These types of competitive mcqs appear in the exams like MHT-CET, NEET, JEE (Mains), and other Competitive Examinations, etc. We created all the competitive exammcqs into several small posts on our website for your convenience.
You will get their respective links in the related posts section provided below.
A charge of −10 C is brought from infinity to a point in an electrostatic field, and 10 J of work is done in the process. What is the electric potential at that point?
a) 100 V
b) −10 V
c) −1 V
d) 1 V
Explanation: A charge is moved from infinity to a point in an electrostatic field, and work is done in the process. Electric potential is defined as work done per unit charge in bringing a test charge from infinity to a point in the field. This idea connects energy transfer with position in an Electric Field.
In Electrostatics, infinity is taken as zero potential reference. When a charge is brought from infinity, the external work done is related to electric potential at that point. The relationship between work and potential is governed by W = qV, where work represents energy change associated with moving the charge.
The sign of charge affects interpretation of energy interaction, but potential depends only on the field, not on the test charge used. Thus, potential is determined using the ratio of work done to charge moved. The concept is similar to lifting an object in a gravitational field where energy depends on height difference, not the object itself.
Option c – −1 V
Two particles A and B carry charges +Q and +16Q respectively, each having the same Mass m. If both are released from rest through the same potential difference, what is the ratio of their speeds VA:VB?
a) 16 : 1
b) 1 : 16
c) 1 : 4
d) 4 : 1
Explanation: When a charged particle is accelerated through a potential difference, electric potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. This energy conversion follows conservation of energy, where qV becomes kinetic energy of the particle.
Both particles start from rest, so initial kinetic energy is zero. After acceleration, kinetic energy depends on charge and potential difference. Since both particles experience the same potential difference and have equal Mass, the difference in their final speeds depends only on their charge values.
Velocity is derived from kinetic energy using v = √(2qV/m), showing that speed depends on the square root of charge when Mass and potential difference are constant. Therefore, the ratio of speeds depends on the square root of their charge ratio rather than direct proportionality.
This is similar to two identical carts rolling down the same slope but loaded with different amounts of energy, where final speed depends on how much energy each receives relative to its Mass.
Option c – 1 : 4
A point charge of 60 μC is placed in air. What is the potential difference between two points located at distances of 20 cm and 40 cm from the charge?
a) 2 kV
b) 1.35 kV
c) 270 kV
d) 1.35 MV
Explanation: Electric potential due to a point charge depends inversely on distance from the charge. As you move away from a charge, the potential decreases non-linearly, following the inverse relationship with radius. The potential difference between two points is determined by subtracting the potentials at those positions.
In Electrostatics, potential at a distance r from a point charge is proportional to 1/r, meaning closer points experience much higher potential. When comparing two radial distances, the difference reflects how rapidly the field weakens with distance. This concept is fundamental in understanding how fields spread in space.
The reasoning involves evaluating how potential changes between two radii in a radial field. Since both points lie on the same radial line, symmetry simplifies the comparison. The closer point contributes higher potential while the farther one contributes lower potential, and their difference represents the energy change per unit charge between these positions.
Option d – 1.35 MV
Two charges of +20 μC and −10 μC are separated by 40 cm in air. What is the electric potential at the midpoint of the line joining them?
a) 10 MV
b) 20 MV
c) 450 kV
d) 450 MV
Explanation: Electric potential at a point due to multiple charges is found using superposition, where individual potentials add algebraically. Unlike Electric Field, potential is a scalar quantity, so direction does not Matter, only magnitude and sign of charges contribute.
At the midpoint between two charges, distances from each charge are equal, which simplifies comparison of their contributions. Positive charges contribute positive potential, while negative charges contribute negative potential. The NET potential depends on algebraic addition of both effects.
The concept involves balancing contributions from both charges at equal distance. Since potential varies inversely with distance, symmetry ensures equal weighting, making the sign and magnitude of charges the deciding factors in the final result. This principle is widely used in multi-charge systems where potentials add linearly.
