ELECTROSTATICS

ELECTROSTATICS
 ELECTROSTATICS
ELECTROSTATICS
Coulomb's law
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞
Valid only for point charges, but can be applied for extended bodies if
separation between bodies is much greater than size of body.

F12 F21
q1 q2
r
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F12 F21
q1 q2
r
Statement : The force of interaction between two point charges is
directly proportional to product of magnitudes of two charges and
inversely proportional to square of separation between them.

1
i.e., F q1q2 and F  2
r
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F12 F21
q1 q2
r
q1 q 2
Combining, F
r2
q1 q 2
 Fk 2
r
Where k is a constant.
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𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞
(1) Line of action of Coulomb force is along the straight line joining
the two charges.
(2) Value of k
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In S.I. units :

9Nm 2
k  9  10
C2
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(3) Also :  0 r or ∈=∈0 𝐾

(Î ® epsilon)
where Î ® absolute permittivity of medium
Î0 ® absolute permittivity of vacuum
Îr ® relative permittivity of medium
Îr or K® dielectric constant of medium
Îr or K ® unitless and dimensionless
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Q. If dielectric constant of water is 81, then find its permittivity.
Sol. Q Î = KÎ0
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4. If medium surrounding the charges has infinite extension
and dielectric constant ‘K'.

K
q1 r q2
1 q1 q 2 1 q1 q 2
F0 = ; Fm 
4 0 r 2
4  r 2

 K>1 ; Fm < F0
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Q.1 Two charge particles carrying equal charge are placed
10m apart in vacuum. If electrostatic force between them
is 0.9 N, find charge on each particle.
Sol.

q q
k q1 q 2 10m
 F=
r2

9×109 ×𝑞 2
0.9 = ⇒ 𝑞 = 10−4 𝐶 𝑜𝑟 100𝜇𝐶
(10)2
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Q.2 Force between 2 identical spheres A and B carrying same charge
placed at a separation r in vacuum is F. If now a 3rd identical
uncharged sphere C is first brought in contact with A, then with B
and is finally taken away, then force between A and B becomes :
(a) F/4 (b) F/8
(c) 3F/4 (d) 3F/8
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Q. Force between two equal positive point charges placed at a
separation 15 cm apart in vacuum is F. if same amount of charge is
given to two identical spheres each of radius 5 cm with their
centres being 15 cm apart, then force between two spheres is F'.
Then
(a) F' > F (b) F' < F
(c) F' = F (d) Cannot say
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Sol
.

kQ 2
F' = 2
d '  d  F '  F
(d ')

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞
If charges were unlike, then d' < d & F' > F
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Q. Two point charges +q1 and +q2 are placed r metre apart in vacuum.
Force on q1 due to q2 is F. If now a third charge +q3 is placed at mid
point of line joining the charges, then force on q1 due to q2
(a) Increases (b) Decreases
(c) Remains same (d) Can't say
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Q. Force between two charges is F in vacuum. To keep the force
constant on each charge what should be the new separation between
them if they are now placed in a medium of dielectric constant K?
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Q. Two equal point charges apply F force on each other. If 25
electrons of one charge are transferred to other. Find new force
between them.
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Q. Two equal point charges apply F force on each other at separation d.
Find the number of electrons missing from each charge.
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Q. Two equal point charges have equal masses, if they are in
equilibrium under their mutual electrostatic and gravitational forces,
Find specific charge (Q/m).