IIT Advanced Assignment # 3

(Solutions ONLY)
Electric Field and Electric Dipole

Er. Veenus Girdhar

Ans.1: Let us consider an element of length
dx as shown in the figure. The electric field
due to this element at point P is
dq dx
dE = 2
= 2
4 0 ( d + L x ) 4 0 ( d + L x )
0 x dx
= 2
4 0 ( d + L x )
Therefore; net electric field at point P will be
0 x dx x dx
E= 2
= 0 2
4 0 ( d + L x ) 4 0 (d + L x)
Put; d+Lx=z dx = dz
Therefore; E =
0 x dx 0 ( d + L z ) dz ( z d L ) dz 1 d L
4 0 ( d + L x )
2
=
4 0
z 2
= 0
4 0
z 2
= 0
4 0
z z 2
dz
z2
L
0 d + L
L
0 d L
= log z + + = log ( d + L x ) +
4 0 z z 0 4 0 ( d + L x ) 0
0 d+L d + L
= log ( d + L L ) + log ( d + L 0 ) +
4 0 (d + L L) ( d + L 0)
d+L d d + L
= 0 log ( d ) + ( log ( d + L ) +1) = 0 log + 1
4 0 d 4 0 d + L d
0 L d 0 L d + L 0 L L
= + log e = log e = log e 1+
4 0 d d + L 4 0 d d 4 0 d d
Ans.2: Here by observing the function 0cos, we can say that first and fourth quadrant are
positively charged but second and third are negatively charged.
Now consider an element of length dx as shown. The charge on
the element will be
dq = ( 0 cos ) ( R d )
The electric field strength at the centre of ring due to this element
will be
dE =
dq
= 0
( cos ) ( R d ) = 0 cos d
2
4 0 R 4 0 R 2 4 0 R
Due to symmetry;
(a) Sine component will cancel out but
(b) Cosine component will contribute to the net field.
Therefore;
Ecentre = Edue to negative semicircle + Edue to positive semicircle = 2 ( Edue to positive semicircle )
+ /2
2 0 + /2 2 2 0 + /2 1+ cos2
Ecentre = 2 dE cos =
4 0 R /2
cos d = 2 d
4 0 R /2
/2

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 0
Ecentre = [ + 0 ] = 0
4 0 R 4 0 R
Ans.3(a): We define x = 0 at the point where we are to find the field i.e. P. Consider a ring of
thickness dx and at a distance x from the point P.
Charge on ring will be
Q Q
dq = (2 R dx ) = dx
2 RL L
Electric field due to ring at point P will be:
dq x Q x
dE = 3/2
= dx
4 0 ( R 2 + x 2 ) 4 0 L ( R 2 + x 2 )3/2
Hence total electric field due to whole cylinder will be
Q d+L x
E=
4 0 L
d 2 3/2
dx
2
R +x ( )
Put R2 + x 2 = z2 2x dx = 2z dz x dx = z dz
d+L d+L
Q d+L 1 Q 1 Q 1
Therefore; E= 2
dz = = 2
4 0 L d
z 4 0 L z d 4 0 L R + x 2 d

Q 1 1
E=
4 0 L R 2 + d 2 2
R + (d + L)
2

Ans.3(b): Consider a ring of thickness dx and at a distance x from the point P. Charge on
disc and surface charge density will be
Q Q Q
dq = 2 (
R 2 dx ) = dx and = dx
R L L R2 L
Electric field due to disc at point P will be:
x Q x
dE = 1 = 2 1 dx
2 0 R 2 + x 2 2 0 R L R2 + x 2
Q d+L x Q x R2 + x 2
d+L
Therefore; E= 1 dx =
2 R 2 L d 0 R2 + x 2 2 R 2 L 0
d

Q d+L x Q 2
E= 2 1 dx = 2 L + R2 + d 2 R2 + (d + L)
2 0 R L d R2 + x 2 2 0 R L
Ans.4: Put the removed part to form the complete ring once again.
Now, the electric field due to complete ring at the centre is always
zero. Therefore;
! ! ! ! ! ! !
Ering = 0 Eremaining + Eremoved = 0 Eremaining = Eremoved
Q
x
dQ 2 R Q
Eremaining = 2
= 2
= 2 3x
4 0 R 4 0 R 8 0 R
Ans.5: (a) Force on +2C is

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 F = qE = ( 2x10 6 ) (10 5 ) = 0.2N (towards North)
(b) Force on 5C is F = qE = ( 5x10 6 ) (10 5 ) = 0.5N (towards South)
Ans.6: The situation is as shown in the figure. Clearly; at
required point;
q h q 6L 6q
Enet = 3E A cos = 3 2 = 3 2
= 2
4 0 L L 4 0 L 3L 4 0 L

