2 Pu Physics Problems

ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS
Problems:
1) Two insulated charged copper sphere A and B have their centers separated by a distance of
50cm. What is the mutual force of electrostatic repulsion if the charge on each is
The radius of A and B are negligible compared to the distance of separation.
Given:
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For and only magnitude is considered.
( )
2) Two small charged spheres having charges of and are placed apart
in vacuum. Find the electrostatic force between them. Find the new force, when the distance
between them is doubled. (Apr/May 2022)
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( )
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( )
( )
3) The electric force on a charge due to another charge in air is . Find the
distance between the charges and the force between them when they are brought in to
contact and then replaced in their initial positions.
Given:
and
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When two bodies are kept in contact, the flow of charges takes place and this continues till
equilibrium exists.
U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 1
Net charge ( ) ( )
Charge on each body ( ⁄ ) (only magnitude is considered)
| |
( )
4) A conducting sphere of radius has an unknown charge. If the electric field,

from the centre of the sphere is and points radially inward, what is the net
charge on the sphere?
Given:
( )
( )
Charge is negative (Given electric field is radially inwards)
5) An electric dipole with dipole moment . is aligned at with the direction

of a uniform electric field of magnitude . Calculate the magnitude of torque
acting on the dipole.
Given:
6) Two point charges and are located apart in vacuum. What is the
electric field at the mid-point of the line joining two charges? If a negative test charge
of magnitude is placed at this point, what is the force experienced by the test
charge. (Mar 2017, Aug 2022)
Given:
( )
Test charge,
Electric field at O is which is given by, and direction is along AB.

( )
(Since )
7) Two point charges and are separated by a distance of in air. Calculate the
point at which the resultant electric intensity is zero.
[Hint: For a system of two like charges, the null point lies on the line joining the charges, in
between the two charges and is closer to smaller of the two charges. For a system of two
unlike charges, the null point lies on the line joining the charges, but outside the two charges
and is closer to the smaller of the two charges.]
Given:
( )
A some point between two point charges will become zero.

Let be that point which is at a distance from and ( ) from
At , ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
At,
8) ABC is an equilateral triangle of side . Point charges of and are placed at

corners of A and B respectively. Calculate the resultant electric field at C.
Given:
and
Electric field at C is given by, ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
( )

Magnitude of electric field, √
√ ( )
√ √ √ √
As , the direction of is along the bisector of the angle C.
or
( )
( )
9) Charges of , and are placed in air at the corners of an equilateral
triangle having each of side equal to . Determine the force on charge .
Given:
(on )
Electric field at A is given by, ⃗ ⃗ ⃗
( )
Magnitude of electric field, √
√ ( )
√ √ √ √
As , the direction of is along the bisector of the angle A.
Force on is given by,
10) Three charge each equal to are placed at the three corners of a square of side .
Find the electric field at the forth corner. (Mar 2018)
Given:
√ √

( )
( √ )
√ √ √ √ Along BD
Along BD
11) A spherical conductor of radius has a charge of distributed uniformly

on its surface. What is the electric field (a) Inside the sphere (b) just outside the sphere and
(c) at a point from the Centre of the sphere?
Given:
(a) , Inside the conductor.
(b) Just outside the conductor
( )
(c) When
( )
12) Two pith balls each of mass are suspended by two threads from a support. When
charged identically, the two pith balls move apart by , the threads making angle
with each other. Calculate the charge on each ball.
Given:
Use Lemi’s theorem.

“The ratio of each force to the sine of the angle
between the other two is a constant”

( ) √
( )
√ √
Let be the charge on each ball.
| |
( )
( )
Problems for exercise.

1) Two point charges and are located At A and B separated by apart
in vacuum. What is the electric field at the mid-point of the line joining two charges? If a
negative test charge of magnitude is placed at this point, what is the force experienced by
the test charge. (Mar 2020)
2) Find the point on the line joining the two charges and where the resultant field
is zero. Distance between the charges is .
3) Two charges and are placed apart in vacuum. Find the position of a point of
zero fields along the line joining them.
4) Two point charges and are placed at the vertices A and B of an
equilateral triangle ABC of side . Calculate the electric field at the vertex C for the
triangle.

ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL AND CAPACITANCE
Problems:
1) Two charges and are located 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. (Jul 2014)
Given:
(i) Let be a point of zero potential

anywhere in between and , which
is at a distance from
Potential at is is given by,
[ ]
(ii) Let be a point of zero

potential anywhere outside and
, which is at a distance from

2) ABCD is a square of side . Charges of and are placed at corners
A, B and C respectively. What is the work done in transferring a charge of from D
to the point of intersection of the diagonals? (Jul 2015)
Given:
We have, , √ and √
Work done in moving charge from to is given by,
Potential at is given by,
( )
( )
√ √ √ √ √
( )
( ) ( )
√ √ √
3) Charges , and are placed at three corners , and respectively of a

square of side metre. Find, what charge must be placed at the fourth corner so
that the total potential at the centre of the square is zero. (July 2016)
Given:
Potential at will be zero when potential due to all the charges at is zero.
Total potential at O is,
If ,
( )
But √

4) A charge of is located at the origin. Calculate the work done in taking a small
charge of from a point to a point via point
Work done in moving charge from to is given by,
Potential at A is
Potential at B is
Work done is independent of the path as the electrostatic force is conservative.

