to the point of lower potential. On the other hand, 4nE r
a negative charge experiences a force which drives it from where, r is the distance of point P from the centre of
lower potential to higher potential. the shell.

Electrostatic Potential due to an Electric Dipole Graphical representation of variation of electric potential
due to a charged shellat a distance r from centre of shell is
Electrostatic potential due to an electric dipole at any point given below
P inclined at an angle whose position vector is r w.r.t. V
mid-point of the dipole is given by 1

V=
1 pcos 0 V=
4TE0 R

B(+9)

Equipotential Surface
A

2a
180

Asurface which has same electrostatic potential at every

point on it is known as equipotential surface.
For a single charge q, the potential is given by
A-)
1
Electrostatic potential at a point P due to a short
1 pr
dipole (a<< ) is given by V= 4E Ir The shape of equipotential surface due to
where, Ois the angle between r and p. (i) line charge is cylindrical
ne electrostatic potential on the
perpendicular bisector due to an (ii) Point charge is spherical
electric dipole is zero.
 38 Chapterwise CBSE Solved Papers: PHYSICs

where, negative sign indicates that the direction of electric

Field
field is from higher potential to lower potential, i.e. in the
lines direction of decreasing potential.
NOTE () Electric field is in the direction of which the potential
decreases steepest.
(i) Its magnitude is given by the change in the magnitude of
Equipotential potential per unit
Surfaces displacement normal to the equipotential surface at a point
(spherical in shape) from higher potential to lower potential.

Different properties of equipotential surface are given Potential Energy in an External Electric
below Field
(1) Equipotential surfaces do not intersect each other as it Potential energy in an external electric field can be given
gives two directions of electric field at intersecting as
point which is not possible. " Potential Energy of a Single Charge Potential energy of
(i) Equipotential surfaces are closely spaced in the region a single charge q at a point with position vector r, in an
of strong electric field and vice-versa. external field is qV(r).
(ii) Electric field is always normal to equipotential where, V(r) is the potential at that point due to external
surface at every point of it and directed from one electric field E.
equipotential surface at higher potential to the
equipotential surface at lower potential. " Potential Energy of a System of TwoCharges
(iv) Work done in moving a test charge from one point of
9192
equipotential surface to other is zero. U
=qV (r,) +q,V (r,) +
Relation Between Electric Field and
where,
Potential Gradient 41:92 =two point charges at position vectors r, and
Relation between electric field and potential gradient is r; respectively,
given by
-dV V(r)= potential at r, due to the external field
E=
and V(r,)= potential at r, due to the external field.
dr

PYQs Previous Years Questions

1Mark Questions 3. A+ 3.0nC chargeQ is initially at a distance of
n =10cm from a + 5.0 nC charge g fixed at the origin.
Multiple Choice Questions The charge is moved away from q to a new position
1. A point P lies at a distance x from the mid-point of an at , =15cm. In this process, the work done by the
electric dipole on its axis. The electric potential at field is CBSE 2022 (Term-)
point P is proportional to CBSE 2023
(a) 1.29 x10J (b) 3.6 × 10 J
(d) 4.5 x 10J
(a)7
1
(d) (c) -4.5 x10J

2. If the electric potential on the axis of an electric dipole

4. Two charges 14 C and - 4uC are placed at
(-12cm, 0, 0) and (12 cm, 0, 0) in an external electric
at a distance r from its centre is V,then the potential at B
a point at the same distance on its equatorial line will field E where B= 1.2x 10 N/cm and r is in
be CBSE SQP 2022-23
(b) -V metres. The electrostatic potential energy of the
(a) 2V CBSE 2022 (Term
(c) V/2 (d) zero
configuration is
 39
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

