CHAPTER

Electric Charges

RETPAHC
1

1
and Fields
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video solutions of questions.

TOPICS
1.2 Electric Charge 1.8 Electric Field Lines
1.3 Conductors and Insulators 1.9 Electric Flux
1.A Charging by Induction* 1.10 Electric Dipole
1.4 Basic Properties of Electric Charge 1.11 Dipole in a Uniform External Field
1.5 Coulomb’s Law 1.12 Continuous Charge Distribution
1.6 Forces between Multiple Charges 1.13 Gauss’s Law
1.7 Electric Field 1.14 Applications of Gauss’s Law

Analysis of Last 10 Years’ CBSE Board Questions (2024-2015)

12 MCQ
VSA
10 SA I
SA II
Number of questions

8 LA

0
1.2 1.A 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.13 1.14
Topics

Weightage Comparison
Weightage tract (1%)1.2 1.A(1%)
1.4(2%)
Topic 1.14 Applications of Gauss’s Law is highly scoring topic. 4%
1.5

41% 1.6(1%)
Maximum MCQ type questions were asked from topic 1.7 Electric Field. 1.14 1.7 9%
1.8(3%)
Maximum SA II type questions were asked from topic 1.11 Dipole in a Uniform
1.1 1.9(4%)
External Field. 1.13
0
5%
1.11
Maximum LA type questions were asked from topic 1.14 Applications of Gauss’s Law. 17% 12%

QUICK RECAP

Charge : Electric charge is an intrinsic property of elementary particles of matter which gives rise to electric force
between various objects.
X Quantization : Charge of an object is always in the form of an integral multiple of electronic charge and never
its fraction.
i.e., q = ±ne
where n is an integer and e = 1.6 × 10–19 C.
* This topic is not in the NCERT Textbook but given in current CBSE Syllabus.
2 CBSE Champion Physics Class 12

X Millikan’s oil drop experiment showed the

discrete nature of charge. Charge cannot be
fractional multiple of e. +q –q
X Conservation of charge : Net charge of an isolated
physical system always remains constant. Charge
can neither be created nor destroyed. It can be (i) (ii)
transferred from one body to another.
X Electric charge is additive, i.e., total charge is the
algebraic sum of the individual charges.
+q +q
X Electric charge is invariant as it does not depend
upon the motion of the charged body or the
observer.
Coulomb’s law : It states that the electrostatic force (iii)

of attraction or repulsion between two stationary

point charges is given by
1 q1q2 –q +q
F=
4 πε0 r 2
where F denotes the force between two charges
q1 and q2 separated by a distance r in free space. e0 (iv)
is a constant known as permittivity of free space. Electrostatic force due to continuous charge
Free space is vacuum and may be taken as to be air distribution
practically. The region in which charges are closely spaced is
1 N m2 said to have continuous distribution of charge. It is of
Also, = 9 × 109
4 πε0 C2 three types :
X If free space is replaced by a medium, then e0 is X Linear charge distribution
replaced by (e0K) or (e0er) where K is known as
dielectric constant or relative permittivity.
1 q1q2 1 q1q2 1 q1q2
∴ F= = = dq
4 πε r 2 4 πε0K r 2 4 πε0εr r 2 dl
ε ε r
Here, K = or er = q0 dF
ε0 ε0
K = 1 for vacuum (or air) and K = ∞ for conductor/

metal. Differential charge dq = l dl
e 0 = 8.85 × 10 –12
C N m 2 –1 –2
and its dimensional where, l = linear charge density
–1 –3 4 2 Force on charge q0 due to dq,
formula is [M L T A ].
Vector form of the law  1 q0 (dq)   1 q0 ( λ dl ) 
dF = ⋅  r ⇒ dF =  r
 1 q1q2   4 πε0 | r |2 4 πε0 | r |2
(i) F12 =   (r − r )
4 πε0 | r1 − r2 |3 1 2  q0 λ dl 
4πε0 ∫l | r |2
Net force on charge q0, F =  r
1 q1q2 
= 2
r12
4 πε 0 r12
X Surface charge distribution
 1 q1q2   q1q2 1 
(ii) F21 = + + + +
  3 (r2 − r1 ) = r
2 21
4 πε0 | r2 − r1 | 4 πε0 r21 + +
+ r
→ → dS
F12 F21 + + + + q0 dF
+q1 ( r1) +q2 ( r2)
dq = s dS
Electric field lines where, s = surface charge density
 he electric field lines due to positive and negative
T  q0 σ dS 
4πε0 ∫S | r |2
Net force on charge q0, F =  r
charges and their combinations are :
Electric Charges and Fields 3

X Volume charge distribution Electric dipole : Two equal and opposite charges (q)
each, separated by a small distance (2l) constitute an
electric dipole. Many of the atoms/molecules are dipoles.
 
dV
(i) Electric dipole moment, p = 2q l .
r (ii) Dipole moment is a vector quantity and is directed
q0 dF from negative to positive charge.
(iii) Unit of dipole moment is coulomb metre (C m).
dq = r dV (iv) Dimension of dipole moment = [ATL]
where, r = volume charge density X Intensity of electric field due to a dipole
 q ρdV
Net force on charge q0, F = 0 ∫  2 r −
Along axis at
4πε0 | r |
V O p B P
distance r from A–q +q
E

