Chapter 15

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Only One Option Correct Type Questions

1. A long, hollow conducting cylinder is kept coaxially inside another long, hollow conducting cylinder of larger
radius. Both the cylinders are initially electrically neutral. [IIT-JEE-2007 (Paper-1)]

(A) A potential difference appears between the two cylinders when a charge density is given to the inner cylinder

(B) A potential difference appears between the two cylinders when a charge density is given to the outer
cylinder

(C) No potential difference appears between the two cylinders when a uniform line charge is kept along the
axis of the cylinders

(D) No potential difference appears between the two cylinders when same charge density is given to both the
cylinders

2. Consider a neutral conducting sphere. A positive point charge is placed outside the sphere. The net charge
on the sphere is then, [IIT-JEE-2007 (Paper-1)]

(A) Negative and distributed uniformly over the surface of the sphere

(B) Negative and appears only at the point on the sphere closest to the point charge

(C) Negative and distributed non-uniformly over the entire surface of the sphere

(D) Zero

3. A spherical portion has been removed from a solid sphere having a charge distributed uniformly in its volume
as shown in figure. The electric field inside the emptied space is [IIT-JEE-2007 (Paper-2)]

(A) Zero everywhere

(B) Non-zero and uniform

(C) Non-uniform

(D) Zero only at its center

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 a  a
4. Positive and negative point charges of equal magnitude are kept at  0, 0,  and  0, 0,  , respectively. The
 2   2 
work done by the electric field when another positive point charge is moved from (– a, 0, 0) to (0, a, 0) is
[IIT-JEE-2007 (Paper-2)]
(A) Positive
(B) Negative
(C) Zero
(D) Depends on the path connecting the initial and final positions

q q 2q
5. Consider a system of three charges , and  placed at pointss A, B and C, respectively, as shown
3 3 3
in the figure. Take O to be the centre of the circle of radius R and angle CAB = 60°
[IIT-JEE-2008 (Paper-2)]
y

C x
O
60°

q
(A) The electric field at point O is directed along the negative x-axis
2
80R
(B) The potential energy of the system is zero

2
q
(C) The magnitude of the force between the charges at C and B is
2
54 0 R
q
(D) The potential at point O is
12 0 R
6. A parallel plate capacitor C with plates of unit area and separation d is filled with a liquid of dielectric constant
d
K = 2. The level of liquid is initially. Suppose the liquid level decreases at a constant speed V, the time
3
constant as a function of time t is [IIT-JEE-2008 (Paper-2)]

C
d R
d
3

6 0 R (15d  9V t ) 0 R
(A) (B)
5d  3V t 2
2d  3d V t  9V t
2 2

6 0 R (15d  9V t ) 0R
(C) (D)
5d  3V t 2
2d  3d V t  9V t
2 2

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7. Three concentric metallic spherical shells of radii R, 2R, 3R, are given charges Q1,Q2,Q3, respectively.; It is
found that the surface charge densities on the outer surfaces of the shells are equal. Then, the ratio of the
charges given to the shells, Q1 : Q2 : Q3, is [IIT-JEE-2009 (Paper-1)]
(A) 1 : 2 : 3 (B) 1 : 3 : 5
(C) 1 : 4 : 9 (D) 1 : 8 : 18
8. A uniformly charged thin spherical shell of radius R carries uniform surface charge density of  per unit area.
It is made of two hemispherical shells, held together by pressing them with force F (see figure). F is proportional
to [IIT-JEE-2010 (Paper-2)]

F F

1 2 2 1 2
(A)   R (B)   R
0 0

1 2 1 2
(C) (D)
0 R 0 R 2
9. A 2 F capacitor is charged as shown in the figure. The percentage of its stored energy dissipated after the
switch S is turned to position 2 is [IIT-JEE-2011 (Paper-1)]
1 2
S

V 2 F 8 F

(A) 0% (B) 20%

(C) 75% (D) 80%

10. Consider a thin spherical shell of radius R with its centre at the origin, carrying uniform positive surface charge

density. The variation of the magnitude of the electric field | E (r ) | and the electric potential V(r) with the
distance r from the centre, is best represented by whcih graph? [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-1)]

|E(r)| V(r) |E(r)| V(r)

(A) (B)

0 r 0 r
R R

|E(r)| V(r) |E(r)| V(r)

(C) (D)

0 r 0 r
R R

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11. In the given circuit, a charge of +80 C is given to the upper plate of the 4 F capacitor. Then in the steady
state, the charge on the upper plate of the 3 F capacitor is [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-2)]