(a) 97.9 J (b) 102.1J 9. Assertion Electric field is aBways normal to

(c) 2.1 J (d) -97.9J equipotential surfaces and along the direction of
decreasing order of potential.
5. Equipotentials at a large distance from a collection of
charges whose total sum isnot zero are CBSE 2022 (Term-) Reason Negative gradient of electric potential is
electric field.
(a) spheres (b) planes
(c) ellipsoids (d) paraboloids 10. Assertion Conductor having equal positive charge
and volume, must also have same potential.
6. Four charges -q, -q, + q and + q are placed at the
comers of a square of side 2 L is shown in figure. The Reason Potential depends only an charge and volume
electric potential at point Amid-way between the two of conductor.
charges tq and + g is CBSE 2022 (Term-I) 11. Assertion When two positive point charges move
+q
away from each other, then their electrostatic potential
energy decreases.
Reason Change in potential energy between two
A 2L points is equal to the work done by electrostatic
forces.
12. Assertion Five charges +q each are placed at five
vertices ofa regular pentagon. Asixth charge-is
placed at the centre of pentagon, then net electrostatic
1
(a) (b) force on-0 is zero.
4TE L
1
Reason Net electrostatic potential at the centre is zero.
(c) (d) zero
4rEo 13. Assertion Work done by the electrostatic force in
bringing the unit positive charge from infinity to the
7. Which of the following is not the property of point P is positive.
equipotential surface? CBSE SCQP 2021-22 p
(a) They do not cross each other.
(b) The rate of change of potential with distance on them +1C
is zero.
Q(< 0)
(c) For a uniform electric field, they are concentric
spheres. Reason For Q< 0, the force on unit positive charge is
(d) They can be imaginary spheres. attractive, so that the electrostatic force and the
displacement (fromn infinity to P) are in the same
Assertion-Reason Questions direction.
Directions (0. Nos. 8-13) In the following questions, two Very Short Answer Questions
statements are given- one labelled Assertion (A)and the
other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to 14. Define electric potential at a point and write its SI unit.
these questions from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given CBSE 2023
below 15. The physical quantity having SI unit NC- mis
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason Delhi 2020
Is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason
16. A proton released from rest in an electric field will
start moving towards a region of ........ potential in
1S not the correct explanation of Assertion. the field. Alllndia 2020
(c) IfAssertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) If both Assertion and Reason are incorrect. 17. The work done in moving a charged particle between
two points in a uniform electric field does not depend
8. Assertion Work done in moving a charge around a on the path followed by the particle. Why? Alllndia 2020
closed path in an electric field is always zero.
Reason Electrostatic force is a conservative force.
18, Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an isolated
point charge. Delhi 2019
 40 Chapterwise CBSE Solved Papers : PHYSICS

19. Draw equipotential surfaces for an clectric dipole. 28. For anycharge configuration, the equipotential surface
Delhi2019 through apoint is a normal to the clectric field. Justify.
Delhi 2014
20. State the SI unit of the electric polarisation vector p.
CBSE SQP 2018-19 29. What is the geometrical shape of equipotential
surfaces due to a single isolated charge?
21. In the given figure, charge + is placed at the centre of Delhi2013, All India 2010 C
a dotted circle.Work done in taking another charge tq 30. What is the amount of work done in moving a point
from Ato B is W, and from B to C is W,. Which one of charge around a circular arc of radius rat the centre of
the following is correct :W, > W,, W= W; and which another point charge is located? AllIndia 2013C
CBSE SCQP 2017-18
W< W;?
KEYdea
Electric potential is state dependent function as
electrostatic forces which are conservative in nature. No
work is done in making a unit positive test charge in
closed path.