Work done to move from A to B is,
( )
5) In parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of
and the distance between the plates is . Calculate the capacitance of
the capacitor. If this capacitor is connected to a supply, what is the charge on each
plate of the capacitor? (Absolute permittivity of free space= ) (Mar
2014, Aug 2022)
Given:
6) Three capacitors of capacitance and 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 100V supply.
Given:
(a) For parallel combination,
and for parallel combination

(i)
(ii)
(iii)
7) The plates of a parallel plate capacitor have an area of each and are separated
by . The capacitor is charged by connecting it to a supply.
(a) Calculate the electrostatic energy stored in the capacitor.
(b) If a dielectric of dielectric constant 2.5 is introduced between the plates of the
capacitor, then find the electrostatic energy stored and also change in the energy
stored. (Jul 2018)
Given:
(a)
Calculate first.
(b) If a dielectric is introduced between the plates of a capacitor, the capacitance increases
by times, where is called dielectric constant.
Change in energy,
8) Two capacitors and are connected in series. Calculate the equivalent

capacitance. If a battery of emf 10V is connected across them, Calculate, (a) the charge
on each capacitor and (b) the potential difference across each other.
Given:
For series connection,
(a) For series combination,
(b)
9) Two capacitors of and are charged to and respectively. If they are

connected in parallel, calculate the energy stored and loss of energy due to connection.
Given:
where is called common potential difference, when they are connected in parallel.
( )
( )
10) The effective capacitance of two capacitors is when in parallel and when in
series. Find the individual capacitance.
Given:

For Parallel combination,
For Series combination,
We have,
Solving equations (1) and (3)
Substituting for in equation (1),
11) A capacitor of capacitance is charged to potential of . Then it is disconnected

from the battery and connected to uncharged capacitor of capacitance . Calculate
the common potential, charge on each capacitor and the loss of energy.
Given:
When two capacitors (one charged and another uncharged) are connected, there is
redistribution of charges and each capacitor acquires same potential called common
potential (V).
( )
( )

12) When two capacitors are connected in series and connected across 4kV line, the energy
stored in the system is 8 J. The same capacitors, if connected in parallel across the same
line, the energy stored is 36 J. Find the individual capacitances. (Mar 2016)
Given:
For parallel combination,
For series combination,
( )
( )
We have,
Solving equations (1) and (3)
Substituting for in equation (1),

Problems for exercise:
1) Two point charges and are apart in air. Find the positions along the line
joining the two charges at which resultant potential is zero. (Mar 2015)
2) Two charges and are located apart in air. At what point(s)
on the line joining the two charges is the total electric potential zero? Take the potential at
infinity to be zero.
3) Two point charges and are located 16cm apart. At what points on
the line joining the two charges is the electric potential zero?
4) Three point charges of and are placed at the corners A, B and C of a
square ABCD of side 0.1m. Find the amount of work required to move a charge of
from D to the centre of the square.
5) ABCD is a square of side 1m. Point charges of +3nC, -5nC and +3nC are placed at corners
A,B, C respectively. Calculate the work done in transferring a charge of 12 C from D to
the centre of the square. (June 2019)
6) In a circular parallel plate capacitor radius of each plate is 5 cm and they are separated by
a distance of 2 mm. Calculate the capacitance and the energy stored, when it is charged
by connecting the battery of 200 V ( given = 8.854 10-12 Fm-1) (Mar 2019)
7) You are provided 3 capacitors, each of capacitance . In how many ways they can be
combined. Calculate the effective capacitance in each case.
8) Three charges and are placed at the corners of a square ABCD respectively
of side 1m. Find the value of charge placed at the 4th corner to get total potential zero at
the centre of the square.
9) A point charge of is situated at a point O. If A and B are the two points at 0.03m and
0.09m from the point O, find the potentials at A and B. Also find work done to move a
point charge of from B to A.
10) In parallel plate capacitor with air between the plates, each plate has an area of
and the distance between the plates is . Calculate the capacitance of the
capacitor. If this capacitor is connected to a supply, what is the charge on each plate
of the capacitor? (Absolute permittivity of free space= ) (Jul 2017)
11) A 600 pF capacitor is charged by a 200 V supply. Calculate the electrostatic energy stored
in it. It is then disconnected from the supply and is connected in parallel to another
uncharged 600pF capacitor. What is the energy stored in the combination?
12) A 400 pF capacitor charged by a 100 V d c supply is disconnected from the supply and
connected to another uncharged 400pF capacitor calculate the loss of energy.
13) A capacitor is charged by a 200V supply is connected to another capacitor
charged by 100V supply. Find their common potential. How much electrostatic energy is
lost in the form of heat and electromagnetic radiation?
14) A 600 pF capacitor is charged by a 200 V supply. It is then disconnected from the supply
and is connected in parallel to another uncharged 600pF capacitor. How much
electrostatic energy is lost in this process?
15) A capacitor is charged by a 200V supply. It is then disconnected from the
supply and is connected across another uncharged capacitor. How much
energy of the first capacitor is lost?