Option c – 450 kV
If 100 J of work is required to move a charge of 5 C from a point at −10 V to another point at potential V, what is the value of V?
a) 15 V
b) 10 V
c) −10 V
d) 25 V
Explanation: work done in moving a charge between two potentials is related to the potential difference between initial and final points. Electric potential difference represents the energy change per unit charge during movement in an Electric Field.
When a charge is moved from one potential to another, the work done depends on the difference in electric potential values. The relationship connects mechanical work with electrical energy transfer. Since initial potential is known and charge is given, the final potential can be related through energy conservation principles.
The idea is that work done equals charge multiplied by potential difference. The system interprets energy supplied or required to move a charge in the field. This principle is commonly applied in circuits and Electrostatics to relate voltage and energy changes in charged systems.
Option b – 10 V
In a certain Electric Field configuration, all points of zero potential lie on a circular boundary S. Inside S the potential is positive, while outside S it is negative. A free positive charge is placed inside S. What will happen?
a) It may move but eventually return to its starting point
b) It will stay in equilibrium
c) It can move only inside S and never cross S
d) It will cross S at some stage
Explanation: A charge placed in an Electric Field experiences force depending on how potential changes spatially. The motion of a positive charge follows the direction of decreasing potential energy, which is determined by the gradient of the electric potential.
In regions where potential varies from positive inside to negative outside across a boundary, the charge experiences a directional influence based on energy minimization. However, motion depends on the nature of field distribution and constraints imposed by symmetry and boundary conditions.
The key idea is that charges tend to move in response to potential gradients, not just absolute values. Whether it crosses a boundary or remains confined depends on whether the field configuration allows continuous decrease in potential energy along a path. This connects electrostatic motion with energy landscapes.
Option d – It will cross S at some stage
A charge of 5 C is displaced by 0.5 m, and the work done during this displacement is 20 J. What is the potential difference between the two points?
a) 5 V
b) 2 V
c) 4 V
d) 1 V
Explanation: Electric potential difference represents work done per unit charge in moving a charge between two points in an Electric Field. It connects mechanical work with electrical energy change during displacement.
When a charge moves in an Electric Field, the work done is directly proportional to the charge and the potential difference between the initial and final positions. This relationship allows determination of voltage differences without needing detailed field structure.
The concept treats potential difference as an energy-per-charge measure, independent of path taken. It is widely used in circuits and Electrostatics to relate force-based work with voltage changes. The displacement distance may indicate motion but does not directly affect potential difference unless field strength is uniform and specified.
Option c – 4 V
A metallic sphere of radius 5 cm is maintained at a potential of 100 V. What is the magnitude of the Electric Field at its surface?
a) 1000 V/m
b) 5000 V/m
c) 2500 V/m
d) 2000 V/m
Explanation: For a conducting sphere, electric potential is constant throughout the conductor, and the Electric Field just outside the surface is related to how rapidly potential changes with distance. Conductors maintain electrostatic equilibrium where charges reside on the surface.
At the surface, Electric Field is linked to potential through spatial variation near the boundary. The sharper the potential change over distance, the stronger the field. For spherical symmetry, field depends on radial variation of potential from the center outward.
The key idea is that conductors redistribute charge so that internal field is zero, and all potential difference appears across the surface region. This makes surface properties crucial in determining field strength. The relationship between radius and potential plays an important role in evaluating surface electric behavior.
Option d – 2000 V/m
In the electric field of a point charge, the field strength at a certain point is 30 V/m in a medium with dielectric constant 4. If the electric potential at that point is 120 V, what is the magnitude of the charge?
a) 213 pC
b) 213 nC
c) 213 μC
d) 214 mC
Explanation: Electric field and electric potential are both derived from the same source charge but represent different spatial derivatives of the potential function. Field strength relates to how quickly potential changes with distance.
In a medium with dielectric constant, the effective field is reduced due to polarization effects, which modifies how charge influences space. Potential and field are connected through radial dependence in a point charge system.
The reasoning involves combining field expression and potential expression for a charge in a dielectric medium. Both depend on charge magnitude, distance, and medium properties. By relating these two quantities, the unknown charge can be inferred using consistent electrostatic relationships. This highlights how field and potential together describe the same physical source from different perspectives.
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