31. Two charges 2uCand -2 uCare placed atpoints Aand

22. Does the charge given to a metallic sphere depernd on Bat 5 cm apart. Depict an equipotential surface of the
system. Delhi 2013C
whether it is hollow or solid? Give reason for your
answer. Delhi 2017
32. Why the potential inside a hollow spherical charged
23. Apoint charge +Qis placed at point Oas shown in the conductor is constant and has the same value as on its
surface? Foreign 2012
figure. Is the potential difference (V4 -VB ) positive,
negative or zero?
33. A hollow metal sphere of radius 5 cm is charged such
A that potential on its surface is 10V. What is the
potential at the centre of the sphere? All India 2011
Delhi 2016, Foreign 2016, Delhi 2011
34. Can two equipotential surfaces intersect each other?
24. Acharge q is moved from a point Aabove a dipole of Justify your answer. Delhi 2011C
dipole moment p to a point B below the dipole in
equatorialplane without acceleration. Find the work
done in this process. All India 2016 2 Marks Questions
A 35. Consider two identical point charges located at points
(0, 0) and (a, 0).
(i) Is there a point on the line joining them at which
the electric field is zero?
(ii) Is there a point on the line joining them at which
the electric potential is zero?
Justify your answers for each case. CBSE 2023

36. Drawequipotential surfaces for (i) an electric dipole

25. Why are electric field lines perpendicular at a point on and (ii) two identical positive charges placed near each
an equipotential surface of a conductor? All India 2015C other. CBSE SQP 2022-23
26. Two point charges q and -2q are kept d distance apart. 37. Three charges - g, and - q are placed at equal
Find the location of point relative to charge q at which distances on a straight line. If the potential energy of
potential due to this system of charges is zero. the system of these charges is zero, then what is the
All Indio 2014C
ratio of Q:q? CBSE SQP 2022-23
27. The figure shows the field lines of a 38. Deduce an expression for the potential energy of a
positive charge. Is the work done by the system of two pointcharges qi and g, located at
field in mnoving a snmall positive charge positions hand r, respectively in an external field (E).
from Q to P positive or negative? CBSE SQP 2020-21
Foreign 2014
 Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance 41

39. Write two important characteristics of equipotential 47. Atest charge q is movedwithout acceleration from A
surface. Delhi 2020 toC along the path from AtoB and then from B to C
40. The magnitude of clectric field E (in NC) in a in electric field E as shown in the figure.
region varies with the distance r (in cm) as () Calculate the potential difference, between A
and C.
E=10r +5
(ii) Atwhich point (of the two), the electric potential
By how much does the electric potential increase in is more and why? All India 2012
moving from point at r= lm to a point at r =10m?
Delhi 2020 A- 4cm
41. (i) Draw equipotential surfaces corresponding to the 5 cm i3 cm
electric field that uniformly increases in E
magnitude along with the z-directions.
(ii) Two charges -qand +q are located at points (0, 0,
-a) and (0. 0, a). What is the electrostatic
48. Draw a plot showing the variation of (i) electric field
(E) and (i) electric potential () with distance r due to
potential at the points (0, 0, z) and (x, y, 0)? a point charge . Delhi2012
Delhi 2019
49. Two uniformly large parallel thin plates having charge
42. (i) Draw the equipotential surfaces due to an electric
dipole. densities +o and -g are kept in the XZ- plane at a
distance d apart. Sketch an equipotential surface due
(11) Derive an expression for the electric field due to a to electric field between the plates.If a particle of
dipole of dipole moment p at a point on its mass mand charge -q remains stationary between the
perpendicular bisector. Delhi 2019 plates, what is the magnitude and direction of this
43. Two metallic spheres of radii R and 2R are charged, so field? Delhi2011
that both of these have same surface charge density o. 50. Adipole with its charge -g and +q located at the
If they are connected to each other with a conducting points (0,-b,0) and (0, +b,0) is present in a uniform
wire, in which direction will the charge flow and why? electric field E. The equipotential surfaces of this field
All India 2016
are planes parallel to the YZ-plane.
44. Two point charges g and g; are located at and r, (i) What is the direction of the electric field E?
respectively in an external electric field E. Obtain the (i) How much torque would the dipole experience in
expression for the total work done in assembling this this field? Delhi 2010C
configuration. Delhi 2014