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Problems: CURRENT ELECTRIITY
1) Calculate the current density and average drift speed of conduction electrons in a copper
wire of cross sectional area carrying a current of . Given free electron
density of copper is , .
Given:
2) The number density of free electrons in a copper conductor is . How long

does an electron take to drift from one end of a wire long to its other end? The area of
cross section of the wire is and it is carrying a current of .
Given:
Time taken to drift long can be calculated as,
3) A silver wire has a resistance of at and a resistance of at . Find

the temperature co-efficient of silver. Also find its resistance at .
Given:

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
If we take and , the resistance at zero degree is taken as

[ ]
4) mass of nichrome metal is drawn in to a wire of area of cross-section .

Calculate the resistance of the wire. Given density of nichrome and
resistivity of the material as . (Mar 2018)
Given:
( )
5) Three resistors of resistances and are connected in series. What is the total
resistance of the combination? If this combination is connected to a battery of emf 10 V and
negligible internal resistance, obtain the potential drop across each resistor. (Mar 2016)
Given:
In series combination,

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
6) (a) Three resistors and are connected in parallel. What is the total resistance of
the combination? (b) If the combination is connected to a battery of emf 25 V and negligible
internal resistance. Determine the current through each resistor and the total current drawn
from the battery. (Jul 2017)
Given:
In series combination,
7) A wire having length , diameter and resistivity is

connected in series with a battery of emf and internal resistance . Calculate the
resistance of the wire and current in the circuit. (July 2016)
Given:
First calculate A,
( ) ( )

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
8) A battery of internal resistance is connected to resistor and potential difference

across the resistor is . If another resistor of is connected in series with the first
resistor and the battery again connected to the combination. Calculate the emf and the
terminal potential difference across the combination. (Mar 2014)
Case (i)
Given:
First calculate emf of the battery using the expression for

( )
Case(ii)
Terminal potential difference, V is given by

( )
( )
9) In the given circuit diagram, calculate:

(i) The main current through the circuit and
(ii) Also current through resistor. (Jul 2018)
Given:
Total resistance of the circuit is given by
( )

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
( )
Current through resistor can be calculated as,
10) In the following circuit, find the current I. (Apr/May 2022)
11) Two cells of emf and and internal resistances and respectively are connected
in parallel so as to send the current in the same direction through an external resistance of
. Find the potential difference across resistor. (Mar 2015, Aug 2022)
Given:
First calculate effective emf and effective internal

resistance of the equivalent battery.
For parallel combination of cells,
Potential difference can be calculated as
( )
( )

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
12) Two identical cells either in series or in parallel combination, gives the same current of
through external resistance of . Find emf and internal resistance of each cell. (Jul
2015)
Given:
Cells are identical and
Case(i)
and
Case(ii)
Solving equation (1) and equation (2) we get,

and
13) A cell supplies current through resistor and a current of through

resistor. Find the internal resistance and emf of the cell.
Given: and
and
Case(i) and

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Case(ii) and
From (1) and (2)
Substituting the value of in equation (1)
14) When two resistors are connected in series with a cell of emf and negligible
internal resistance, a current of flows in the circuit. When the resistors are
connected in parallel the main current is . Calculate the resistances. (Mar 2017)
Given:
For Series connection,
( ⁄ )
( ⁄ )

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
Solving Equation (i) and (iii), we get,
15) A uniform wire of resistance is bent into three parts in the ratio to form a
triangle. A cell of emf and negligible internal resistance is connected across the
highest of the three resistances. Calculate the current in each branch of the circuit.
Given:
Total resistance of the circuit can be calculated as,
Total current can be calculated as,
Current through and is same, since each branch has

same resistance.
16) An electric current divides into 3 parallel branches in which the lengths of the wires are
in the ratio and the diameters are in the ratio . Find the current in each branch,
if the wires are of the same material.
Given: Total current,
Ratio of length
Ratio of their diameter
The ratio of their radius will be
The ratio of their Area
(since area )
We have,

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
In parallel combination
But,
Problems for exercise:

1) A uniform copper wire of length and cross-sectional area carries a current of
. Assuming that there are free electrons per of copper, calculate the drift
velocity of electrons. How much time will an electron take to drift from one end of the wire to
the other? (Give charge on an electron )
2) Two cells of emf and and internal resistances and respectively are connected
in parallel across resistor such that they tend to send current through resistor in the same
direction. Calculate potential difference across resistor.
3) Three resistors and are connected in series. What is the total resistance of the
combination? If the combination is connected to a battery of emf and negligible internal
resistance then obtain the potential drop across each resistor.
4) (a) Three resistors and are connected in parallel. What is the effective resistance
of the combination? (b) If the combination is connected to a battery of emf 6 V and internal
resistance . Find current drawn from the battery and terminal potential difference across
the battery. (Mar 2020)
5) (a) Three resistors and are connected in parallel, what is the total resistance of the
combination? (b) If the combination is connected to a battery of emf 20 V and negligible
internal resistance, determine the current through each resistor and the total current drawn
from the battery.
6) A network of resistors is connected to a battery as shown in the
figure. Calculate the equivalent resistance of the network.
Obtain current in and resistors. (Jul 2014)
7) Two resistors and a cell of emf and internal resistance
are connected in the circuit as given below:
Calculate:
(a) current through and resistors, and
(b) P.D. across resistor.
8) Two resistors of and are connected in parallel to a cell of emf 2 V. Calculate the main
current passing through the circuit and current through the individual resistors.
9) Two resistors of and are connected in parallel. The parallel combination is connected
in series with a resistor of resistance and a cell of emf 3 V with internal resistance .
Find the current through resistor and potential difference across resistor.

