ELECTROSTATICS

Physics By:
ASSERTION AND REASONING QUESTION
HITEN PARMAR ELECTROSTATICS
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Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option out of the options given
below :
(a) If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the
assertion.
(b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the
assertion.
(c) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If the assertion and reason both are false.
(e) If assertion is false but reason is true.

1. Assertion: The coulomb force is the dominating force in the universe.

Reason: The coulomb force is weaker than the gravitational force.
2. Assertion: If three capacitors of capacitance C1 < C2 < C3 are connected in parallel then
their equivalent capacitance Cp > Cs
Reason: 1 1 1 1
  
Cp C1 C2 C3
3. Assertion: A metallic shield in form of a hollow shell may be built to block an electric
field.
Reason: In a hollow spherical shield, the electric field inside it is zero at every point.
4. Assertion: Electrons move away from a low potential to high potential region.
Reason: Because electrons has negative charge.
5. Assertion: If the distance between parallel plates of a capacitor is halved and dielectric
constant is made three times, then the capacitor becomes 6 times.
Reason: Capacity of the capacitor does not depend upon the nature of the material.
6. Assertion: A parallel plate capacitor is connected across battery through a key. A
dielectric slab of constant K is introduced between the plates. The energy
which is stored becomes K times.
Reason: The surface density of charge on the plate remains constant or unchanged.
7. Assertion: Electric lines of force cross each other.
Reason: Electric field at a point superimpose to give one resultant electric field.
8. Assertion: If a proton and an electron are placed in the same uniform electric field.
They experience different acceleration.
Reason: Electric force on a test charge is independent of its mass.
9. Assertion: Dielectric breakdown occurs under the influence of an intense light beam.
Reason: Electromagnetic radiations exert pressure.
10. Assertion: When charges are shared between any two bodies, no charge is really lost,
but some loss of energy does occur.
Reason: Some energy disappears in the form of heat, sparking etc.
11. Assertion: Annihilation of electron and positron is an example of decay of charges.
Reason: In the process of annihilation an electron and a positron combine to give a
gamma particle.
12. Assertion: Surface of a symmetrical conductor can be treated as equipotential surface.
Reason: Charges can easily flow in a conductor.

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13. Assertion: The capacity of a given conductor remains same even if charge is varied on
it.
Reason: Capacitance depends upon nearly medium as well as size and shape of
conductor.
14. Assertion: A charged capacitor is disconnected from a battery. Now if its plate are
separated farther, the potential energy will fall.
Reason: Energy stored in a capacitor is equal to the work done in charging it.
15. Assertion: Charge is invariant.
Reason: Charge does not depends on speed of frame of reference.
16. Assertion: Mass of ion is slightly differed from its element.
Reason: Ion is formed, when some electrons are removed or added so mass changes.
17. Assertion: Charge is quantized.
Reason: Charge, which is less than 1 C is not possible
18. Assertion: If a point charge q is placed in front of an infinite grounded conducting
plane surface, the point charge will experience a force.
Reason: This force is due to the induced charge on the conducting surface which is
at zero potential.
19. Assertion: The surface charge densities of two spherical conductors of different radii
are equal. Then the electric field intensities near their surface are also
equal.
Reason: Surface charge density is equal to charge per unit area.
20. Assertion: Three equal charges are situated on a circle of radius r such that they form
on equilateral triangle, then the electric field intensity at the centre is zero.
Reason: The force on unit positive charge at the centre, due to the three equal
charges are represented by the three sides of a triangle taken in the same
order. Therefore, electric field intensity at centre is zero.
21. Assertion: On going away from a point charge or a small electric dipole, electric field
decreases at the same rate in both the cases.
Reason: Electric field is inversely proportional to square of distance from the charge
or an electric dipole.
22. Assertion: The whole charge of a conductor cannot be transferred to another isolated
conductor.
Reason: The total transfer of charge from one to another is not possible.
23. Assertion: Conductors having equal positive charge and volume, must also have same
potential.
Reason: Potential depends only on charge and volume of conductor.
24. Assertion: At a point in space, the electric field points towards north. In the region,
surrounding this point the rate of change of potential will be zero along the
east and west.
Reason: Electric field due to a charge is the space around the charge.
25. Assertion: A point charge is brought in an electric field. The field at a nearby point will
increase, whatever be the nature of the charge
Reason: The electric field is independent of the nature of charge.
26. Assertion: The force with which one plate of a parallel plate capacitor is attracted
towards the other plate is equal to square of surface density per  per unit
area.
Reason: The electric field due to one charged plate of the capacitor at the location of
the other is equal to surface density per .

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27. Assertion: The lightening conductor at the top of high building has sharp pointed ends.
Reason: The surface density of charge at sharp points is very high resulting in setting
up of electric wind.
28. Assertion: Circuit containing capacitors should be handled cautiously even when there is
no current.
Reason: The capacitors are very delicate and so quickly break down.
29. Assertion: The tyres of aircraft's are slightly conducting.
Reason: If a conductor is connected to ground, the extra charge induced on conductor will flow to ground.
30. Assertion: A bird perches on a high power line and nothing happens to the bird.
Reason: The level of bird is very high from the ground.