+80 C
4 F

2 F 3 F

(A) +32 C (B) +40 C

(C) +48 C (D) +80 C
12. Two large vertical and parallel metal plates having a separation of 1 cm are connected to a DC voltage source
of potential difference X. A proton is released at rest midway between the two plates. It is found to move at
45° to the vertical JUST after release. Then X is nearly [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-1)]
(A) 1 × 10–5 V (B) 1 × 10–7 V
(C) 1 × 10–9 V (D) 1 × 10–10 V
13. A thin spherical insulating shell of radius R carries a uniformly distributed charge such that the potential at
its surface is V0. A hole with a small area 4R2( << 1) is made on the shell without affecting the rest of
the shell. Which one of the following statements is correct? [JEE (Adv)-2019 (Paper-1)]
(A) The potential at the center of the shell is reduced by 2V0
V0
(B) The magnitude of electric field at the center of the shell is reduced by
2R
(C) The magnitude of electric field at a point, located on a line passing through the hole and shell’s center,
V0
on a distance 2R from the center of the spherical shell will be reduced by
2R
1
(D) The ratio of the potential at the center of the shell to that of the point at R from center towards the
2
1 
hole will be
1  2

One or More Option(s) Correct Type Questions

14. A spherical metal shell A of radius RA and a solid metal sphere B of radius RB(< RA) are kept far apart and
each is given charge '+Q'. Now they are connected by a thin metal wire. Then [IIT-JEE-2011 (Paper-1)]

(A) E Ainside  0 (B) QA > QB

 A RB on surface
(C)  (D) E A  EBon surface
B R A
15. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? [IIT-JEE-2011 (Paper-2)]
(A) If the electric field due to a point charge varies as r –2.5 instead of r –2, then the Gausss law will still be
valid
(B) The Gauss law can be used to calculate the field distribution around an electric dipole
(C) If he electric field between two point charges is zero somewhere, then the sign of the two charges is the
same
(D) The work done by the external force in moving a unit positive charge from point A at potential VA to point
B at potential VB is (VB – VA)

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16. Six point charges are kept at the vertices of a regular hexagon of side L and centre O, as shown in the figure.
1 q
Given that K  , which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct? [IIT-JEE-2012 (Paper-2)]
40 L2

F L E
+q –q
P

S T
A D
+2q O +2q

R
B C
+q –q

(A) The electric field at O is 6K along OD

(B) The potential at O is zero
(C) The potential at all points on the line PR is same
(D) The potential at all points on the line ST is same
17. In the circuit shown in the figure, there are two parallel plate capacitors each of capacitance C. The switch
S1 is pressed first to fully charge the capacitor C1 and then released. The switch S2 is then pressed to charge
the capacitor C2. After some time, S2 is released and then S3 is pressed. After some time,
[JEE (Adv)-2013 (Paper-1)]

S1 S2 S3

C1 C2
2V0 V0

(A) The charge on the upper plate of C1 is 2CV0

(B) The charge on the upper plate of C1 is CV0
(C) The charge on the upper plate of C2 is 0
(D) The charge on the upper plate of C2 is –CV0
18. Two non-conducting spheres of radii R1 and R2 and carrying uniform volume charge densities + and
–, respectively, are placed such that they partially overlap, as shown in the figure. At all points in the
overlapping region, [JEE (Adv)-2013 (Paper-2)]

 –

R1 R2

(A) The electrostatic field is zero

(B) The electrostatic potential is constant
(C) The electrostatic field is constant in magnitude
(D) The electrostatic field has same direction

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19. A parallel plate capacitor has a dielectric slab of dielectric constant K between its plates that covers 1/3 of
the area of its plates, as shown in the figure. The total capacitance of the capacitor is C while that of the portion
with dielectric in between is C1. When the capacitor is charged, the plate area covered by the dielectric gets
charge Q1 and the rest of the area gets charge Q2. The electric field in the dielectric is E1 and that in the
other portion is E2. Choose the correct option/options, ignoring edge effects. [JEE (Adv)-2014 (Paper-1)]

Q1 E1

Q2 E2

E1
(A) 1
E2

E1 1
(B) 
E2 K

Q1 3
(C) 
Q2 K

C 2K
(D) 
C1 K
20. A parallel plate capacitor having plates of area S and plate separation d, has capacitance C1 in air. When two
dielectrics of different relatives primitivities (1 = 2 and 2 = 4) are introduced between the two plates as shown

C2
in the figure, the capacitance becomes C2. The ratio is [JEE (Adv)-2015 (Paper-2)]
C1
d/2

S/2
2

+ –
1
S/2

d
(A) 6/5 (B) 5/3
(C) 7/5 (D) 7/3
21. A point charge +Q is placed just outside an imaginary hemispherical surface of radius R as shown in the figure.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? [JEE (Adv)-2017 (Paper-2)]
Q

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Q  1 
(A) The electric flux passing through the curved surface of the hemisphere is  1  
20  2
(B) The component of the electric field normal to the flat surface is constant over the surface
Q
(C) Total flux through the curved and the flat surfaces is
0
(D) The circumference of the flat surface is an equipotential
22. A medium having dielectric constant K >1 fills the space between the plates of a parallel plate capacitor. The
plates have large area, and the distance between them is d. The capacitor is connected to a battery of voltage
d
V, as shown in Figure (a). Now, both the plates are moved by a distance of from their original positions,
2
as shown in Figure (b). [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-1)]

In the process of going from the configuration depicted in Figure (a) to that in Figure (b), which of the following
statement(s) is(are) correct?
(A) The electric field inside the dielectric material is reduced by a factor of 2K.