45. Two closely spaced equipotential surfaces A and B 3 Marks Questions

with potentials V and V+8V, (where SV is the change 51. State the significance of negative value of electrostatic
in ) are kept ôl distance apart as shown potential energy of a system of charges.
in the figure. (i) Deduce the relation between the
electric field and the potential gradient between them. Three charges are placed at the corners of an
(ii)Write the two important conclusions concerning equilateral triangle ABC of side 2.0 m as shown in
figure. Calculate the electric potential energy of the
the relation between the electric field and electric system of three charges. CBSE 2023
Delhi 2014C
potential.
+4.0uC
V+ SV
QA

A
BO
-4.0pC +2.0uC
46. Calculate the amount of work done to dissociate a
-4uC
System of three charges, two of luC and one of 52. (i) Two point charges + and-, are placed at r
placed on the vertices of an equilateral triangle of side
All India 2013C
distance apart. Obtain the expression for the
10cm. amount of work done to place a third charge , at
 42 Chapterwise CBSE Solved Papers: PHYSICS

the mid-point of the line joining the two (ii) Depict the equipotential surfaces due to an electric
charges. dipole. Delhi 2017
(ii) At what distance from charge + on the line 58. Define an equipotential surface. Draw equipotential
joining the two charges (in tems of Q,.:and surfaces
r) willthis work done be zero? Delhi 2020
() in case of a single point charge
53. (i) Draw the cquipotential surfaces corresponding (ii) in aconstant electric field in z-direction. Why the
to a uniform electric field in the z-direction. equipotential surfaces abouta single charge are not
(ii) Derive an expression for the clectricpotential at cquidistant?
any point along the axial line of an electric (iii) Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential
Delhi 2019 All India 2016
dipole. surface? Give reason.
54. Aparticle, having a charge +SuC, is initially at rest 59. (i) Depict the equipotential surfaces for a system of two
at the point x = 30 cm on the X-axis. The particle identical positive point charges placed at a distance
begins to move due to the presence of acharge d apart.
that is kept fixed at the origin. Find the kinetic (ii) Deduce the expression for the potential energy of a
energy of the particle at the instant it has moved 15 system of two point charges q and q , brought from
cm from its initial position, if infinity to the points with positions r and r,
respectively in presence of external electric field E.
(i)Q=+15 uC and (ii)Q=-15uC CBSE SQP 2018-19 Delhi 2010
55. Four point charges Q. q.Qand q are placed at the
corners of a square of side a as shown in figure. 5 Marks Questions
60. Establish the relation between electric field and electric
potential at a point.
Draw the equipotential surface for an electricfield
pointing in +z-direction with its magnitude increasing at
constant rate along-z-direction.
CBSE SQP 2020-21

61. (i) Define electrostatic potential at a point. Write its SI

unit.
Find the
Three charges q, , 42 and q, are kept respectively at
(i) resultant electric force on a charge and points 4, B and Cas shown in figure. Write the
(i) potential energy of this system. CBSE 2018
expression for electrostatic potential energy of the
56. (i) Three point charges g, - 4q and 24 are placed at system.
the vertices of an equilateral triangle ABC of A
side l as shown in the figure. Obtain the
expression for the magnitude of the resultant
electric force acting on the charge q. I12 13

(i) Depict the equipotential surfaces due to

(a) an electric dipole
(b) two identical negative charges separated by a
(ii) Find out the amount of the work done to small distance. CBSE SQP2019-20
separate the charges at infinite distance. CBSE 2018 62. Two point charges q and -q are located at points
57. (i) Derive the expression for the electric potential (0,0,-a) and (0,0, a) respectively.
due toan electric dipole at a point on its axial (i) Find the electrostatic potential at (0,0, z) and (x, y,0}
line.
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance 43

(ii) How much work is done in moving a small test

charge from the point (5,0,0) to (-7,0,0) along the (iv) If the above point charges are now placed in the
X-axis? same positions in a uniform external electric field E,
what would be the potential energy of the charge
(iüü) How would your answer change if the path of the
test charge between the same points is not system in its orientation of unstable equilibrium?
the X-axis but along any other random along Justify your answer in each case. CBSE 2018 C
path?

Explanations