MONTFORT SCHOOL XII CBSE PHYSICS Test 2 (Solutions)

Test Code: 12PUT102 Electric potential and Capacitors Marks: 25 Duration: 1 hr

1. A point charge Q is placed at point O as shown in the figure. Is the potential difference positive, negative or zero, if Q is (i) positive (ii) negative? (1)

Ans. Potential at a point : V = kq/r For any Q,

Where rA <rB So 1/ rA >1/ rB So, >0 If Q at O is Positive, VA-VB will be positive If Q at O is Positive, VA-VB will be negative. 2. How much work is done in moving a 400 C charge between two points on an equipotential surface? (1) Ans. Zero, as the surface is an equipotential, its potential difference is zero. Hence, W = . 3. An inflated balloon is charged by rubbing with fur. Will it stick readily to a conducting wall or to an insulating wall? (1) Ans. It will stick readily to the conducting wall. It induces an equal amount of charge on the conducting wall and a lesser charge on insulating wall. Thus, a large force of attraction acts between the balloon and the conducting wall. 4. Consider a region where electric field is zero, Is it necessary that electric potential is also zero where electric field strength is zero? Give any two examples to illustrate your answer. (2) Ans. We know that the electric field is equal to the negative of potential gradient . This implies that even if the electric field at a point is zero, the potential may have some non-zero constant value at that point. (1) Electric field inside a charged conducting sphere is zero but potential at any point inside is the same as that on the surface of the sphere. (2) Electric field at mid point of line joining two equal and similar charges is zero, but the potential at this point is twice of that due to a single charge. 5. State four important properties exhibited when a conducting body is placed in an electric field? (2)

Ans. Four important properties are: (1) The Net electric field inside the conductor is zero (2) Electric charge always resides on the outer surface of the conductor only. (3) Net electric charge inside the conductor is zero (4) Just outside the surface of a conductor, the electric field is perpendicular to the surface at each point. 6. Why the electrostatic field is zero in the interior of a conductor? (2) Ans. When a conductor is placed in an electric field, its electrons begin to move in the opposite direction to that of external electric field ( external). Due to this external field, negative and positive charges are induced on two ends of the surface of the conductor. The process continues till the electric field ( induced ) set up by the charges becomes equal and opposite to the external field. Hence, the net field inside the conductor will be zero. 7. Distinguish between polar and non-polar molecules. Give two examples of each. (2) Ans. Molecules in which the centres of positive and negative charges are separated even when there is no electric field are called polar molecules. Such molecules have a permanent dipole molecule. Example: HCl, H2O

Molecules in which the centres of positive and negative charges coincide in the absence of electric field are called non-polar molecules. Such molecules do not have permanent dipole movement. Example: H2, CO2

8. A parallel plate capacitor is charged by a battery. After sometime the battery is disconnected and a dielectric slab with its thickness equal to the plate separation is inserted between the plates. How will (i) the capacitance of the capacitor, (ii) potential difference between the plates and (iii) the energy stored in the capacitor be affected? Justify your answer in each case. (3) Ans.

Capacitance of the capacitor increases by a factor K , i.e, it becomes KC. ii. Net electric field will get reduced. As potential difference V =-Ed, as E is reduced, potential difference between the capacitor plates also reduces. iii. Energy of the capacitor: As the charge Q is fixed on plates, Energy stored in the capacitor

i.

9. Explain why the capacitance of a capacitor increases, on introducing a dielectric medium between the plates. (3) Ans. When a dielectric medium is introduced between the plates of parallel plate capacitor, the dielectric gets polarized by the electric field between the plates. As a result, the electric field and hence potential difference between the plates of capacitor decreases. Consequently, the capacitance of the capacitor increases.

10. Two capacitors, of capacitance, 3F and 6F, are charged to potentials of 2V and 5V respectively. These two charged capacitors are connected in parallel. Find the charge across each of the two capacitors now. (3) Ans. Total charge = ( 3 2 + 6 5) C = 36 C Let V be the common potential across the two capacitors when they are connected in parallel. Total capacitance of the parallel combination = (3 + 6) F = 9 F

11. Briefly explain the principle of a capacitor. Derive an expression for the capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, whose plates are separated by a dielectric medium. (5) Ans. Principle of a capacitor : A capacitor works on the principle that the capacitance of a conductor increase appreciably when an earthed conductor is brought near it. Thus a capacitor has two plates separated by a distance having equal and opposite charges. Parallel Plate capacitor : Consider a parallel plate capacitor having two plane metallic plates A and B, placed parallel to each other (fig) The plates carry equal and opposite charges +Q and Q respectively.

In general, the electric field between the plates due to charges +Q and Q remains uniform, but at the edges, the electric lines of force deviate outward. If the separation between the plates is much smaller than the size of plates, the electric field strength between the plates may be assumed uniform. Suppose A be the area of each plate, d the separation between the plates, K the dielectric constant of medium between the plates. If of charge density of plates, then is the magnitude

This is a general expression for capacitance of parallel plate capacitor. Obviously, the capacitance is directly proportional to the dielectric constant of medium between the plates.

Plate air capacitor. Obviously, the capacitance of parallel plate (air) capacitor is : (a) directly proportional to the area of each plate. (b) inversely proportional to the distance between the plates. (c) independent of metal of plates