Electric Flux - NEET Physics Questions
Question 1: easy

How much electric flux will come out through a surface of area vector \(\overrightarrow{S}=10\hat{j}\) kept in an electrostatic field \(E=2\hat{j}+4\hat{j}+3\hat{k} \)?

1. 20 units
2. 40 units
3. 30 units
4. 90 units
View Answer

The electric flux is given by:

\[
\Phi = \overrightarrow{E} \cdot \overrightarrow{S}
\]

Here, \(\overrightarrow{E} = 2\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}\) and \(\overrightarrow{S} = 10\hat{j}\).

\[
\Phi = (2\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} + 3\hat{k}) \cdot (10\hat{j}) = 0 + 4 \cdot 10 + 0 = 40 \, \text{units}.
\]

Question 2: moderate

Electric charges are distributed in a small volume. The flux of the electric field through a spherical surface of radius 10 cm surrounding the total charge is 25 V-m. The flux over a concentric sphere of radius 20 cm will be :

1. 25 V-m
2. 50 V-m
3. 100 V-m
4. 200 V-m
View Answer

The electric flux through a spherical surface depends only on the total enclosed charge, as per Gauss's law:

\[
\Phi = \frac{Q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0}
\]

Since the total charge enclosed remains the same regardless of the sphere's radius, the flux through the concentric sphere of radius 20 cm will also be 25 V-m.

Question 3: moderate

A square surface of side L metres is in the plane of the paper. A uniform electric field \(\overrightarrow{E} \)(volt/m), also in the plane of the paper, is limited only to the lower half of the square surface (see figure). The electric flux in SI units associated with the surface is :

1. EL²
2. \[ EL^{2}/2\varepsilon_{0}\]
3. EL²/2
4. zero
View Answer

Angle between area vector and Electric field is 90º. So Flux is zero.

Question 4: difficult

Consider the situation shown in figure. A point charge q is placed at a depth h= √3R exactly below the centre of mouth of a vessel whose open end is circular having a radius R. Calculate the electric flux through the lateral surface of this vessel.

1. \[ \frac{q}{2\epsilon_{0}}\left( 1-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right)\]
2. \[ \frac{q}{2\epsilon_{0}}\left( 1+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right)\]
3. \[ \frac{q}{\epsilon_{0}}\]
4. \[ \frac{q}{2\epsilon_{0}}\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right)\]
View Answer

To calculate the electric flux through the lateral surface of the vessel, we apply Gauss's law and consider the symmetry of the system.

---=====================================

Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Total Flux from the Charge \(q\):
The total flux emitted by the point charge \(q\) in all directions is:
\[
\Phi_{\text{total}} = \frac{q}{\varepsilon_0}.
\]

2. Flux Through the Circular Mouth:
Using the geometry of the vessel, the charge \(q\) is placed at a depth \(h = \sqrt{3}R\). The flux through the circular mouth of radius \(R\) can be calculated as:
\[
\Phi_{\text{mouth}} = \frac{q}{2\varepsilon_0}.
\]

3. Flux Through the Lateral Surface
By symmetry, the flux through the lateral surface is the remaining flux from the total flux after subtracting the flux through the mouth:
\[
\Phi_{\text{lateral}} = \Phi_{\text{total}} - \Phi_{\text{mouth}}.
\]

4. Simplify:
Substitute the values:
\[
\Phi_{\text{lateral}} = \frac{q}{\varepsilon_0} - \frac{q}{2\varepsilon_0}.
\]
\[
\Phi_{\text{lateral}} = \frac{q}{2\varepsilon_0} \left(1 + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right).
\]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final Answer:
The electric flux through the lateral surface of the vessel is:
\[
{\frac{q}{2\varepsilon_0} \left( 1 + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \right)}.
\]

Question 5: moderate

The electric field components in the given figure are \(  E_{x}=\alpha x^{1/2}, E_{y}=E_{z}=0 \) in which \( \alpha=800NC^{-1}m^{-1/2}.\) The charge within the cube is if net flux through the cube is 1.05 N m²C–¹
(assume a = 0.1 m)

 

1. \[ 9.27\times 10^{-12}C\]
2. \[ 9.27\times 10^{12}C\]
3. \[ 6.97\times 10^{-12}C\]
4. \[ 6.97\times 10^{12}C\]
View Answer

We are tasked with finding the charge enclosed within the cube using Gauss's Law:

\[
\Phi_{\text{net}} = \frac{q_{\text{enc}}}{\varepsilon_0}.
\]

Given:
- Net flux through the cube: \(\Phi_{\text{net}} = 1.05 \, \text{Nm}^2\text{C}^{-1}\),
- \(\varepsilon_0 = 8.85 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{C}^2\text{N}^{-1}\text{m}^{-2}\),
- \(\alpha = 800 \, \text{N}\text{C}^{-1}\text{m}^{-1/2}\),
- Cube side length: \(a = 0.1 \, \text{m}\).

