Short Answer Questions – II (PYQ)

Q. 1. Define an equipotential surface. Draw equipotential surfaces:

(i) In the case of a single point charge and
(ii) In a constant electric field in Z-direction.
Why the equipotential surfaces about a single charge are not equidistant?
(iii) Can electric field exist tangential to an equipotential surface? Give reason.
[CBSE Central 2016]
Ans. An equipotential surface is the surface with a constant value of potential at all points on the
surface. Equipotential surface:
(i) In case of a single point charge
Here point charge is positive, if it is negative then electric field will be radially inward but
equipotential surfaces are same and are concentric spheres with centres at the charge.

(ii) In case of electric field in Z-direction

Potential of a point charge at a distance r =

∴
Hence equipotential surfaces about a single charge are not equidistant.
(iii) No if the field lines are tangential, work will be done in moving a charge on the surface
which goes against the definition of equipotential surface.
Q. 2. Show that the potential energy of a dipole making angle θ with the direction of the
field is given by U(θ) = − →. →. Hence find out the amount of work done in rotating it
𝑷 𝑬
from the position of unstable equilibrium to the stable equilibrium.
[CBSE East 2016]
Ans. The potential energy of an electric dipole in an electric field is defined as the work done in
bringing the dipole from infinity to its present position in the electric field.
Suppose the dipole is brought from infinity and placed at orientation θ with the direction of
electric field. The work done in this process may be supposed to be done in two parts.
(i) The work done (W1) in bringing the dipole perpendicular to electric field from infinity.
(ii) Work done (W2) in rotating the dipole such that it finally makes an angle θ from the direction
of electric field.
Let us suppose that the electric dipole is brought from infinity in the region of a uniform electric
field such that its dipole moment → always remains perpendicular to electric field. The electric
𝑃
forces an charges +q and – q are qE and qE, along the field direction and opposite to field
direction respectively.
As charges +q and –q traverse equal distance under equal and opposite forces; therefore, net
work done in bringing the dipole in the region of electric field perpendicular to field-direction
will be zero, i.e., W1= 0.
Now the dipole is rotated and brought to orientation making an angle θ with the field direction
(i.e., θ0 = 90° and θ1 = θ°), therefore, work done
Q. 3. Three concentric metallic shells A, B and C of radii a, b and c (a < b < c) have surface
charge densities +σ, –σ and +σ respectively as shown in the figure.

If shells A and C are at the same potential, then obtain the relation between the radii a, b
and c. [CBSE (F) 2014]
Ans.
Q. 4. A parallel plate capacitor each with plate area A and separation‘d’ is charged to a
potential difference V. The battery used to charge it is then disconnected. A dielectric slab
of thickness d and dielectric constant K is now placed between the plates. What change if
any, will take place in [CBSE (F) 2010]
(i) Charge on the plates
(ii) Electric field intensity between the plates,
(iii) Capacitance of the capacitor
Justify your answer in each case.
Ans.

Q. 5. A parallel plate capacitor is charged by a battery, which is then disconnected. A

dielectric slab is then inserted in the space between the plates. Explain what changes, if any,
occur in the values of: [CBSE Delhi 2010, (AI) 2009, 2012]
(i) Capacitance
(ii) Potential difference between the plates
(iii) Electric field between the plates, and
(iv) The energy stored in the capacitor.

Ans. (i) The capacitance of capacitor increases to K times (since C =

(ii) The potential difference between the plates becomes 1/K times.

(iii)
(iv)

Q. 6. A parallel plate is charged by a battery. When the battery remains connected, a

dielectric slab is inserted in the space between the plates. Explain what changes if any,
occur in the values of [CBSE Delhi 2010]
(i) Potential difference between the plates
(ii) Capacitance
(iii) Charge on the plates
(iv) Energy stored in the capacitor?
(v) Electric field strength between the plates
Ans. (i) When battery remains connected, the potential difference remains the same.
(ii) The capacitance of capacitor increases as K > 1.
(iii) The charge Q = CV, V = same, C = increases; there, charge on plates increases.