Ans.7: Consider the arm AB. Let us consider an element of length

dx and charge dq at a distance x from XY. Then torque on this
element due to the electric field E is
q qE L qEL
d = x ( dq E ) = x dx E
L
=
L 0
x dx =
2
qEL qEL
Now; Total = + ( qE ) L + = ( 2qE ) L
2 2
L
At equilibrium; Total = Weight (2qE ) L = ( 4mg)
2
mg
E=
q
Ans.8: Let the charge Q be displaced slightly along the axis of the ring by distance x. The
force on this charge due to ring at this point will be
Q ( 2 R) x
F = QEring,axis = 3/2
4 0 ( R 2 + x 2 )
Q ( 2 R) x Q ( 2 R)
But, x <<< R, therefore; F= = x
4 0 R 3 4 0 R
3

Since, force is directly proportional to displacement, hence the particle will execute SHM.
m m 2 0 mR 2
Thus; T = 2 = 2 = 2
k F/x Q
Ans.9: The direction of various electric fields are as shown in the
figure. Now; it is clear from the figure that
(a) Ey1 and Ey3 will cancel out.
(b) Ex1 and Ex3 will cancel out.
(c) Ex2 and Ey2, both belonging to one-fourth of circle will left
un-cancelled.
Hence;

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Enet = E 1 =
4 2 2 0 R
ring

Ans.10: This is equivalent to a thread problem. Therefore;

F qE
tan = =
mg mg
mg tan mgd
E= =
q q L2 d 2

Ans.11: (a) The situation is as shown in the figure. The angle between weight (= mg) and
electric force (= qE) is 1800 . Hence, effective tension will be:
2 2
T= ( mg) + (qE ) + 2 ( mg) ( qE ) cos (180 0 )
2 2
T= ( mg) + (qE ) 2 ( mg) ( qE ) cos
Thus, effective acceleration due to gravity is
2
T qE qE
= g 2 + 2g cos
geff =
m m m
Hence; time period of simple pendulum will be;
L L
T ' = 2 = 2
geff qE
2
qE
g 2 + 2g cos
m m
(b) To calculate angle , resolving into component, we get
qEcos + Tcos = mg and qE sin = T sin
qE sin qE sin
tan = = tan 1
mg qE cos mg qE cos
Ans.12: Electric field at centre, due to different rods are
! 4
Ea = sin 450 + sin 450 j = 1 8 2 j
4 0 ( L / 2 ) 4 0 L
! 1 4 2
Eb = i
4 0 L
! 1 6 2
Ec = j
4 0 L
! 1 2 2
Ed = i
4 0 L

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 ! ! ! ! ! 2
Therefore; ETotal = Ea + Eb + Ec + Ed = 2i +14 j
4 0 L

Ans.13: The various electric fields at point O are as:

E AC =
sin 60 0 + sin 60 0 = 3
L 4 0 L
4 0
3
3
E AB =
4 0 L
3
EBC =
4 0 L
! ! 3
The angle between E AC & E AB is 1200. Therefore, their resultant is also and in the
4 0 L
!
direction of EBC . Hence, total electric field at point O is
! 6 3
Enet = = ( directed downwards)
4 0 L 2 0 L
Ans.14: It is a thread problem. Therefore;
qE mg tan
tan = q= = 5.25 x 10 8 C
mg E
Ans.15: The result will be identical to a ring having total charge Q. hence required electric
field will be:
Qx
E= 3/2
( )
4 0 R 2 + x 2
Ans.16: Electric field at a distance from an element of length dx will be
dq dx 0 x0 dx
dE = 2
= =
4 0 x 4 0 x 2 4 0 x 3
Therefore total electric field will be

0 x0 dx 0 x0 1 0
E=
4 0 x0 x 3
= 2 =
4 0 2x x0 8 0 x0
Ans.17: This question has already been discussed. Answers are

(a) E =
4 0 x

(b) E x = to left; Ey = upwards
4 0 b 4 0 b
Ans.18: (a) The electric field at a distance x from ring is
1 Qx
E=
4 0 x 2 + R 2 3/2
( )
Therefore; force on the dipole is

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dE 2aqQ R 2 2x 2 aqQ R 2 2x 2
F=P = = (in magnitude)
dx 4 0 ( x 2 + R 2 )3/2 2 0 ( x 2 + R 2 )3/2

1 2 ( 2aq ) Qx aqQx
(b) W = pE ( cos 2 cos1 ) = pE ( cos180 0 cos0 0 ) = 2 pE = 3/2
= 3/2
4 0 ( x 2 + R 2 ) 0 ( x 2 + R 2 )
(c) When dipole is slightly rotated about its equilibrium position, then restoring torque on
dipole will be