Steps:

1. Use Gauss's Law:
The enclosed charge \(q_{\text{enc}}\) is related to the flux by:
\[
q_{\text{enc}} = \varepsilon_0 \Phi_{\text{net}}.
\]

2. Substitute the values:
\[
q_{\text{enc}} = (8.85 \times 10^{-12}) \cdot (1.05).
\]

3. Calculate:
\[
q_{\text{enc}} = 9.27 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{C}.
\]

Final Answer:
The enclosed charge is:
\[
{9.27 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{C}}.
\]

Question 6: easy

A point charge + Q is positioned at the center of the base of a square pyramid as shown. The flux through one of the four identical upper faces of the pyramid is

 

1. \[ \frac{Q}{16\varepsilon_{0}}\]
2. \[ \frac{Q}{4\varepsilon_{0}}\]
3. \[ \frac{Q}{8\varepsilon_{0}}\]
4. None of these
View Answer

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Flux through the Entire Pyramid:
The total charge enclosed by the pyramid is \(+Q\), and the total flux through the entire closed surface of the pyramid is given by Gauss's law:
\[
\Phi_{\text{total}} = \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_0}.
\]

2. Flux Distribution:
The pyramid has a square base and four triangular faces. However, **the charge \(+Q\) is located at the center of the base, not at the geometric center of the pyramid.** This means the flux through the base is not zero and contributes to the total flux.

3. Flux Through the Base:
Due to symmetry, half of the total flux passes through the square base:
\[
\Phi_{\text{base}} = \frac{\Phi_{\text{total}}}{2} = \frac{Q}{2\varepsilon_0}.
\]

4. Flux Through the Four Triangular Faces:
The remaining half of the total flux passes through the four triangular faces combined:
\[
\Phi_{\text{triangular (total)}} = \frac{\Phi_{\text{total}}}{2} = \frac{Q}{2\varepsilon_0}.
\]

5. Flux Through One Triangular Face:
Since the four triangular faces are identical, the flux is equally distributed among them:
\[
\Phi_{\text{face}} = \frac{\Phi_{\text{triangular (total)}}}{4} = \frac{\frac{Q}{2\varepsilon_0}}{4} = \frac{Q}{8\varepsilon_0}.
\]

Final Answer:
The flux through one triangular face is:
\[
{\frac{Q}{8\varepsilon_0}}.
\]

Question 7: difficult

It is required to hold equal charges q in equilibrium at the corners of a square. What charge when placed at the centre of the square will do this ?

1. \[ -\frac{q}{2}\left( 1+2\sqrt{2} \right)\]
2. \[ \frac{q}{2}\left( 1+2\sqrt{2} \right)\]
3. \[ \frac{q}{4}\left( 1+2\sqrt{2} \right)\]
4. \[ -\frac{q}{4}\left( 1+2\sqrt{2} \right)\]
View Answer

To hold equal charges \(q\) in equilibrium at the corners of a square, we need to place a charge \(Q\) at the center of the square such that the net force on each corner charge due to other charges is balanced.

1. Force due to corner charges:
Each charge \(q\) at the corners experiences repulsive forces due to the other three corner charges. The net force from these three charges is:
\[
F_{\text{corners}} = q \cdot \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \left( \frac{2}{a^2} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{a^2} \right) = \frac{q^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 a^2} \left( 2 + \sqrt{2} \right),
\]
where \(a\) is the side of the square.