(iv)

(v) As electric field constant and d = constant; therefore, electric field strength
remains the same.
Q. 7. Answer the following questions
(i) Find equivalent capacitance between A and B in the combination given below. Each
capacitor is of 2µF capacitance. [CBSE Delhi 2017]

(ii) If a dc source of 7V is connected across AB, how much charge is drawn from the source
and what is the energy stored in the network? [CBSE Delhi 2017]
Ans.
(ii)

Q. 8. Two parallel plate capacitors X and Y have the same area of plates and same
separation between them. X has air between the plates while Y contains a dielectric
medium εr = 4. [CBSE Delhi 2016]
(i) Calculate the capacitance of each capacitor if equivalent capacitance of the combination
is 4 µF.
(ii) Calculate the potential difference between the plates of X and Y.
(iii) Estimate the ratio of electrostatic energy stored in X and Y.
Ans. (i)

(ii)
(iii)
Q. 9. In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 5 ×
10–3 m2 and the separation between the plates is 2.5 mm. [CBSE (F) 2014]
(i) Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor.
(ii) If this capacitor is connected to 100 V supply, what would be the charge on each plate?
(iii) How would charge on the plates be affected, if a 2.5 mm thick mica sheet of K = 8 is
inserted between the plates while the voltage supply remains connected?
Ans. (i)
(ii) Charge Q = CV
= 17.7 × 10–12 × 100
= 17.7 × 10–10 C
(iii) New charge, Q = KQ
= 8 × 17.7 × 10–10
= 1.416 × 10–8 C
Q. 10. A capacitor of unknown capacitance is connected across a battery of V volts. The
charge stored in it is 360 µC. When potential across the capacitor is reduced by 120 V, the
charge stored in it becomes 120 µC.
Calculate:
(i) The potential V and the unknown capacitance C.
(ii) What will be the charge stored in the capacitor, if the voltage applied had increased by
120 V? [CBSE Delhi 2013]
Ans.

If unknown capacitor of capacitance ‘C’ is connected to a battery of ‘V’ volts,

Q = CV
⇒ CV= 360 µC ....(i)
On reducing the potential/voltage by 120 V
So, Q′=C(V–120)
⇒ C (V– 120) = 120 µC ....(ii)
On solving equation (i) and (ii)
Q. 11. A parallel plate capacitor of capacitance C is charged to a potential V. It is then
connected to another uncharged capacitor having the same capacitance. Find out the ratio
of the energy stored in the combined system to that stored initially in the single capacitor.
[CBSE (AI) 2014]
Ans.
Q. 12. Calculate the equivalent capacitance between points A and B in the circuit below. If
a battery of 10 V is connected across A and B, calculate the charge drawn from the battery
by the circuit. [CBSE East 2016]

Ans.
This is the condition of balance so there will be no current across PR (50 µF capacitor)
Now C1 and C2 are in series
Hence, charge drawn from battery (Q) = CV
= 10 × 10 µC = 100 µC = 10–4 C

Q. 13. Two capacitors of unknown capacitances C1 and C2 are connected first in series and
then in parallel across a battery of 100 V. If the energy stored in the two combinations is
0.045 J and 0.25 J respectively, determine the value of C1 and C2. Also calculate the charge
on each capacitor in parallel combination.
[CBSE Delhi 2015]
Ans.

Solving (iii) and (iv) C1 = 38.2 µF

C2 = 11.8 µF
In parallel Q1 = C1 V
= 38.2 × 10–6 × 100 = 38.2 × 10–4 C
Q2 = C2 V
= 11.8 × 10–6 × 100 = 11.8 × 10–4 C
Q. 14. Two capacitors of capacitance 10 µF and 20 µF are connected in series with a 6 V
battery. After the capacitors are fully charged, a slab of dielectric constant (K) is inserted
between the plates of the two capacitors. How will the following be affected after the slab is
introduced:
(a) The electric field energy stored in the capacitors?
(b) The charges on the two capacitors?
(c) The potential difference between the plates of the capacitors?
Justify your answer. [CBSE Bhubaneshwar 2015]
Ans.
Q. 15. A 12 pF capacitor is connected to a 50 V battery. How much electrostatic energy is
stored in the capacitor? If another capacitor of 6 pF is connected in series with it with the
same battery connected across the combination, find the charge stored and potential
difference across each capacitor. [CBSE Delhi 2017]
Ans.
In series combination, charge on each capacitor is same.
Charge on each capacitor, 12 pF as well as 6 pF is same.
∴ Potential difference across capacitor C1 (12 pF capacitor)