1 Qx
= pE sin pE = ( 2aq )
4 0 x 2 + R 2 3/2
( )
2 3/2

2ma ( ) =
2 2 2aq Qx T=
16 2
0 ma ( x 2
+ R )
4 0 x 2 + R 2 3/2 qQx
( )
Ans.19.: This is called extended dipole. Let us divide the semi-circular ring into small parts
each of charge dq and length dx. Similarly divide the
negative charge into small dq charges. Now. Small dipole
moment of the system considered is
q q qR
dp = ( R) ( dq ) = R dx = R R d = d
R R
Due to symmetry; net dipole moment will be
/2 qR 2qR
p= cos d =
/2

Ans.20: It is a direct question. Net dipole moment of system is obtained by splitting 2q

into two parts of q each. The answer is

p = 2q dcos
2
Ans.21: This is a special question and is called distributed dipole.
Here
px = pi xi = 2q ( 0 ) + q ( 0 ) q ( 0 ) = zero
py = pi yi = 2q ( a ) + q (a ) q ( 0 ) = qa
pz = pi zi = 2q ( a ) + q ( a ) q (a ) = 4qa

Therefore; pnet = px2 + py2 + pz2 = 17qa

Ans.22: Electric field due to uniformly charged hemisphere of charge density and radius
R at its centre is

E=
4 0
Potential energy of the dipole will be
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 p
U = pE cos = cos
4 0
Now; restoring torque on dipole will be

= pE sin pE = ( 2aq )
4 0
2aq 2aq
I = I ( 2 ) =
4 0 4 0
4 0 I
T = 2

Ans.23: The two rods have charges of L. Therefore; the dipole moment of system will be
p = ( L) d
Now, the time period of oscillations of dipole is
I md 2 / 4 + md 2 / 4 md
T = 2 = 2 = 2
PE ( Ld ) E 2 LE
Work done to turn the system through an angle /2 is
(
W = pE ( cos 2 cos1 ) = pE cos90 0 cos0 0 = LdE )
Work done to turn the system through an angle is
(
W = pE ( cos 2 cos1 ) = pE cos180 0 cos0 0 = 2 LdE )
Ans.24: Consider the two elements as shown.
Therefore, dipole moment will be
2 0
p= dp = 0
dR 2Rsin
2 0
= 2 R 2 d sin = 2 R 2 (1 cos2 0 )
0

p = 4 R 2 sin 2 0
Now, the time period of oscillations of dipole is
I mR 2 m
T = 2 = 2 =
PE ( 4 R sin 0 ) E
2 2
sin 2 0 E
Work done required to turn it through 1800 is
W = 2 pE = 8 R 2 E sin 2 0
Ans.25: (a) Along the Thread:
As shown in the figure; the force on the
charges are equal and opposite. Therefore;
net force on dipole is zero.
(b) Perpendicular to the thread: Here;
q
F1 =
2 0 ( r a )
q
F2 =
2 0 ( r + a )

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Therefore;
q 1 1 q 2a p p
F = F1 F2 = = =
2
2 0 ( r a ) ( r + a ) 2 0 r a 2
2 0 ( r a ) 2 0 r 2
2 2

!
(c) At right angles to the thread and the radius vector r :
Clearly;
2q a p p
F = 2F1 sin = . =
2 0 r + a2 2 2
r +a 2 2
2 0 r + a 2 2 0 r 2

Ans.26: Consider two differential charge elements at A and B as

shown in figure. Dipole moment of the pair is
dp = ( 0 cos ) ( R d ) ( 2R cos ) = 2 0 R 2 cos2 d
So, the dipole moment of the charge distribution is
/2 /2 /2 1+ cos2
p= dp = 2 0 R 2 cos2 d = 2 0 R 2 d
/2 /2 /2
2
p = 0 R 2

Ans.27: Here:
2
q q q a q 2a a2
E1 = 2
= 2
= 1 = 1+ + 3 ...
4 0 ( r a ) 2 a 4 0 r 2 r 4 0 r 2 r r2
4 0 r 1
r
2q
E2 =
4 0 r 2
2
q q q a q 2a a2
E3 = 2
= 2
= 2
1+ = 1 + 3 ...
4 0 ( r + a ) 2 a 4 0 r r 4 0 r 2 r r2
4 0 r 1+
r
Therefore; net electric field at point P will be
E = E1 + E3 E2
q 2a a 2 2a a2
= 1+ + 3 2 + 1 + +3 2 2
4 0 r 2 r r r r
6a 2 q
E=
4 0 r 4
Important Note: The charge in such an arrangement may be considered as two dipoles
placed together. Such an arrangement of charge is called an electric quadrupole. The value
p = 6a 2 q is called quadrupole moment.
Ans.28: Both the charges lies on the equatorial line of the dipole. Therefore; force on charge
placed at left will be
q p
FLeft = qEdipole = . ( downwards)
4 0 a 3

