Electric Charge and Field: Coulomb's Law MCQs

Electric Charge and Field: Coulomb's Law and NCERT Class 12 MCQs

Let's dive into the wonderful world of electric charge and fields, as explored in the NCERT Class 12 curriculum. We'll focus on Coulomb's Law, a cornerstone of classical electrostatics, and work through some common MCQs!

Coulomb's Law: The Basics

Coulomb's Law, proposed by the French scientist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb in 1785, is a fundamental equation that describes the electrostatic force of interaction between two electrically charged particles. It's given by:

[ F = \frac{k_e \cdot q_1 \cdot q_2}{r^2} ]

where (F) is the force exerted between the two charges (q_1) and (q_2), (k_e) is Coulomb's constant, and (r) is the distance between the charges.

MCQs

Test your understanding with these multiple-choice questions:

1. According to Coulomb's Law, which of the following is true? a) The force between two charges decreases linearly with distance. b) The force between two charges increases with distance. c) The force between two charges is independent of distance. d) The force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of charges.

Answer: d) The force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of charges.

2. Coulomb's constant (k_e) has units of: a) (C^2 \cdot N^1 \cdot m^2) b) (C^2 \cdot N^2 \cdot m^4) c) (C^2 \cdot N^0 \cdot m^2)

Answer: c) (C^2 \cdot N^0 \cdot m^2)

3. Which of the following charges will experience a greater force if they are held at a fixed distance from each other? a) Positive charges b) Negative charges

Answer: d) The force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of charges. Therefore, if one charge is doubled, the force will also be doubled, so positive charges will experience a greater force.

4. Coulomb's Law assumes: a) Charges can be separated infinitely without limit. b) Charges are not influenced by other charges in the vicinity. c) Charges can have fractional values.

Answer: b) Charges are not influenced by other charges in the vicinity.

5. If two charged particles are brought closer together, the force between them: a) Increases linearly. b) Decreases linearly. c) Remains constant.

Answer: a) Increases linearly.

6. A charged sphere in space experiences an electric field: a) Only at its surface. b) Everywhere in space.

Answer: b) Everywhere in space.

[Sources: 2, 3, 5]

Classroom Takeaways

Coulomb's Law is a fundamental concept in electrostatics. Understanding it is essential for students who are learning about electric fields and forces in their NCERT Class 12 physics course. This law sets a foundation for a deeper understanding of the behavior of electric charges and helps students appreciate the relationship between charge, distance, and force.

Remember: Coulomb's Law tells you that the force between electric charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Understanding this law will help you comprehend the behavior of electric charges, such as the electric field, electric potential, and related phenomena.

Let's dive deeper into these topics to build a strong foundation in the exciting world of electrostatics!