1 d 2 c 3 a 4 a 5 b 6 c 7 e 8 b 9 b 10 b
16 a 17 c 18 a 19 b 20 a 11 e 12 a 13 a 14 e 15 a
21 d 22 d 23 d 24 b 25 d 26 d 27 a 28 c 29 b 30 c

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 ELECTROSTATICS

SOLUTION

1. (d)Gravitational force is the dominating force in nature and not coulomb's force. Gravitational force is the
weakest force. Also, Coulomb's force>> gravitational force.
2. (c) Equivalent capacitance of parallel combination is C p  C1  C2  C3 .
3. (a) In a hollow spherical shield, the charge is present only on its surface but charge is zero at every point
inside the hollow sphere. Hence, the metallic shield in form of hollow shell may be built to block an
electric field.
4. (a) Electron has negative charge, in electric field negative charge moves from lower potential to higher
potential.
KA K
5. (b) By the formula capacitance of a capacitor C1   0  
d d
C1 K1 d 2 K d/2 1
Hence,    1   or C2  6C1
C2 d1 K 2 K 2 3 K 6
Q
Again for capacity of a capacitor C 
V
Therefore, capacity of a capacitor does not depend upon the nature of the material of the capacitor.
6. (c) In the given case V = V0 (constant)
1
Energy stored in the capacitor  CV 2
2
C  KC, so energy stored will become A times
Q = CV, so Q will become K times
Kq
 Surface charge density  '   K 0 .
A
7. (e) If electric lines of forces cross each other, then the electric field at the point of intersection will have
two direction simultaneously which is not possible physically.
8. (b) Electron and proton have same amount of charge so they have same coulomb force. They have
F
different accelerations because they have different masses (a  )
m
Therefore, both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
9. (b)
10. (b) Charge is always conserved but energy is lost in the term of heat.
11. (e) It is an example of conversation of charges.
12. (a) Potential is constant on the surface of a sphere so it behaves as an equipotential surface.
13. (a) Capacitance is basically a geometrical quantity.
14. (e) Battery is disconnected from the capacitor.
Q2 Q 2d
So Q = constant. Energy =    Energy  d
2C 2 0 A
15. (a)
16. (a)
17. (c) Q  ne and charge lesser than 1 C is possible.
18. (a) This is the concept of electric image.
l 
If we are asked to find the force between an infinite
earthed conductor and a point charge q placed at q –q q
perpendicular distance l from the earthed conductor (see Electrical
figure), than we proceed as follows. image of q

Firstly, the conductor being earthed implies V = 0.

So, we redraw the situation in which we replace the conductor and introduce an IMAGE charge -q as
shown.
The force between the two charges (object charge q and image charge –q) is the electrostatic force
between the infinite grounded conductor and q.

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1 q2 1 q2
So, F   F  (attractive in nature)
4 0 (2l)2 4 0 4 l 2
19. (b) As  1   2 (Given) A

q1 q2 q1 r12
  , or  [Let r1 and r2 be two different radii]
4r12 4r22 q 2 r22 O
Then the ratio of electric field intensities near the surface of spherical conductor,
B C
E1 q1 4 0 r22 q1 r22
    1 i.e. E1  E2
E2 4 0 r12 q2 q 2 r12
20. (a) Resultant of electric intensity at O due to B and C is equal and opposite to that due to A.
21. (d) The rate of decrease of electric field is different in the two cases. In case of a point charge, it decreases
as 1 / r 2 but in the case of electric dipole it decreases more rapidly, as E  1 / r 3 .
22. (d) The whole charge of a conductor can be transferred to another isolated conductor, if it is placed inside
the hollow insulated conductor and connected with it.
23. (d) Electric potential of a charged conductor depends not only on the amount of charge and volume but
also on the shape of the conductor. Hence if their shapes are different, they may have different electric
potential.
24. (b) Since the electric field is directed from south to north hence rate of change of potential will be along
this direction, but it is zero along east and west.
25. (d) Electric field at the nearby point will be resultant of existing field and field due to the charge brought.
It may increase or decrease if the charge is positive or negative depending on the position of the point
with respect to the charge brought.
26. (d) The electric field due to one charged plate at the location of the other is E   / 2 0 and the force per
unit area is F   E   2 / 2 0 .
27. (a) A charged cloud induces opposite charge on pointed conductors. At sharp points of the conductor
surface density of charge is very high and charge begins to leak from the pointed ends by setting up
oppositely charged electric wind. This wind, when comes in contact with the charged cloud, neutralizes
some of its charge lowering the potential difference between the cloud and the building. This reduces
the chances of lightening striking the building [if the lightening strikes the building, the charge is
conducted to the earth and the building remains safe].
28. (c) A charged capacitor, after removing the battery, does not discharge itself. If this capacitor is touched
by someone, he may feel shock due to large charge still present on the capacitor. Hence it should be
handled cautiously otherwise this may cause a severe shock.
29. (b) During take off and landing, the friction between tyres and the run way may cause electrification of
tyres. Due to conducting nature of tyre, the charge so collected is conducted to a ground and electrical
sparking is avoided.
30. (c) When the bird perches on a single high power line, no current passes through its body because its
body is at equipotential surface i.e., there is no potential difference. While when man touches the same
line, standing bare foot on ground the electrical circuit is completed through the ground. The hands of
man are at high potential and his feet's are at low potential. Hence large amount of current flows
through the body of the man and person therefore gets a fatal shock.

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