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 q p
FRight = qEdipole = . ( downwards)
4 0 a 3
Total force on both the charges by the dipole will be
2q p
Fcharge = 2FLeft = . ( downwards)
4 0 a 3
As per Newtons third law; force on dipole will be
! 2q p
Fdipole = Fcharge = . (upwards)
4 0 a 3
Ans.29: The force on dipole is
! q 2p
Fdipole = Fcharge = . (leftwards)
4 0 a 3
Ans.30: Number of atoms in 10 g silver is
6.023x10 23 x10
n= = 5.58x10 22
107.87
Therefore; number of electrons are
N = 47n = 2.62x10 24
Ans.31: The two diagonally opposite charges will act as dipoles and point located
symmetrically with respect to the vertices of the square at a distance x from the centre will
lie on equatorial line at a distance x from centre of dipole. Therefore;
1 p
E1 = E2 = .
4 0 ( L + x 2 )3/2
2

The top view of direction of electric field will be as. Therefore net
electric field will be
2p 2 2qL
E = E12 + E22 = 3/2
= 3/2
4 0 ( L2 + x 2 ) 4 0 ( L2 + x 2 )
Ans.32: Let us consider the two-dimensional view of the situation. Because of symmetry,
we can say that the force on wire 2 (2) will be along negative
y-direction.
1
dF = dq E x cos = ( 2 dx ) cos
2 0 a 2 + x 2
1 a 12 a
= ( 2 dx ) = dx
2 0 a 2 + x 2
a2 + x 2 2 0 ( a 2 + x 2 )
Therefore

12 a 1 12 a 1 1 x
F= 2
2 0 a + x 2
dx =
2 0 a
tan = 1 2 [ ] = 1 2
a 2 0 2 0
Hence force is independent of distance a.
qq
Ans.34: R = 2 0 = 2.25x10 3 m = 2.25mm
8 0 R A Y

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Ans.34: Clearly;
T sin = qA
T cos = mg qB
mg tan
Therefore; q=
A + B tan
And putting value of q in second equation, we get
Amgsec
T=
A + B tan
Ans.35: For field to be zero;
q QR
Epoint = Ering 2
= 3/2
4 0 R 4 0 ( R 2 + R 2 )
Q
q=
2 2
Ans.36: The body will initially be accelerated towards wall due to the force of electric field
and hence gain speed. It will strike wall after some time say t and with velocity say v. Since,
collision is perfectly elastic, therefore; body will rebound with same speed. Now, the electric
field will oppose the motion of the body. The body will again come to rest at same point
after same time t. Once again, the body will begin to move towards the wall. Therefore, time
taken to return to original position is
2L 1 2
T = 2t = 2 Using S = ut + at
a 2
2L 8mL
Therefore; T =2 =
qE / m qE
Ans.37: The electric field at a distance x from an infinitely long rod of linear charge density

is E=
2 0 x
dE p aq
(a) Therefore; F=p = p 2
= 2
= (in magnitude)
dx 2 0 x 2 0 x 0 x 2
2 p 2aq
(b) W = pE ( cos 2 cos1 ) = pE ( cos180 0 cos0 0 ) = 2 pE = =
2 0 x 0 x
(c) When dipole is slightly rotated about its equilibrium position, then restoring torque
on dipole will be

= pE sin pE = ( 2aq )
2 0 x
2aq 2aq
I = 2ma 2 ( 2 ) =
2 0 x 2 0 x

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 2 0 xma
T = 2
q

Ans.38: (a) Dipoles Placed Coaxially:

Electric field due to p1 at the site of p2 is
2 p1
E1 =
4 0 d 3
Therefore; force on p2 is
dE 6 p1 6 p1 p2
F2 = p2 1 = p2 4
= 4 (in magnitude)
dx 4 0 d 4 0 d
(b) Dipoles Placed Perpendicular to Each Other:
Electric field due to p1 at the site of p2 is
p1
E1 =
4 0 d 3
Therefore; force on p2 is
dE 3p1 3p1 p2
F2 = p2 1 = p2 4
= 4 (in magnitude)
dx 4 0 d 4 0 d
(c) Dipoles Placed Parallel to Each Other:
Electric field due to p1 at the site of p2 is
p1
E1 =
4 0 d 3
Therefore; force on p2 is
dE 3p1 3p1 p2
F2 = p2 1 = p2 4
= 4 (in magnitude)
dx 4 0 d 4 0 d

End of Solutions to Assignment # 3

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