Electrostatics - NEET Physics Questions
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Electrostatics

Question 51: 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 52: moderate

Three charged particles are placed on a straight line as shown in Fig. q1 and q2 are fixed, but q3 can be moved. Under the action of the forces from q1 and q2, q3 is in equilibrium. What is the relation between q1 and q2 ?

1. q1 = 4q2
2. q1 = –q2
3. q1 = –4q2
4. q1 = q2
View Answer

To find the relation between \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) for \( q_3 \) to be in equilibrium, let's analyze the forces on \( q_3 \).

1. Forces on \( q_3 \):
- The force due to \( q_1 \) on \( q_3 \) is:
\[
F_{13} = \frac{k |q_1| |q_3|}{(2x)^2} = \frac{k |q_1| |q_3|}{4x^2}
\]
(directed towards \( q_1 \) if \( q_1 \) and \( q_3 \) have opposite signs).

- The force due to \( q_2 \) on \( q_3 \) is:
\[
F_{23} = \frac{k |q_2| |q_3|}{x^2}
\]
(directed towards \( q_2 \) if \( q_2 \) and \( q_3 \) have opposite signs).

2. Equilibrium Condition for \( q_3 \):
For \( q_3 \) to be in equilibrium, these forces must be equal in magnitude:
\[
F_{13} = F_{23}
\]
Substituting the values:
\[
\frac{k |q_1| |q_3|}{4x^2} = \frac{k |q_2| |q_3|}{x^2}
\]
Cancelling \( k \), \( |q_3| \), and \( x^2 \) from both sides, we get:
\[
\frac{|q_1|}{4} = |q_2|
\]
Therefore:
\[
q_1 = -4q_2
\]

Answer:
The relation between \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) is:
\[
q_1 = -4q_2
\]

Question 53: moderate

Two particles A and B (B is right of A) having charges \( 8\times 10^{-6}C \)and ( -2\times 10^{-6}C\), respectively, are held fixed with separation of 20 cm. Where should a third charged particle be placed so that it does not experience a net electric force :

1. 5 cm right of B
2. 5 cm left of A
3. 20 cm left of A
4. 20 cm right of B
View Answer

Let's solve this briefly.

1. Charges and Positions:
- Charge on \( A = 8 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{C} \).
- Charge on \( B = -2 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{C} \).
- Distance between \( A \) and \( B = 20 \, \text{cm} \).

2. Equilibrium Condition for Third Charge \( Q \):
- For the third charge \( Q \) to experience zero net force, it must be positioned where the attractive force from \( A \) and the repulsive force from \( B \) on \( Q \) are equal in magnitude.
- Since \( |A| > |B| \), \( Q \) must be placed on the right side of \( B \) (further from \( A \)).

3. Distance Calculation:
- Let the distance of \( Q \) from \( B \) be \( x \).
- The distance of \( Q \) from \( A \) is then \( 20 + x \).

Using Coulomb's law, we set the magnitudes of the forces equal:
\[
\frac{k \cdot (8 \times 10^{-6}) \cdot Q}{(20 + x)^2} = \frac{k \cdot (2 \times 10^{-6}) \cdot Q}{x^2}
\]
Simplify by cancelling \( k \) and \( Q \):
\[
\frac{8}{(20 + x)^2} = \frac{2}{x^2}
\]
Cross-multiplying gives:
\[
8x^2 = 2(20 + x)^2
\]
Simplifying, we find \( x = 20 \, \text{cm} \).

Answer:
The third charge should be placed 20 cm to the right of \( B \) for zero net force.

Question 54: moderate

Two point charges repel each other with a force of 100 N. One of the charges is increased by 10%, and the other is reduced by 10%. The new force of repulsion at the same distance would be :

1. 100 N
2. 121 N
3. 99 N
4. none of these
View Answer

The initial force \( F \) between two charges \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) is given by:

\[
F = k \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2} = 100 \, \text{N}
\]

After changing the charges:
- \( q_1 \) increases by 10%, so \( q_1' = 1.1 q_1 \).
- \( q_2 \) decreases by 10%, so \( q_2' = 0.9 q_2 \).

The new force \( F' \) is:

\[
F' = k \frac{q_1' q_2'}{r^2} = k \frac{(1.1 q_1)(0.9 q_2)}{r^2} = (1.1 \times 0.9) F
\]

Calculating \( 1.1 \times 0.9 = 0.99 \), so:

\[
F' = 0.99 \times 100 = 99 \, \text{N}
\]

Question 55: difficult

An isolated charge q1 of mass m is suspended freely by a thread of length l. Another charge q2 is brought near it (r >>l). When q1 is equilibrium, tension in thread will be :

1. mg
2. >mg
3. <mg
4. none of these
View Answer

Solution Outline:

1. Forces Acting on \( q_1 \):
- Gravitational Force: \( F_g = mg \), acting vertically downward.
- Electrostatic Force: \( F_e = \frac{k |q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \), acting horizontally toward \( q_2 \).

2. Resultant Tension \( T \)
Since \( q_1 \) is in equilibrium, the tension \( T \) in the thread must balance both the gravitational and electrostatic forces. The tension will act diagonally, with components to counteract both the vertical \( mg \) and horizontal \( F_e \) forces.