Electric field intensity : The electric field intensity at centre of dipole: 2a

any point due to source charge is defined as the force 
Electric field r

experienced per unit positive test charge (q0) placed intensity at any point on the axis of electric
at that point without disturbing the source charge. It dipole at a distance r from its centre is

is expressed as directed parallel to dipole moment p and is
 given by
 F
E = lim E = EPB – EPA[ EPB > EPA]
q0 →0 q0
Here, q0 → 0, i.e., the test charge q0 must be small, so 1 q 1 q
or E = −
that it does not produce its own electric field. 4 πε0 (r − a)2 4 πε0 (r + a)2 
SI unit of electric field intensity (E) is N/C and it is a q  1 1 
=  − 
vector quantity. 4 πε0  (r − a) (r + a)2 
2

X Electric field intensity due to a point charge

q  r 2 + a2 + 2ar − r 2 − a2 + 2ar 
− Electric field intensity at point P is, or E =  
4 πε0  (r 2 − a2 )2 
 1 q
E = ⋅  r 1 q . 2a . 2r 1 2pr
4 πε0 | r |2 = or E =
q 4 πε0 (r 2 − a2 )2 4 πε0 (r − a2 )2
2
P 
E directed parallel to dipole moment p . For
r
short dipole, when r >>> a, then electric field
−  he magnitude of the electric field at a point
T
1 2p
P is given by at point P is E =
4 πε0 r 3
 1 q
| E |= ⋅ In vectorial form, the electric field intensity
4 πε0 r 2
at point P on the axis of short electric dipole
If q > 0, i.e., positive charge, then E is directed  
1 2p
away from source charge. On the other hand if is then given by E =
4 πε0 r 3
q < 0, i.e., negative charge, then E is directed
−
Electric field at E PB
towards the source charge. E PB sin
equatorial position due
1
E ∝ to dipole : E PB cos
r2 P
Electric field at any point E PA cos
X Electric field due to a system of charges
     on the perpendicular
E = E1 + E2 + E3 + ......... + En E PA E PA sin
bisector of an electric
r
 1 n qi  dipole at distance r from
⇒ E= ∑  ri
4 πε0 i=1 | ri |2 its centre is A
–q +q
B
Enet = –Ex 2a
En Ei
= –(EPA cos θ + EPB cos θ)
Fi F2 E2
Fn  [ Vertical components cancel each other
r1 P F1 and net electric field is opposite to the
q1 
r2 E1 direction of p ]
ri rn
qn
or Enet = –2EPA cos θ [ EPA = EPB]
q2
qi −1 2q
or Enet = .cos θ
A system of charges 4 πε0 (r 2 + a2 )
4 CBSE Champion Physics Class 12

1 q a X When dipole is parallel to electric field, it is in

Enet = −2 . .
stable equilibrium. When it is antiparallel to
4 πε0 (r 2 + a2 ) (r 2 + a2 )1/2
electric field, it is in unstable equilibrium.
−1 q . 2a
Enet =
4 πε0 (r 2 + a2 )3/2  Gauss’s law : For a closed surface dS E
1 p enclosing a net charge q, the net
S
or Enet = − electric flux f emerging out is r q
4 πε0 (r + a2 )3/2
2
  q
For short dipole, when r >>> a, then electric given by φ = ∫ E ⋅ dS =
ε0
field at point P is S

−1 p X Shape of Gaussian surface

E=
4 πε0 r 3 − For a sphere or spherical shell : A concentric
In vectorial form, the electric field intensity sphere.
at point P on the perpendicular bisector of − For cylinder or an infinite rod : A coaxial
short electric dipole is then given by cylinder.
 
1 −p − For a plate : A cube or a cuboid.
E=
4 πε0 r 3 X If a dipole is enclosed by a closed surface, flux f is
− At any point along direction q equal to zero.
1 p Here the algebraic sum of charges (+ q – q = 0) is
E = 1 + 3 cos2 θ zero.
4 πε0 r 3
X Flux from a cube
If the direction of E makes an angle b
(i) If q is at the centre of cube, total flux
with the line joining the point with centre of
q
1 f=
dipole, then, tan b = tan q. ε0
2
q
Electric dipole in a uniform electric field (ii) From each face of cube, flux =
6ε 0
q
p
qE X Electric field due to a thin, infinitely long
straight wire of uniform linear charge density l,
E
λ
–qE
–q
E = , where r is the perpendicular distance
2 πε0r

X Resultant electric force on the dipole of the observation point from the wire.
= qE – qE = 0 X Electric field due to uniformly charged thin
spherical shell of uniform surface charge density
X Two forces [qE and (– qE)] equal and opposite,
s and radius R at a point distant r from the centre
separated by a distance constitute a couple
of the shell is given as follows :
(torque).
− At a point outside the shell i.e., r > R,
X Torque on the dipole, τ = pE sin q.
   1 q
Vectorially, torque, τ = p × E E=
4 πε0 r 2
E p 1 q
− At a point on the shell i.e., r = R, E =
4 πε0 R2
− At a point inside the shell i.e., r < R, E = 0
θ τ Here, q = 4pR2s
 X Electric field due to a thin non conducting
X The direction of τ is perpendicular to the plane
  infinite sheet of charge with uniform
containing p and E . σ
surface charge density s is E =
X The torque tends to align the dipole in the 2ε0
direction of electric field. X Electric field between two infinite thin
X Torque is maximum when q = 90° i.e., dipole is plane parallel sheets of uniform surface charge
perpendicular to E. density s and – s is E = s/e0.
\ Maximum torque = pE X Electric field near an infinite charged conducting
When q = 0° or 180°, then tmin = 0. surface of surface charge density s is E = s/e0.