All the Important Formulae that a student should know from.

XII Physics
Unit 1: CHAPTER 1 - ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELD
CHAPTER 2 ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND
CAPACITANCE
S.
No.
1.

Formula

Description

Quantization of charge

Q = total charge (coulomb)

Q = ne,

e = charge on one electron (coulomb)

n = number of electrons

2.

The force between two charges

q1 and q2 at a distance r from
each other

F=
3.

1 q1q2

r
40 r 2

F = force (newton)
q1 and q2 = charges (coulomb)
r = distance between charges (meter)

Superposition






principle -

F = F1 + F2 + F3 + ......

F = net force on the system (newton)

F1,F2 and F3 . = different forces working
on the system (newton)

4.

Electric field strength E at a
point r distance away from a
point charge q

E=
5.

1 q

r
40 r2

E = Electric field strength (volt / meter)
r = distance from a point charge (meter)
q = point charge (coulomb)

Electrostatic force F on a charge


q inside
the
electric
field
E




F= q E

E = Electric field strength (volt / meter)


F = Electrostatic force (newton)
q = point charge (coulomb)

6.

Dipole moment p = q 2a

p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)

q = one of the charges (coulomb)
2a = separation between two charges
(meter)

7.

Dipole field intensity on axial

line of dipole

2pr
40 (r 2 a2 )2

E1 =

E1 = Electric field strength (volt / meter)
p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)
2a = separation between two charges
(meter)
r = distance of the point from the centre
of the dipole (meter)

8.

Dipole field intensity on

equatorial line of dipole

E2 =

p
40 (r2 + a2 )3 / 2

E2 = Electric field strength (volt / meter)
p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)
2a = separation between two charges
(meter)
r = distance of the point from the centre
of the dipole (meter)

9.

Dipole field intensity at any

point due to a short dipole

E =
and

p
3 cos2 + 1,
40r 3
tan =

1
tan
2

E = Electric field strength (volt / meter)
p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)
r = distance of the point from the centre
of the dipole (meter)

= angle which the line joining the point

to centre of dipole makes with the axis of
dipole

= the angle at which E is inclined to the
line joining the point the centre of dipole.
10.

Torque on dipole
inside electric




field is = p E

E = Electric field strength (volt / meter)
p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)

= torque (newton meter)
11.

Potential energy of dipole

U = pE(cos 1 cos 2 )

E= Electric field strength (volt / meter)

p = dipole moment (coulomb meter)

1 = initial angle between p and E





2 = final angle between p and E
U = potential energy
12.

E=

Electric field strength (volt / meter)
S = S
n = area element (meter2)

Flux = E.S

= flux (weber)
13.

14.

= Electric flux through a closed surface

Gausss law:

q
0

(weber)
S = area of closed surface (meter2)

Application of Gausss law:

Electric field due to thin
infinitely long straight wire of
uniform linear charge density

E=

15.

n
20 r

Electric field due to infinite thin

plane sheet of uniform surface
charge density

Electric field due to thin

spherical shell uniform surface
charge density

E=

1 q

r
40 r 2

E =0

r = perpendicular distance of the point

from the wire (meter)

E = Electric field intensity (volt / meter)

E=
n
20
16.

q = total charge enclosed by S (coulomb)

= linear charge density (coulomb /
meter)

(r R )

(r < R )

n = radial unit vector

= surface charge density (coulomb /
meter2)

E = Electric field intensity (volt / meter)

n = unit vector normal to the plane

= surface charge density (coulomb /

meter2)


E = Electric field intensity (volt / meter)
r = the distance of the point from the
centre of the shell
R = radius of the shell

17.

Potential at a point due to single

charge

q =total charge on shell

V = Potential (volt)
q = Point charge (coulomb)

V=

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

1 q
40 r

r = distance (meter)

Potential at a point due to group

of N charges
1 i=N qi
V=

40 i=1 ri

V = Potential (volt)

Relation between potential

gradient and electric field

E = Electric field (volt / meter)

dV
E=
dr
Electric potential energy of a
system of two point charges
1 q1q2
U=
40 r12
Electric potential energy of a
system of n point charges
qiqj
1
U=

40 i,j,i j rij

Capacity C = Q / V

qi = Point charges (coulomb)

ri = Distances (meter)

dV
= Potential gradient (volt / meter)
dr

U = Electric potential energy (joule)

q1 and q2 = Charges (coulomb)
r12 = Distance between charges (meter)

U = Electric potential energy (joule)

qi and qj = Charges (coulomb)
rij = Distance between charges (meter)
C = Capacity (farad)
Q = Charge (coulomb)

23.

24.

25.

26.

Capacity of a spherical
conductor
C = 40r

V = Potential difference (volt)

C = Capacity (farad)
r = radius (meter)

Capacity of a parallel plate

capacitor with air as dielectric
A
C= 0
d

C = Capacity (farad)

Capacity of a parallel plate

capacitor with insulating
medium as dielectric
k A
C= 0
d

C = Capacity (farad)

Capacitors in series

d = Distance between plates (meter)

A = Area of plate (meter2)

d = Distance between plates (meter)

A = Area of plate (meter2)
k = dielectric constant
Cs = Resultant capacitance (farad)

1
1
1
1
=
+
+
....
Cs C1 C2 C3

27.

Capacitors in parallel
Cp = C1 + C2 + C3 + ....

28.

Energy stored in capacitor

1
Q2 1
E = QV =
= CV2
2
2C 2

C1, C2, C3= Independent capacitances

(farad)
Cp = Resultant capacitance (farad)
C1, C2, C3= Independent capacitances
(farad)
E = Energy stored (joule)
Q = Charge (coulomb)
C = Capacitance (farad)

29.

Common potential
V=

30.

31.

32.

q1 + q2
C V + C2 V2
= 1 1
C1 + C2
C1 + C2

Loss of energy on sharing

charges
C C (V V2 )2
E = 1 2 1
2(C1 + C2 )

Capacity of a parallel plate

capacitor with a conducting slab
of thickness t in between the
plates
A
C= 0
dt
Capacity of a parallel plate
capacitor with a dielectric slab
of thickness t in between the
plates
0 A
C=
1
d t(1 )
k

V = Potential difference (volt)

V = Common potential (volt)
V1, V2 = Independent voltages (volt)
C1, C2 = Independent capacitances
(farad)
E = Energy loss (joule)
V1, V2 = Independent voltages (volt)

C1, C2 = Independent capacitances

(farad)
C = Capacity (farad)
d = Distance between plates (meter)
t = Thickness of slab (meter)
A = Area of plate (meter2)
C = Capacity (farad)
d = Distance between plates (meter)
t = Thickness of slab (meter)
A = Area of plate (meter2)
k = dielectric constant