3. Calculating \( T \):
Using vector addition, we find \( T \) as:
\[
T = \sqrt{(mg)^2 + \left( \frac{k |q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \right)^2}
\]

Since \( \frac{k |q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \) is a positive quantity, \( T \) is indeed greater than \( mg \).

Conclusion:
The correct answer is:
\[
T > mg
\]

Question 56: moderate

An oil drop, carrying six electronic charges and having a mass of \( 1.6\times 10^{-12}\) g, falls with some terminal velocity in a medium. What magnitude of vertical electric field is required to make the drop move upward with the same speed as it was formerly moving downward with? Ignore buoyancy :

1. \[ 10^{5} NC^{-1}\]
2. \[10^{4} NC^{-1} \]
3. \[ 3.3\times 10^{4} NC^{-1}\]
4. \[3.3\times 10^{5} NC^{-1}\]
View Answer

To make the oil drop move upward with the same terminal velocity it had while moving downward, the electric force upward must balance the gravitational force downward.

Solution Steps:

1. Given Data:
- Mass of the drop, \( m = 1.6 \times 10^{-12} \, \text{g} = 1.6 \times 10^{-15} \, \text{kg} \)
- Charge on the drop, \( q = 6 \times e = 6 \times 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{C} = 9.6 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{C} \)
- Gravitational force, \( F_{\text{gravity}} = mg \), where \( g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)

2. Gravitational Force:
\[
F_{\text{gravity}} = (1.6 \times 10^{-15}) \times 9.8 = 1.568 \times 10^{-14} \, \text{N}
\]

3. Electric Field Required:
- To counteract this gravitational force, the electric force \( F_{\text{electric}} = qE \) must equal \( F_{\text{gravity}} \).
\[
qE = F_{\text{gravity}}
\]
\[
E = \frac{F_{\text{gravity}}}{q} = \frac{1.568 \times 10^{-14}}{9.6 \times 10^{-19}} = 3.3 \times 10^4 \, \text{N/C}
\]

Conclusion:
The required electric field magnitude is \( 3.3 \times 10^4 \, \text{N/C} \).

Question 57: difficult

Two pith balls each with mass m are suspended from insulating threads. When the pith balls are given equal positive charge Q, they hang in equilibrium as shown. We now increase the charge on the left pith ball from Q to 2Q while leaving its mass essentiality unchanged. Which of the following diagrams best represents the new equilibrium configuration?

1.
2.
3.
4.
View Answer

From Newton's Third Law of Motion forces acting on both the charges are equal.

\[ tan \theta = \frac{F}{mg} \]

So angle made by them with vertical will also be equal. But the value of θ will increase because force is increasing due to increase in charge.

Question 58: difficult

Four charges q1 = lμC, q2 = 2μC , q3 = 3μC and q4 = 4μC are placed at (0, 0, 0), (1m, 0, 0) (0, 1m, 0) and (0, 0, 1m) respectively. Let\( \overrightarrow{F_{i}} \)be the net force acting on i^{th} charge of the given charges then \( \Sigma \overrightarrow{F_{i}} = ……… :\)

1. 0.018 N
2. 0.02 N
3. 0.036 N
4. zero
View Answer

To find \(\sum \overrightarrow{F_i}\), the vector sum of forces acting on each charge in the system, we can apply Newton's third law:

1. Newton's Third Law:
- For any pair of charges, the force exerted by one charge on another is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the second charge on the first.

2. Net Force on System:
- Since each pair of charges in the system exerts equal and opposite forces on each other, all internal forces cancel out in pairs.

3. Resultant Force:
- As a result, the net force on the entire system of charges is zero.

Conclusion:

The total force \(\sum \overrightarrow{F_i} = 0\).

Question 59: difficult

Two equal negative charges each –q, are placed at points (0, a) and (0,–a) on y–axis. A positive charge q is released from point (2a, 0). This charge will be :

1. execute SHM about the origin
2. oscillate but not execute SHM
3. move towards origin and will become stationary
4. execute SHM along y-axis
View Answer

To analyze the motion of the positive charge \( +q \) released from point \( (2a, 0) \), let's consider the forces acting on it due to the two fixed negative charges \( -q \) at points \( (0, a) \) and \( (0, -a) \).

Solution Steps:

1. Symmetry of Forces:
- Each negative charge \( -q \) exerts an attractive force on \( +q \) along the line joining them.
- Due to symmetry, the vertical components of these forces (along the y-axis) will cancel out, while the horizontal components (along the x-axis) will add up, pulling \( +q \) toward the y-axis.

2. Resultant Force Direction:
- The resultant force always points toward the y-axis but varies with distance from it.
- The force does not follow a linear restoring force law (i.e., it’s not proportional to displacement), which is required for simple harmonic motion (SHM).

3. Motion of \( +q \):
- The charge \( +q \) will oscillate back and forth across the y-axis due to the attractive forces from the two fixed charges.
- However, since the force is not proportional to displacement, the motion is **not SHM**.

Conclusion:
The positive charge \( +q \) will oscillate but will not execute SHM.

Question 60: difficult

A block of mass m containing a net negative charge –q is placed on a frictionless horizontal table and is connected to a wall through an
unstretched spring of spring constant k. If the horizontal electric field E parallel to the spring is switched on, then the maximum compression
of the spring is :-

1. \sqrt{qE/k}
2. 2qE/k
3. qE/k
4. zero
View Answer