CURRENT ELECTRICITY
10) Two resistors are connected in series with 5V battery of negligible internal resistance. A
current of 2A flows through each resistor. If they are connected in parallel with the same
battery a current of (25/3)A flows through combination. Calculate the value of each resistance.
(Mar 2019)
11) A network of resistors is connected to a 16V
battery with internal resistance 1 as shown in
figure below. Find (a) the equivalent resistance of
the network. (b) total current in the circuit. (June
2019)
12) A battery of emf 10 V and internal resistance is connected to a resistor of resistance .
Calculate the current in the circuit. What is the current in the circuit if battery had negligible
internal resistance?
13) A battery of emf 10 V and internal resistance is connected to a resistor. If the current in the
circuit is 0.5 A, what is the resistance of the resistor? What is the terminal voltage of the
battery when the circuit is closed?
14) In a Wheatstone bridge, four resistance arms of the bridge are
and . A cell of emf 2 V and negligible internal resistance is connected across AC and a
galvanometer of resistance is connected between B and D. Find the current through the
galvanometer.
15) In the given circuit, calculate the current through the galvanometer (Sep 2020)

MOVING CHARGES AND MAGNETISM
Problems:
MOVING CHARGES AMD MAGNETISM
1) A circular coil of wire having 50turns, each of radii 0.075m carries a current of 1A. What is
the magnitude of magnetic field at the centre of the coil? Also calculate the magnetic
moment of this coil.
Given:
Magnetic field at the centre (for turns) is given by,
Magnetic moment (for turns) is given by,

( )
2) What is the radius of the path of an electron moving at a speed of in a

magnetic field of perpendicular to it? What is the frequency? Calculate its energy
in KeV?
Given:
For electron, and
( ) ( ) ( )
U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page|1

3) An electron travels in a circular path of radius 20cm in a magnetic field of .
Calculate the speed of the electron. What is the potential difference through which the
electron must be accelerated to acquire this speed?
Given:
For electron, and
The electron is accelerated due to applied potential difference which gives kinetic energy is
given by,
( )
4) A circular copper coil of mean radius has If a current of is passed

through this coil, find the magnitude of the magnetic field at its centre. Also find the
magnetic dipole moment of this current coil. Given: (Apr/May 2022)
Magnetic field at the centre (for turns) is given by,
Magnetic moment (for turns) is given by,

( )
5) Two concentric circular coils X and Y of radii 0.16m and 0.10m respectively lie in the same
vertical plane containing north to south direction. Coil X has 20 turns and carries a current
of 16A. Coil Y has 25 turns and carries a current of 18A. The sense of the current in X is
anticlockwise and clockwise in Y for an observer looking at the coils facing west. Give the
magnitude and direction of the net magnetic field due to the coils at their centres.
For coil , (given):
Direction of the field is towards East
For coil , (given):

Direction of the field is towards West
Resultant Magnetic field can be calculated as,

towards west.
6) A circular coil of 20 turns and radius 10cm is placed in a uniform magnetic field of 0.10T
normal to the plane of the coil. If the current in the coil is 5A, what is the (i) total torque on
the coil, (ii) total force on the coil and (iii) average force on each electron in the coil due to
the magnetic field? The coil is made of copper wire of cross-sectional area and the
free electron density in copper is .
Given:
(i)
For turmns.
Here Magnetic field is normal to the plane of the coil.
Angle between area vector and magnetic field is zero. ( )
Hence,
(ii) Forces on two opposite sides are equal and opposite sides are equal and opposite. Thus
total force on the coil is zero.
(iii)
and is the angle between velocity vector and magnetic field, i e
7) Two circular coils of mean radii and consisting of 5 turns and 10 turns
respectively are arranged concentric to one another with their planes at right angles to each
other. If a current of is passed through each of them, calculate the magnitude of the
resultant magnetic field at their common center.
Given:

Resultant Magnetic field is given by, √

(Angle between and is and )
√( ) ( ) √( )
√
( )
( ) ( )
8) The magnetic field at two points on the axis of a circular coil at a distance and
from the centre are in the ratio . Fid the diameter of the coil.
Given:
( )
[ ]
( ) ( )
* +
( )
[ ]
( )
* +
( ) * +
Taking cube root on both sides
* +
Squaring on both sides.
( ) ( )

Diameter,
9) Two long and straight wires A and B carrying current of 8.0A and 5.0A in the same direction
are separated by a distance of 4.0cm. Estimate the force on a 10cm section of a wire.
Given:
Force per unit length is given by,
Force on section is, Force
10) A galvanometer of resistance requires a current of for full scale deflection. How
do you convert it into, (a) an ammeter of range 0-30A and (b) a voltmeter of range 0-5V?
(a) Given:
( )
( )
resistance should be connected in parallel with MCG so that it measures current.
(b) Given:
resistance should be connected in series with MCG so that it measures voltage.
Additional Problems:
1) A circular coil of wire consisting of 100turns, each of radius 8cm carries a current of 0.40A.
What is the magnitude of magnetic field at the centre of the coil?
2) A 100 turn closely wound circular coil of radius carries a current of .
(a) what is the field at the centre of the coil?
(b) What is the magnetic moment of the coil? (Aug 2022)
3) A galvanometer coil has a resistance of and the meter shows full scale deflection for a
current of . How will you convert the meter into a voltmeter of range 0 volt to 18 volt?
4) A galvanometer coil has a resistance of and the meter shows full scale deflection for a
current of . How will you convert the meter into a ammeter of range 0 volt to 6 A?