1
(B) The capacitance is decreased by a factor of .
K 1
(C) The voltage between the capacitor plates is increased by a factor of (K + 1).
(D) The work done in the process DOES NOT depend on the presence of the dielectric material
23. Six charges are placed around a regular hexagon of side length a as shown in the figure. Five of them have
charge q and the remaining one has charge x. The perpendicular from each charge to the nearest hexagon
side passes through the center O of the hexagon and is bisected by the side.
q

90°
q q

O
a

q q
x

[JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-1)]

Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct in SI units?

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(A) When x = q, the magnitude of the electric field at O is zero.

q
(B) When x = – q, the magnitude of the electric field at O is 6  a 2
0

7q
(C) When x = 2q, the potential at O is
4 3  0 a

3q
(D) When x = – 3q, the potential at O is –
4 3  0 a

24. In the figure, the inner (shaded) region A represents a sphere of radius rA = 1, within which the electrostatic
charge density varies with the radial distance r from the center as A = kr, where k is positive. In the spherical
2k
shell B of outer radius rB, the electrostatic charge density varies as B = . Assume that dimensions are
r
taken care of. All physical quantities are in their SI units. [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-2)]

Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct?

3
(A) If rB  , then the electric field is zero everywhere outside B.
2

3 k
(B) If rB  , then the electric potential just outside B is .
2  0

(C) If rB = 2, then the total charge of the configuration is 15k.

5 13k
(D) lf rB  , then the magnitude of the electric field just outside B is .
2 0

25. A disk of radius R with uniform positive charge density  is placed on the xy plane with its center at the
origin. The Coulomb potential along the z-axis is

V (z) 
  R 2  z2 – z 
2 0

A particle of positive charge q is placed initially at rest at a point on the z-axis with z = z0 and z0 > 0. In

 2c  0
addition to the Coulomb force, the particle experiences a vertical force F  – c kˆ with c > 0. Let   .
q
Which of the following statement(s) is(are) correct? [JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-2)]

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1 25
(A) For   and z0  R, the particle reaches the origin.
4 7

1 3
(B) For   and z0  R, the particle reaches the origin.
4 7

1 R
(C) For   and z0  , the particle returns back to z = z0
4 3

(D) For   1 and z0  0, the particle always reaches the origin.

Integer / Numerical Value Type Questions

26. Three identical capacitors C1, C2 and C3 have a capacitance of 1.0 F each and they are uncharged initially.
They are connected in a circuit as shown in the figure and C1 is then filled completely with a dielectric material
of relative permittivity r. The cell electromotive force (emf) V0 = 8 V. First the switch S1 is closed while the
switch S2 is kept open. When the capacitor C3 is fully charged, S1 is opened and S2 is closed simultaneously.
When all the capacitors reach equilibrium, the charge on C3 is found to be 5 C. The value of r = ________.
[JEE (Adv)-2018 (Paper-1)]

V0 S2

C1 C3
S1 C2

27. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C has spacing d between two plates having area A. The region
d
between the plates is filled with N dielectric layers, parallel to its plates, each with thickness   . The
N
 m
dielectric constant of the mth layer is K m  K  1   . For a very large N (> 103), the capacitance C is
 N
 K 0 A 
  . The value of  will be ______.
 d In 2 
[0 is the permittivity of free space]
[JEE (Adv)-2019 (Paper-1)]
28. Two large circular discs separated by a distance of 0.01 m are connected to a battery via a switch as shown
in the figure. Charged oil drops of density 900 kg m –3 are released through a tiny hole at the center of the
top disc. Once some oil drops achieve terminal velocity, the switch is closed to apply a voltage of 200 V
across the discs. As a result, an oil drop of radius 8 × 10–7 m stops moving vertically and floats between
the discs. The number of electrons present in this oil drop is ________. (neglect the buoyancy force, take
acceleration due to gravity = 10 ms–2 and charge on an electron (e) = 1.6 × 10–19 C)
[JEE (Adv)-2020 (Paper-2)]

Switch

200 V 0.01 m

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Question Stem for Question Nos. 29 and 30

Question Stem

Two point charges –Q and + Q / 3 are placed in the xy-plane at the origin (0, 0) and a point (2, 0), respectively, as
shown in the figure. This results in an equipotential circle of radius R and potential V = 0 in the xy-plane with its
center at (b, 0). All lengths are measured in meters. [JEE (Adv)-2021 (Paper-1)]

–Q
x
Q

3

29. The value of R is ___ meter

30. The value of b is ___ meter

31. In the following circuit C1 = 12 F, C2 = C3 = 4 F and C4 = C5 = 2 F. The charge stored in C3 is ____ C.

[JEE (Adv)-2022 (Paper-1)]



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