Electrostatics - NEET Physics Questions
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Electrostatics

Question 71: easy

A body is charged by rubbing it, its weight :

1. always decreases slightly
2. always increases slightly
3. may increase or decrease slightly
4. remains precisely the same
View Answer

When a body is charged by rubbing, its weight may increase or decrease slightly because:

  1. Gain of electrons (negative charge):
    • If the body gains electrons during the process, it becomes negatively charged.
    • Since electrons have mass (
      9.1×1031kg9.1 \times 10^{-31} \, \text{kg}
       

      ), the body’s weight will increase slightly due to the addition of electrons.

  2. Loss of electrons (positive charge):
    • If the body loses electrons during rubbing, it becomes positively charged.
    • The loss of electrons reduces the body's total mass, so its weight will decrease slightly.

Thus, depending on whether the body gains or loses electrons, its weight may increase or decrease slightly.

Question 72: easy

Unit of dielectric constant of a medium is :

1. coulomb/newton-metre
2. newton-metre²/coulomb²
3. coulomb²/(newton-metre)²
4. none of the above
View Answer

The dielectric constant (also called the relative permittivity,

εr\varepsilon_r

) is a dimensionless quantity because it is defined as the ratio:

 

εr=εε0\varepsilon_r = \frac{\varepsilon}{\varepsilon_0}

 

Where:


  • ε\varepsilon
     

    = permittivity of the medium (units: F/m\text{F/m} 

    , farads per meter)


  • ε0\varepsilon_0
     

    = permittivity of free space ( F/m\text{F/m} 

    , farads per meter)

Since it is a ratio of two quantities with the same unit, the dielectric constant has no unit (it is dimensionless).

Question 73: easy

Select the correct statement :

1. the total charge of the universe is constant
2. the total number of the charged particles is constant
3. the total positive charge of the universe remains constant
4. the total negative charge of the universe remains constant
View Answer

The correct statement is "the total charge of the universe is constant" because:

  • Conservation of charge is a fundamental principle in physics. It states that the total electric charge in an isolated system remains constant, regardless of the processes occurring within the system.
  • This principle applies to all known interactions and processes, such as chemical reactions, particle collisions, and even cosmic events, meaning that charge cannot be created or destroyed—only transferred between objects.

Thus, the total charge in the universe remains constant.

Question 74: easy

The electric charge in accelerated motion produces:

1. an electric field
2. a magnetic field
3. electromagnetic radiation
4. all of the above
View Answer

The electric charge in accelerated motion produces electromagnetic radiation.

Here’s why:

  • When a charged particle accelerates (changes velocity), it disturbs the surrounding electromagnetic field. These disturbances propagate as electromagnetic waves, which include light, radio waves, X-rays, etc.
  • This is a fundamental result of Maxwell's equations, which describe how electric and magnetic fields interact with charged particles.

Thus, an accelerating electric charge produces electromagnetic radiation, which can be detected as waves of energy moving through space.

Question 75: easy

A soap bubble is given a negative charge then its radius:

1. decreases
2. increases
3. remains unchanged
4. nothing can be predicted as information is insufficient
View Answer

When a soap bubble is given a negative charge, the radius of the bubble increases. Here's why:

  • A soap bubble with charge experiences electrostatic repulsion between the like charges distributed on its surface. This repulsion causes the surface to expand.
  • The electrostatic pressure
    PP
     

    on the surface of a charged sphere (or bubble) is given by the formula:

 

P=2σ2ε0P = \frac{2 \sigma^2}{\varepsilon_0}

 

where

σ\sigma

is the surface charge density, and

ε0\varepsilon_0

is the permittivity of free space. This pressure acts to push the bubble outward.

  • To counteract this, the bubble expands, increasing its radius in response to the electrostatic repulsion.

Thus, when a soap bubble is negatively charged, the repulsion between the charges causes the bubble's radius to increase.

Question 76: easy

Two metallic spheres carry equal charges. The distance between the spheres cannot be considered large in comparison with the diameters of the spheres. In which case, will the force of interaction between the spheres be greater ?

1. Like charges
2. Unlike charges
3. One is neutral and other is charged
4. None of the above
View Answer

When the two metallic spheres are close to each other, their charges induce redistribution of charges on their surfaces due to proximity. This redistribution impacts the force of interaction:

  • For like charges (both positive or both negative): The redistribution of charge reduces the repulsive force because the induced charges create opposing electric fields, weakening the overall repulsion.
  • For unlike charges (one positive, one negative): The redistribution enhances the attractive force because the induced charges increase the local electric field, strengthening the attraction.

Thus, the force of interaction is greater for unlike charges due to this enhancement caused by charge redistribution.

