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Senior Inter Physics

5. Electric Field, Potential & Capacitance
e t
4 Marks Questions
. n
1.
h a
Derive an expression for the intensity of electric field at a point on the axial

line of an electric dipole.

i b
A:
t
Consider an electric dipole of length '2a' and having a dipole moment 'P'. Let
a
in figure.
p r
'A' be a point on the axial line of dipole at a distance 'r' from its centre as shown

2a
d u →
E (-)
→
Ea →
-Q
nOa +Q
A
> E
(+)

.e e a a
r

w w e t
w n
At point 'A' on the axial line of dipole, electric field intensity due to −'Q' charge

.
1 Q
is, E(−) =  . 2
4π∈0 (r + a)
(towards − 'Q')
h a
Electric field intensity due to + 'Q' charge is,
i b
1 Q
E(+) =  .  (away from + 'Q') a t
4π∈0 (r − a)2
p r
u
∴ Total electric field intensity at point 'A' is,
d
Ea = E(+) − E(−)
a (+) > E(−))
(... E

1
en Q
⇒ Ea =  .  −  . 
.e 4π∈0 (r − a)2 4π∈0 (r + a)2
1 Q

w ww [
Q 1
=  .  − 
4π∈0
1
(r − a)2 (r + a)2 ]
(r + a)2 − (r − a)2
= 
Q
4π∈0
.
[

(r2 − a2)
2 ]
R-26-1-15
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Q 4ra 1 2(Q × 2a).r
=  .  =  . 
4π∈0 (r2 − a2)2 4π∈0 (r2 − a2)2
1 2.p.r
(... P = Q × 2a)
=  . 
4π∈0 (r2 − a2)
2
e t
For short dipole (r > > a) (r2 − a2) ≈ r2,
. n
1 2P
∴ Ea =  . 
h a
4π∈0 r3
(along axial line from −'Q' to +'Q'). i b
2.
a t
Define electric potential and derive an expression for the electric potential
due to a point electric charge.
p r
A:
d u
Electric potential: Electrostatic potential at any point in a region of electric

a
field is the negative of work done in bringing a unit positive charge from
n
.e e
infinity to that point.
Electrostatic potential due to a point charge: Consider a point electric

w t
charge +'Q' at the origin 'O'. Electric potential at a point 'P' which is at a
w e
w
distance 'r' from 'O' is required.

. n
Consider another point 'A' at distance 'x' from 'O' along the same line 'OP'.

h a
+Q
P B A
<

i bMoved + 1 C
at ∞
r
>x <
a
dx
t
p r
Electrostatic force on Unit +ve charge at Point 'A' is,
1 Q
F =  . 
4π∈0 d u
x2

n a
.e e
Work done by external force in moving unit +ve charge through a small
1 Q
distance 'dx' is dw = −F.dx = −  .  .dx

ww
4π∈0 x2
∴ Total work done by external force in moving the Unit +ve charge from
w infinity distance upto point 'P' is,
r
∫
1 Q
W = ∫ dw ⇒ W = −   . dx .
∞ 4π∈0 x2
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r
⇒ W = − 
Q
 . dx
4π∈0 ∞ x2
∫ 1

r
= − 
Q
4π∈0 [
−
1
x2 ∞ ]
e t
1 Q
⇒ W =  .  . n
4π∈0 x
h a
∴ Electric potential at point 'P' is,
i b
1 Q
V =  . 
4π∈0 x
a t
3.
pr
Derive an expression for the energy stored in a charged capacitor.
A:
d u
Let 'Q' be the electric charge on a parallel plates capacitor of capacity 'C' and

a
'V' be the potential difference between its plates.
n
. e
★ The work done in giving an additional charge 'dQ' is

e
dW = V.dQ .............. (1)

w w
But from Q = CV, V = −
Q
e t
w Q
∴ dW = −. dQ
C

. n
C

h a
The total work done in increasing the charge on the capacitor from 'O' to 'Q' is,

∫
W = dW
i b
∫
Q
Q
at
⇒W= − . dQ
C
p r
0
Q

∫ Q . dQ d u
1
=−
C
n a
.e e 0
Q

w w1
=
C[ ] Q2

2
= 
Q2
2C

w 0
★ This work done is stored as electric potential energy.
∴ Electric Potential Energy,
Q2 1 1
U =  (OR) U =  CV2 (OR) U =  QV
2C 2 2
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2 Marks Questions
1. Can there be electric potential at a point with zero electric intensity? Give

A:
an example.
Yes.
e t
. n
Ex: At any point inside a charged hollow conducting sphere electric intensity is
zero (E = 0) but electric potential is NOT Zero (V ≠ 0).
h a
2.
b
Can there be electric intensity at a point with zero electric potential? Give
i
an example.

a t
A: Yes.

p r
Ex: At the mid point of an electric dipole electric potential is zero (V = 0) but

d u
electric intensity is NOT Zero (E ≠ 0).
3.
n a
What is equipotential surface? Why is an electric field always at right

A:
. e
angles to the equi - potential surface?

e
An equi - potential surface is a surface in an electric field on which electric

w w
potential is same at all points.
e t
w n
★ If the electric field is not at right angles to equi - potential surface, it would
.
h a
have non - zero components along the surface and work would have to be
done in moving an electric charge between two points on the surface which
is NOT correct.
i b
a t Writer: G.V. Chandra Sekhar

p r
d u
n a
.e e
w ww

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