2. Force due to center charge \(Q\):
The attractive force due to the central charge \(Q\) on each corner charge is:
\[
F_{\text{center}} = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0} \cdot \frac{qQ}{r^2},
\]
where \(r = \frac{a}{\sqrt{2}}\) is the distance from the center to a corner. Substituting \(r\):
\[
F_{\text{center}} = \frac{qQ}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 \cdot \frac{a^2}{2}} = \frac{2qQ}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 a^2}.
\]

3. Equilibrium condition:
For equilibrium, \(F_{\text{corners}} = F_{\text{center}}\):
\[
\frac{q^2}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 a^2} \left( 2 + \sqrt{2} \right) = \frac{2qQ}{4\pi\varepsilon_0 a^2}.
\]

4. Solve for \(Q\):
\[
Q = \frac{q}{2} \left( 2 + \sqrt{2} \right).
\]
Since \(Q\) is opposite in sign to \(q\), the final charge is:
\[
Q = -\frac{q}{4} \left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right).
\]

Thus, the required charge at the center is:

\[
Q = -\frac{q}{4} \left( 1 + 2\sqrt{2} \right).
\]

Question 8: moderate

A charge Q is placed at the mouth of a conical flask. The flux of the electric field through the flask is

1. \[ \frac{Q}{3\varepsilon_{0}}\]
2. \[ \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
3. \[ \frac{Q}{2\varepsilon_{0}}\]
4. \[ \frac{2Q}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
View Answer

The total flux due to a charge \(Q\) is given by Gauss's law:

\[
\Phi_{\text{total}} = \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_0}.
\]

Since the charge \(Q\) is placed at the mouth of the conical flask, the flux through the flask corresponds to half the total flux (because the charge is symmetrically distributed above and below the mouth):

\[
\Phi_{\text{flask}} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \Phi_{\text{total}} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{Q}{\varepsilon_0}.
\]

Thus, the flux through the conical flask is:

\[
\Phi = \frac{Q}{2\varepsilon_0}.
\]

Question 9: moderate

In a certain region of surface there exists a uniform electric field of \( 2\times 10^{3}\hat{k} \) V/m. A rectangular coil of dimensions 10 cm × 20 cm is placed in x-y plane. The electric flux through the coil is 

1. zero
2. 4 × 10–³ V-m
3. 40 V-m
4. \[ 4\times 10^{5} V-m\]
View Answer

The electric flux is given by:

\[
\Phi = \vec{E} \cdot \vec{A} = E A \cos\theta,
\]

where:
- \(E = 2 \times 10^3 \, \text{V/m}\),
- \(A = \text{area of the coil} = 10 \, \text{cm} \times 20 \, \text{cm} = 0.1 \, \text{m} \times 0.2 \, \text{m} = 0.02 \, \text{m}^2\),
- \(\theta = 0^\circ\) (field is perpendicular to the coil, as the coil is in the \(xy\)-plane and the field is along \(\hat{k}\)).

Substitute values:
\[
\Phi = (2 \times 10^3) \cdot (0.02) \cdot \cos(0^\circ),
\]
\[
\Phi = 40 \, \text{V·m}.
\]

Thus, the electric flux is:

\[
40 \, \text{V·m}
\]

Question 10: difficult

An infinite, uniformly charged sheet with surface charge density σ cuts through a spherical Gaussian surface of radius R at a distance x from its center, as shown in the figure. The electric flux Φ through the Gaussian surface is :

1. \[ \frac{\pi R^{2}\sigma}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
2. \[ \frac{2\pi \left( R^{2}-x^{2} \right)\sigma}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
3. \[ \frac{\pi \left( R-x \right)^{2}\sigma}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
4. \[ \frac{\pi \left( R^{2}-x^{2} \right)\sigma}{\varepsilon_{0}}\]
View Answer

The electric flux \(\Phi\) through the Gaussian surface can be found using Gauss's law:

\[
\Phi = \frac{q_{\text{enc}}}{\epsilon_0}
\]

Here, \(q_{\text{enc}}\) is the charge enclosed by the spherical Gaussian surface.

Since the infinite sheet has a uniform surface charge density \(\sigma\), the charge enclosed is the product of \(\sigma\) and the area of the sheet that lies inside the sphere. The area of the sheet within the sphere is the area of the circle formed by the intersection, which has a radius \(r\) determined by the geometry of the sphere and the plane.

1. The radius of the intersection circle is \(r = \sqrt{R^2 - x^2}\).
2. The area of this circle is \(A = \pi r^2 = \pi (R^2 - x^2)\).

Thus, the enclosed charge is:

\[
q_{\text{enc}} = \sigma A = \sigma \pi (R^2 - x^2).
\]

Substituting this into Gauss's law:

\[
\Phi = \frac{\sigma \pi (R^2 - x^2)}{\epsilon_0}.
\]

So, the electric flux through the Gaussian surface is:

\[
\Phi = \frac{\sigma \pi (R^2 - x^2)}{\epsilon_0}.
\]