ELECTRO MAGNETIC INDUCTION
Problems:
ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION
1) The current in a coil of self-inductance 5mH changes from 2.5A to 2.0A in 0.01 second.
Calculate the value of self-induced emf. (Mar 2016)
Given:
2) The current through a coil of changes from zero ampere to in . What

is the emf induced in the coil? (Sept 2020)
Given:
3) The magnetic flux linked with a coil varies as . Find the magnitude of the
emf induced at . (Jul 2017)
Given:
( )
( )
4) The current in a coil falls from to in and induces an emf of in it.

Find the self-inductance of the coil. (Apr/May 2022)
5) A pair of adjacent coils has a mutual inductance of 1.5 H. If the current in one coil changes
from 0 to 20 A in 0.5 s, what is the change of flux linkage with the other coil?
Given:
6) A circular coil of radius and turns is rotated about its vertical diameter with an
angular speed of , in a uniform horizontal magnetic field of magnitude
. Calculate the (maximu maverage)1 emf induced in the coil. Also find the current in
the coil if the resistance of the coil is . (Mar 2018)
Note: (maximum average) - this word is not printed in the question paper, therefore 5 grace
1
marks were awarded for those who have been attended the problem.
Given:
( ) [ ( ) ]
(Note: In question paper they have asked to find “Induced EMF”. For that they have to
provide the value of or . Else they have to ask find “maximum induced EMF” or “average
induced EMF”. The above is calculated for or Maximum induced emf.)
7) A conductor of length 3m moving in a uniform magnetic field of strength 100 T . It covers a

distance of 70 m in 5 sec. Its plane of motion makes an angle of 30 0 with direction of
magnetic field. Calculate the emf induced in it. (Mar 2019)
Given:
()
( ) If plane of motion of conductor makes some angle other than ,
8) A long solenoid with 15 turns per cm has a small loop of area 2.0 cm2 placed inside the
solenoid normal to its axis. If the current carried by the solenoid changes steadily from 2.0
A to 4.0 A in 0.1 s, what is the induced emf in the loop while the current is changing?
Given:
( ) ( )
( )
9) A horizontal straight wire 10 m long extending from east to west is falling with a speed of
5.0 m s–1, at right angles to the horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic field, 0.30 × 10 –
4 Wb m–2.
(a) What is the instantaneous value of the emf induced in the wire?

(b) What is the direction of the emf?
(c) Which end of the wire is at the higher electrical potential?
Given: m
(a) EMF induced,
(b) According to Fleming’s right hand rule, emf is induced from west to east
(c) As the direction of induced emf or current is from west to east, the east end od the wire is
higher potential
10) A jet plane is travelling towards west at a speed of 1800 km/h. What is the voltage
difference developed between the ends of the wing having a span of 25 m, if the Earth’s
magnetic field at the location has a magnitude of 5 × 10–4 T and the dip angle is 30°.
Given:
Voltage difference developed is
1) Current in the coil falls from to in . Calculate the induced emf in a coil if its self-
inductance is
2) Current in a circuit falls from 5.0 A to 0.0 A in 0.1 s. If an average emf of 200 V induced, give
an estimate of the self-inductance of the circuit.

ALTERNATING CURRENT
Problems.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
1) A resistor, inductor and capacitor are connected in series with a

ac supply. Calculate the impedance of the circuit and also find the current
through the circuit. (Jul 2018)
Given:
( )
(i) Find and then .

(ii) Find ( )
In this Chapter current means RMS value of current and voltage means RMS value of voltage.
Frequency means frequency of applied AC voltage.
√ ( ) √ ( ) √ ( ) √
√
( )
2) A source of alternating emf of is connected in series with a resistance of

an inductance of and a capacitance of . Does the current lead or lag the
voltage and by what angle? (Mar 2017)
Given:
( )
( )
is positive indicates that current leads.
3) A sinusoidal voltage of peak value and frequency is applied to a series LCR

circuit in which , and . (Mar 2015, July 2019)
Find: a) Impedance of the circuit.
b) The phase difference between the voltage across the source and the current.
c) The power factor.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
Given:
(a)
√ ( ) √ ( ) √ ( ) √
√
(b)
( )
Negative sign indicates that voltage leads.
(c)
4) Calculate the resonant frequency and Q-factor of a series LCR circuit containing a pure
inductor of inductance , capacitor of capacitance and resistor of resistance
.(Mar 2014)
Given:
√ √
√ ( )
√ √ √
5) A sinusoidal voltage of peak value is applied to a series LCR circuit in which resistor
of resistance , pure inductor of inductance 28.5 and capacitance of capacitor
are connected. a) Find resonant frequency. (Jul 2017)
b) Calculate the impedance, current and power dissipated at the resistance.
Given:

ALTERNATING CURRENT
(a)
√ √ √ √
(b)
At resonance,
6) A pure inductor of is connected to a source of and . Find the inductance

resistance, rms value of current and peak current in the circuit. (Jul 2014)
Given:
7) A resistor of , a pure inductance coil of and capacitor are in series in a circuit

containing an AC source of , . In the circuit, current is ahead of the voltage by 300.
Find the value of the capacitor. (Jul 2015)
Given:
( )
( )
( )

ALTERNATING CURRENT
8) An inductor and a bulb are connected in series to an AC source of . A current of
flows in the circuit and phase angle between the voltage and current is radians.
Calculate the impedance and inductance of the circuit. (July 2016)
Given:
We have,
( )
or
Now, √ ( ) √( ) ( ) √ ( ) √
9) A 60V, 10W lamp is to be run on 100V, 60 Hz ac mains. Calculate the inductance of a choke
coil required to be connected in series with it to work the bulb.
For bulb:
(i)
(ii)

ALTERNATING CURRENT
For circuit:
For proper functioning of bulb, current through the bulb must 0.1667 A and must not exceed
0.1667 A.
√ ( )
( )
√ √ √ √
( )
10) A series L C R circuit with and is connected to a variable

frequency of 200 V AC supply when the frequency of the supply is equal to the natural
frequency of the circuit, What is the average power transferred to the circuit in one
complete cycle.
Given:
( )
When the frequency of the supply is equal to the natural frequency of the circuit, current will
be maximum.
i.e. and
or
11) A ( ) capacitor in series with a resistor is connected to a , supply.

(a) What is the maximum current in the circuit?
(b) What is the phase difference between the current maximum and voltage maximum?
Given:

ALTERNATING CURRENT
(a)
√ ( ) √ √ √
(b)
( )
12) A coil of inductance and resistance of is connected to a ac supply.

a) What is the maximum current in the coil?
b) What is the time lag between voltage maximum and the current maximum?
Given:
(a)
√ ( ) √ √ √
(b)
( )
Convert the value of in to radian.

ALTERNATING CURRENT
Additional Problems.
1) An AC source of is applied in a series LCR circuit in which
and . Find (a) the impedance of the circuit and (b) current in the ciucuit.
(Sept 2020)
2) Calculate the resonant frequency and Q-factor (Quality factor) of a series L-C-R circuit
containing a pure inductor of inductance 4H, capacitor of capacitance 27 and resistor of
resistance 8.4 . (Mar 2016)
3) Calculate the resonant frequency in LCR circuit with inductance , capacitance and
resistance . What is the Q value of this circuit?
4) A series LCR circuit contains a pure inductor of inductance , a capacitor of capacitance
and a resistor of resistance . (a) Find the resonant frequency of the circuit. (b)
Calculate the Quality factor (Q-factor) of the circuit. (c) What is the impedance at resonance
condition? (Mar 2020)
5) An inductor of , capacitor of and a resistor of are connected in series across ,
ac source. Calculate the current and power factor.
6) An electric lamp which works at and consumes is connected to an AC mains at
and . Calculate the inductance of the coil in the lamp.
7) An inductor of and a capacitor of capacitance are connected in series. Calculate
the resonant frequency and impedance of the circuit.
8) A resistance of , an inductor of and a capacitor of are connected in series to
an AC source of variable frequency. Find the frequency of AC source for which current in the
circuit is maximum. Also calculate the band width and quality factor for the circuit.
9) A capacitor in series with a resistance of is connected to a ac supply.
a) What is the maximum current in the circuit?
b) What is the time lag between current maximum and the voltage maximum?
10) A series LCR circuit is connected to ac source of variable frequency. The inductance of
the coil is , capacitance of the capacitor is and resistance is . At resonance, calculate
(a) the resonant frequency, (b) current in the circuit and (c) the inductive resistance.
11) A coil having an inductance of and resistance is connected to a 220V, 50Hz ac supply.
Calculate the (a) Impedance of the circuit, (b) the current in the circuit, (c) power factor and (d)
Phase difference between voltage and current.
12) An AC source of is connected in series with a resistor, capacitor and
inductor in series. Calculate
(i) Impedance (Z) (ii) Current through the circuit.
13) A sinusoidal voltage of peak value and frequency is applied to a series LCR
circuit in which and . Calculate
(i) Impedance of the circuit (ii) The power dissipated in the circuit.
14) A resistance of , inductance of 0.2H and capacitance of are connected in series
across an AC source of 220V, 50Hz. Find the average current in the circuit.

RAY OPTICS AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
Problems: RAY OPTICS AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
1) An object of size 3 cm is placed 14 cm in front of a concave lens of focal length 21 cm.

Calculate position and size of the image. (July 2019)
Given:
In ray optics, sign convention must be applied for numerical values before solving any
problems.
By sign convention,
[ ]
Image is virtual.
Image is erect and diminished.
2) The radii of curvature of the two faces of a biconvex lens are and respectively.
Find the focal length of the lens. Refractive index of the material of the lens is 1.6. Also
find the power of the lens.
Given:
By sign convention,
( )
( )( )
( )( )
3) A convex lens of focal length 0.24m and of refractive index 1.5 is completely immersed in
water of refractive index 1.33. Find the change in the focal length of the lens.
Given:
By sign convention,
( )
Here and were not given, first find ( )
( )( )
Now, and
( )( )
( )
When lens is immersed in water
( )( )
Now, and
( )
Change in focal length,
4) The radii of curvature of the two faces of a convex lens are and . Find the focal
length of the lens if refractive index of the material of the lens is 1.5. Also find the change
in focal length, if it is immersed in water of refractive index . (Jul 2018)
Given:
By sign convention,
( )
( )( )
Now, and
( )( )
When lens is immersed in water
( )( )
Now, and
( )( )
Change in focal length,