Potential difference across capacitor C2 (6 pF capacitor)

Q. 16. Two identical capacitors of 12 pF each are connected cin series across a battery of 50
V. How much electrostatic energy is stored in the combination? If these were connected in
parallel across the same battery, how much energy will be stored in the combination now?
Also find the charge drawn from the battery in each ase. [CBSE Delhi 2017]
Ans.
Q. 17. In the given circuit in the steady state, obtain the expression for (a) the potential
drop (b) the charge and (c) the energy stored in the capacitor, C. [CBSE (F) 2015]

Ans. a. In steady state BE will behave as open circuit.

In steady state, current in the circuit ACDFA

Potential at point E, assuming

Potential difference across EB =

Q. 18. Calculate the potential difference and the energy stored in the capacitor C2 in the
circuit shown in the figure. Given potential at A is 90 V, C1 = 20 µF, C2 = 30 µF, C3 = 15 µF.
[CBSE Allahabad 2015]

Ans. Capacitors C1, C2 and C3 are in series. So, its net capacitance is

Net charge on the capacitors, C1, C2 and C3 remain same.

q = CS (VA – VE)
Q. 19. In the following arrangement of capacitors, the energy stored in the 6 µF capacitor is
E. Find the value of the following:
(i) Energy stored in 12 µF capacitor.
(ii) Energy stored in 3 µF capacitor.
(ii) Total energy drawn from the battery [CBSE (F) 2016]

Ans. Given that energy stored in 6 µF is E.

Let V be the voltage across 6 µF capacitor
Also, 6 µF and 12 µF capacitors are in parallel.
Therefore, voltage across 12 µF = Voltage across 6 µF capacitor
ii. Since charge remains constant in series. Sum of charge on 6 µF capacitor and 12 µF capacitor
is equal to charge on 3 µF capacitor.
Using Q = CV,
Charge on 3 µF capacitor = (6 + 12) × V = 18 × V

iii. Total energy drawn from battery = E + 2E + 18E = 21E

Q. 20. Two identical parallel plate (air) capacitors C1 and C2 have capacitances C each. The
space between their plates is now filled with dielectrics as shown. If the two capacitors still
have equal capacitance, obtain the relation between dielectric constants K, K1 and K2.
[Hots] [CBSE (F) 2011]

Ans.
Q. 21. You are given an air filled parallel plate capacitor C1. The space between its plates is
now filled with slabs of dielectric constants K1 and K2 as shown in C2. Find the
capacitances of the capacitor C2. if area of the plates is A and distance between the plates is
d. [Hots] [CBSE (F) 2011]

Ans. B
Q. 22. A slab of material of dielectric constant K has the same area as that of the plates of a
parallel plate capacitor but has the thickness d/2, where d is the separation between the
plates. Find out the expression for its capacitance when the slab is inserted between the
plates of the capacitor. [Hots] [CBSE (AI) 2013]
Ans.

Capacitance with dielectric of thickness ‘t’

Q. 23. Two identical parallel plate capacitors A and B are connected to a battery of V volts
with the switch S closed. The switch is now opened and the free space between the plates of
the capacitors is filled with a dielectric of dielectric constant K. Find the ratio of the total
electrostatic energy stored in both capacitors before and after the introduction of the
dielectric. [CBSE (AI) 2017]
Ans. Two capacitors are connected in parallel. Hence, the potential on each of them remains the
same. So, the charge on each capacitor is
QA = QB = CV

Formula for energy stored =

Net capacitance with switch S closed = C + C = 2C

After the switch S is opened, capacitance of each capacitor = KC

In this case, voltage only across A remains the same.