NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 12 Physics ‒ Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Class 12th Physics NCERT Solutions for Chapter 2: Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance are available here. Important topics of this chapter are electrostatic Potential, potential due to a point charge, potential due to an electric dipole, potential due to a system of charges, equipotential surfaces, potential energy of a system of charges, potential energy in an external field, electrostatics of conductors, electrostatic shielding, dielectrics and polarisation, capacitors and capacitance, the parallel plate capacitor, effect of dielectric on capacitance, combination of capacitors, energy stored in a capacitor, Van De Graaff generator. Most of the questions in this chapter of 12th Physics NCERT textbook are based on these topics.
You can also download NCERT solutions of this chapter with the help of download link given at the end of this article.

NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Physics, Chapter 2, Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance are given below

Question 2.1: Two charges 5 × 10^–8 C and –3 × 10^–8 C are located 16 cm apart. At what point(s) on the line joining the two charges is the electric potential zero? Take the potential at infinity to be zero.

Solution 2.1:

Given:

Q₁ = 5 × 10^-8 C

Q₂ = 3 × 10^-8 C

r = 16 cm

We know that,

We know

Potential, 𝑉= (𝑄/4𝜋𝜖_𝑜r)

Let the point P be at distance x from Q1 and 16-x from Q2 where the electric potential is zero.

Solving for cancellation of potential due to given charges,

Or, (5/x) + [3/ (16 ‒ x)] = 0

Or, x = 40 from positive charge towards negative charge on extended line.

Again, in between charges

(5 / x) + [3 / (x ‒ 16)] = 0

Or, x = 10 cm from positive charge towards negative charge.

NCERT Exemplar Questions & Solutions: CBSE Class 12 Physics – Chapter 2

Question 2.2: A regular hexagon of side 10 cm has a charge 5 μC at each of its vertices. Calculate the potential at the centre of the hexagon.

Solution 2.2:

Given,

Six charges = 5 μC

Side of hexagon = 10 cm

Distance between center to vertex = 10 cm

Now, we know

𝑉= 𝑄/(4𝜋𝜖_𝑜𝑟)

Substituting the given values

V = [(9 × 10⁹).(5 × 10^-6)] / (10 × 10^-2)

Or, V = 4.5 × 10⁵ V

Since all six charges are of equal magnitude and sign,

So, net potential at the centre = 6 × (4.5 × 10⁵) = 2.7 × 10⁶ V.

Question 2.3: Two charges 2 μC and –2 μC are placed at points A and B 6 cm apart

(a) Identify an equipotential surface of the system.

(b) What is the direction of the electric field at every point on this surface?

Solution 2.3:

Given:

Q₁ = 2 μC

Q₂ = ‒2 μC

r = 6 cm

(a) Since both charges are equal and opposite, they will cancel out each other’s effect at the centre of line joining them, and the plane passing through it will have equal potential (i.e. zero).

(b) Normal to the plane in the direction AB.

Question 2.4: A spherical conductor of radius 12 cm has a charge of 1.6 × 10^–7C distributed uniformly on its surface. What is the electric field

(a) inside the sphere

(b) just outside the sphere

(c) at a point 18 cm from the centre of the sphere?

Solution 2.4:

Given:

Q = 1.6 × 10^-7 C

r = 12 cm

(a) Zero.

(b) We know

E = Q/(4ϵ_or²)

Substituting the values

E = 100000 N / C

(c) Now, r’ = 18 cm

Using the above formula

E = 4.4 × 10⁴ N / C.

Question 2.5: A parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates has a capacitance of 8 pF (1pF = 10^–12 F). What will be the capacitance if the distance between the plates is reduced by half, and the space between them is filled with a substance of dielectric constant 6?

Solution 2.5:

Given:

Capacitance in air = C = 𝜖_𝑜 (A/D) = 8 pF

Capacitance inside dielectric when distance between plates is halved,

C’ = K 𝜖_𝑜 [A/(D/2)] = 6 × 2 [𝜖_𝑜 (A/D)] = 12 × 8 = 96 pF.

Question 2.6: Three capacitors each of capacitance 9 pF are connected in series.

(a) What is the total capacitance of the combination?

(b) What is the potential difference across each capacitor if the combination is connected to a 120 V supply?

Solution 2.6:

Given:

C₁ = C₂ = C₃ = 9 pF

(a) For series combination

(1 / C) = (1 / C₁) + (1 / C₂) + (1 / C₃)

Or C = 3 pF

(b) Potential drop is equal for every capacitor, if V is the potential drop across each capacitor then, 3V = 120 ⇒ V = 40 volts

CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus 2017 – 2018

Question 2.7: Three capacitors of capacitances 2 pF, 3 pF and 4 pF are connected in parallel.

(a) What is the total capacitance of the combination?

(b) Determine the charge on each capacitor if the combination is connected to a 100 V supply.

Solution 2.7:

Given:

C₁ = 2 pF

C₂ = 3 pF

C₃ = 4 pF

(a) For parallel configuration

C = C₁ + C₂ + C₃ ⇒ C = 9 pF

(b) Q = CV

Therefore Q₁ = (2 × 10^‒12) × 100 = 2 × 10^‒10 C,

Similarly, Q₂ = 3×10^‒10 C, Q₃ = 4 × 10^‒10 C.

Question 2.8: In a parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of 6 × 10^–3 m² and the distance between the plates is 3 mm. Calculate the capacitance of the capacitor. If this capacitor is connected to a 100 V supply, what is the charge on each plate of the capacitor?
Solution 2.8:

Given:

A = 6 × 10^‒3 m²

d = 3 mm

V = 100 V

Using,

C = 𝜖_𝑜 (A/D)

We have, C = 1.8 × 10^‒11 F

Now with supply connected

Q = CV

Or Q = (1.8 × 10^‒11) × 100 = 1.8 × 10^‒9 C.

Question2.9: Explain what would happen if in the capacitor given in Exercise 2.8, a 3 mm thick mica sheet (of dielectric constant = 6) were inserted between the plates,

(a) while the voltage supply remained connected.

(b) after the supply was disconnected.

Solution 2.9:

Here,

K = 6

d = 3 mm

(a) With supply connected

Capacity of capacitor will increase and become, C’ = KC

Or C’ = 6 × (1.8 × 10^-11) = 1.08 × 10^‒10 F

Charge in the capacitor will also increase to, Q’ = C’V = [(1.08× 10^‒10) × 100] = 1 × 10^‒8 C.

(b) With supply disconnected and dielectric inserted then,

New Capacity will be,

C’’ = KC = 108 pF

New voltage, V’ = q/C’ = (1.77 × 10^‒9)/(6 × 1.7 × 10^‒11) = 16.67 V.

Question2.10: A 12pF capacitor is connected to a 50V battery. How much electrostatic energy is stored in the capacitor?

Solution 2.10:

Given:

C = 12 pF

V = 50 V

Energy stored = CV² / 2 = 1.5 × 10^‒8 J

Question 2.11: A 600pF capacitor is charged by a 200V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected to another uncharged 600 pF capacitor. How much electrostatic energy is lost in the process?

Solution 2.11:

C = 600 pF

V = 200 V

C’ = 600 pF

Initial energy, U = CV² / 2 = 1.2 × 10^‒5 J

Since half of energy initially stored is lost in the form of heat and electromagnetic radiation, therefore

Energy lost = U / 2 = 6 x 10^‒6 J.

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