5) A ray of light passes through an equilateral glass prism such that the refracted ray inside
the prism is parallel to its base. Calculate the (Apr/May 2022)
(a) angle of deviation of the ray and (b) speed of light ray inside the prism.
Given: the refractive index of glass ⁄ and the speed of light in vacuum
At the minimum deviation , the refracted ray inside the prism becomes parallel to its base.
We have angle of deviation is equal to angle of minimum deviation
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
6) A prism is made of glass of unknown refractive index. A parallel beam of light is incident
on a face of the prism. By rotating the prism, the angle of minimum deviation is measured
to be . What is the refractive index of the material of the prism? If the prism is placed in
water ( , calculate the new angle of minimum deviation of a parallel beam of
light. The refracting angle of the prism is .
Given:
( )
( )
( )
( )
Here and
( )
( )
If the prism is immersed in water,
( )
( )
Here and
( )
( )
( ) ( )
7) Two lenses of focal lengths and are kept in contact. Find the focal length of
the combination. Calculate the powers of two lenses and combination. (Mar-2014)
Given:
8) At what angle should a ray of light be incident on the face of an equilateral prism so that it
just suffers total internal reflection at the other face? The refractive index of the material of
the prism is (Mar 2020)
Given:
For total internal reflection, the angle of incidence in the denser medium must be greater than
critical angle. Here the ray just suffers total internal reflection; hence angle of incidence in the
denser medium is nearly equal to critical angle.
We have,

9) A small bulb is placed at the bottom of a tank containing water to a depth of . Find the
critical angle for water-air interface. Also calculate the diameter of the circular bright patch
of light formed on the surface of the water. R I of water is ⁄ .
Given: ⁄
( ⁄ )
From trigonometry,
1) A prism of angle 600 produces angle of minimum deviation of 400. What is its refractive index?
Calculate the angle of incidence. (Jul-2014)
2) Double-convex lenses are to be manufactured from a glass of refractive index 1.55, with both
faces of the same radius of curvature. What is the radius of curvature required if the focal
length is to be 20cm?
3) A beam of light converges at a point P. Now a lens is placed in the path of the convergent
beam 12cm from P. At what point does the beam converge if the lens is (a) a convex lens of
focal length 20cm, and (b) a concave lens of focal length 16cm?
4) A small bulb is placed at the bottom of a tank containing water to a depth of 80cm. What is the
area of the surface of water through which light from the bulb can emerge out? Refractive
index of water is 1.33. (Consider the bulb to be a point source.)

WAVE OPTICS
Problems: WAVE OPTICS
1) In a Young’s double slit experiment distance between the slits is . The fringe width is
found to be . When the screen is moved through a distance of away from the
plane of the slit, the fringe width becomes . Find the wavelength of the light used.
(Mar 2015)
Given:
( )
( )
( )
Taking equation(2) (1)
( )
( )
2) In young’s double slit experiment while using a source of light of wavelength , the
fringe width is . If the distance between the screen and the plane of the slit is reduced
to half, what should be the wavelength of light to get fringe width ? (June 2016)
Given:
( )
( )

WAVE OPTICS
3) In Young’s double slit experiment, fringes of certain width are produced on the screen kept
at a distance from the slits. When the screen is moved away from the slits by 0.1m, fringe
width increases by . The separation between the slits is 1mm. Calculate the
wavelength of the light used. (March 2016, Aug 2022)
Given:
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
4) Monochromatic light of wavelength 5000 from a narrow slit is incident on the double slit.
If the separation of 10 fringes on the screen 1 m away is 2 cm. Find the slit separation.
Given:
is the fringe width of one bright or dark fringe.

For 10 fringes, 10 fringe width,
5) In a Young’s double slit experiment, distance between the slits is . When the screen
is kept at a distance of from the slits. The distance of ninth Bright fringe from the
center of the fringe system . Find the wavelength of the light used. (June 2017)
Given:

WAVE OPTICS
Distance of bright fringe and central bright fringe is given by,
6) In a Young’s double slit experiment wave length of light used is 5000 and distance
between the slits is 2 mm, distance of screen from the slits is 1m. Find fringe width and also
calculate the distance of 7th dark fringe from central bright fringe. (March 2019)
Given:
Distance of dark fringe and central bright fringe is given by,
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
7) In Young’s double slit experiment the slits are separated by and the screen is
placed at a distance of away from the slits. The distance between the central bright
fringe and the fifth dark fringe is measured to be . Calculate the wave length of the
light used. Also find the fringe width if the screen is moved towards the slits, for the
same experimental set up. (March 2018)
Given:
For dark fringe,
( ) ( )
( )
8) Calculate the distance between the centres of fourth bright fringe and seventh dark fringe
in an interference pattern produced by Young’s double slit experiment of slit separation
and separation between the slit and screen being Wavelength of the light
used is .
WAVE OPTICS
Given:
For dark fringe, (Seventh fringe is dark)
( )
( ) ( )
For bright fringe, (Fourth fringe is bright)
9) A beam of light consisting of two wavelengths and is used to obtain

interference fringes in Young’s double slit experiment. The distance between the slits is
and the distance between the slit and the screen is . Compute the least
distance of the point from the central maximum, where the bright fringes due to both the
wavelengths coincide. (June 2015)
Given:
We have to calculate the minimum distance at which one of the bright fringe of the first
pattern will coincide with the bright fringe of the other pattern from the central maximum.
For bright fringe,
As the both bright fringes coincide,
and
Fourth bright of the first pattern will coincide with third bright of the other.