Question 77: easy

Mark correct option :

1. The electric charge without mass is possible
2. The charge without mass is not possible
3. The electric charge may be transferred without transferring mass
4. Mass without electric charge is not possible
View Answer

The statement "The charge without mass is not possible" is correct based on our current understanding of physics because:

  • All known charged particles, such as electrons, protons, and ions, have mass associated with them. There is no experimental evidence of a physical entity that carries charge but has zero mass.
  • Even in the case of hypothetical particles like the photon, which is massless, it does not carry electric charge. Charged particles inherently possess mass due to their nature in both classical and quantum physics.

Thus, charge is always associated with some mass in all observed phenomena.

Question 78: easy

In relativistic mechanics \(m=\frac{m_{0}}{\sqrt{\left( 1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}} \right)}} \) the equivalent relation in electricity for electric charge is:

1. q = q0
2. \[q=\frac{q_{0}}{\sqrt{\left( 1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}} \right)}}\]
3. \[ q_{0}=\frac{q}{\sqrt{\left( 1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}} \right)}}\]
4. \[ q=\frac{q_{0}v}{c}\]
View Answer

The relativistic formula for mass,

 

m=m01v2c2m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2}}}

 

accounts for how mass increases with velocity. This behavior arises because mass is a form of energy, and energy is affected by motion under relativity.

However, electric charge (

qq

) is invariant under relativistic mechanics. Charge does not depend on the velocity of the particle. It remains constant in all inertial reference frames, which is a fundamental principle in physics.

Thus, the equivalent relation for electric charge is simply:

 

q=q0q = q_0

 

This reflects the fact that charge does not vary with velocity, unlike mass.

Question 79: moderate

Choose incorrect statement/s :

(A) In friction (method of charging), body having high work function will aquire positive charge.

(B) In conduction charge transfer takes place till potential of both bodies becomes equal.

(C) Inducing body will get opposite nature of charge.

(D) Induction is a body phenomena.

1. Only A
2. Only B
3. Both A and C
4. Both C and D
View Answer

Here’s the reasoning behind the incorrect statements A and C:

(A) Incorrect:

  • In frictional charging, the body with a lower work function (which requires less energy to remove electrons) will lose electrons and acquire a positive charge, while the one with a higher work function will gain electrons and acquire a negative charge. Thus, the statement is reversed.

(C) Incorrect:

  • In induction, the inducing body does not get an opposite charge. Instead, the induced charge on the other body is opposite in nature to the inducing charge, while the inducing body retains its original charge. Therefore, this statement is wrong.

Additional Notes:

  • (B) Correct: In conduction, charge transfer continues until both bodies achieve the same potential.
  • (D) Correct: Induction involves the rearrangement of charges within a body due to the presence of a nearby charged object. It is a property of the body itself.
Question 80: moderate

Dimensions of \( \frac{Kq^{2}}{Gm^{2}} \) are where \( K=\frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_{0}} \)

1. \[ \left[ M^{1}L^{1}T^{-2} \right]\]
2. \[ \left[ M^{1}L^{-3}T^{-2} \right] \]
3. \[ \left[ M^{1}L^{3}T^{-2} \right]\]
4. No Dimensions
View Answer

To find the dimensions of \(\frac{Kq^{2}}{Gm^{2}}\), we analyze the dimensions of each component.

1. Dimensions of \( K \):
- Given \( K = \frac{1}{4\pi \varepsilon_0} \), where \(\varepsilon_0\) is the permittivity of free space.
- \( K \) has dimensions of \(\left[ \text{Force} \cdot \text{Distance}^2 \cdot \text{Charge}^{-2} \right] = \left[ M^1 L^3 T^{-4} A^{-2} \right] \).

2. Dimensions of \( q^2 \):
- The charge \( q \) has dimensions \(\left[ A T \right]\), so \( q^2 \) has dimensions \(\left[ A^2 T^2 \right]\).

3. Dimensions of \( G \):
- \( G \) is the gravitational constant with dimensions \(\left[ M^{-1} L^3 T^{-2} \right]\).

4. Dimensions of \( m^2 \):
- The mass \( m \) has dimensions \(\left[ M \right]\), so \( m^2 \) has dimensions \(\left[ M^2 \right]\).

5. Combine Everything:
- Now, \(\frac{Kq^2}{Gm^2}\) has dimensions:
\[
\frac{\left[ M^1 L^3 T^{-4} A^{-2} \right] \cdot \left[ A^2 T^2 \right]}{\left[ M^{-1} L^3 T^{-2} \right] \cdot \left[ M^2 \right]}
\]

6. Simplify:
- This simplifies to \(\left[ M^0 L^0 T^0 A^0 \right] = \text{No Dimensions}\).

Conclusion:
The expression \(\frac{Kq^2}{Gm^2}\) is dimensionless.