WAVE OPTICS
10) Two slits separated by in young’s double slit experiment are illuminated by the
violet light of the wavelength . The interference fringes are obtained on the screen
placed at from the slits. Find the fringe width. If the violet light is replaced by the red
light of the wavelength , find the percentage change in fringe width.(Apr/May 2022)
Change in fringe width,
11) Light of wavelength falls on a plane reflecting surface. What are the wavelength and
frequency of reflected light? For what angle of incidence is the reflected ray normal to the
incident ray? Speed of light in vacuum .
Given:
During reflection, wavelength and frequency will not change.
For reflection,
12) In a double-slit experiment the angular width of a fringe is found to be 0.2° on a screen
placed 1 m away. The wavelength of light used is 600 nm. What will be the angular width
of the fringe if the entire experimental apparatus is immersed in water? Take refractive
index of water to be 4/3.
Given:
For is small
( )
When the apparatus is immersed in water wavelength of light changes from to

WAVE OPTICS
( )
( ⁄ )
Additional problems:
1) In Young’s double slit experiment the distance of the screen from the double slit is . When
light of wavelength is incident on the double slit, fringes of width are obtained.
Determine the separation between the slits. Find fringe width when light of wavelength
is used.
2) Light of wavelength is used to obtain interference fringes of width in a Young’s
double slit experiment. Calculate the wavelength of light required to obtain fringe of width
when the distance between the screen and slits is reduced to half of its initial value. (Mar
2017)
3) In a Young’s double slit experiment, while using a source of light of wavelength fringe
width obtained is . If the distance between the screen and the slit is reduced to half,
What should be the wavelength of the source to get the fringe wide?
4) In a Young’s double slit experiment, the slits are separated by and the screen is placed
away. The distance between the central bright fringe and the fifth bright fringe is
measured to be . Determine the wavelength of the light used in the experiment.
5) In a Young’s double slit experiment, the slits are separated by and the screen is placed
away. The distance between the central bright fringe and the fourth bright fringe is
measured to be . Determine the wavelength of the light used in the experiment.
6) In Young’s double slit experiment, the width if 10 fringes is and the slits are
separated by a distance of . Find the distance between the slit and screen if light of
wavelength is used. What will be the change in fringe width, if the whole apparatus is
immersed in water of refractive index is 1.33?
7) Two narrow slits separated by are illuminated by a light of wavelength . An
interference fringe pattern is obtained on a screen placed from the plane of slits. Find (a)
fringe width and (b) new fringe width when the slits separation is halved. Also find the
change in the fringe width. (Sept 2021)

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ELECTRIC CHARGES AND FIELDS

For and only magnitude is considered.

4) A conducting sphere of radius has an unknown charge. If the electric field,

Charge is negative (Given electric field is radially inwards)

5) An electric dipole with dipole moment . is aligned at with the direction

Electric field at O is which is given by, and direction is along AB.

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 2

A some point between two point charges will become zero.

8) ABC is an equilateral triangle of side . Point charges of and are placed at

Electric field at C is given by, ⃗ ⃗ ⃗

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 3

Magnitude of electric field, √

As , the direction of is along the bisector of the angle C.

Electric field at A is given by, ⃗ ⃗ ⃗

Magnitude of electric field, √

As , the direction of is along the bisector of the angle A.

Force on is given by,

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 4

11) A spherical conductor of radius has a charge of distributed uniformly

(a) , Inside the conductor.

(b) Just outside the conductor

Use Lemi’s theorem.

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 5

Problems for exercise.

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 6

1) Two charges and are located apart. At what point(s) on

(i) Let be a point of zero potential

Potential at is is given by,

(ii) Let be a point of zero

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 1

3) Charges , and are placed at three corners , and respectively of a

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 2

Work done in moving charge from to is given by,

Work done is independent of the path as the electrostatic force is conservative.

6) Three capacitors of capacitance and are connected in parallel.

(a) For parallel combination,

and for parallel combination

8) Two capacitors and are connected in series. Calculate the equivalent

For series connection,

(a) For series combination,

9) Two capacitors of and are charged to and respectively. If they are

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 5

For Parallel combination,

For Series combination,

Solving equations (1) and (3)

Substituting for in equation (1),

11) A capacitor of capacitance is charged to potential of . Then it is disconnected

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 6

For parallel combination,

For series combination,

Solving equations (1) and (3)

Substituting for in equation (1),

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 7

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 8

Problems: CURRENT ELECTRIITY

2) The number density of free electrons in a copper conductor is . How long

Time taken to drift long can be calculated as,

3) A silver wire has a resistance of at and a resistance of at . Find

U N Swamy, Lecturer in Physics, MGGPUC, KUNIGAL Page | 1

If we take and , the resistance at zero degree is taken as