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Electrostatics question

2010 · Shift 1 · Q65
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Electrostatics question

2010 · Shift 1 · Q65

JEE AdvancedPhysicsElectrostaticsMultiple correct+4 / −1
A few electric field lines for a system of two charges Q1{Q_1}Q1​ and Q2{Q_2}Q2​ fixed at two different points on the xxx-axis are shown in the figure. These lines suggest that IIT-JEE 2010 Paper 1 Offline Physics - Electrostatics Question 54 English
  1. A
    ∣Q1∣>∣Q2∣\left| {{Q_1}} \right| \gt \left| {{Q_2}} \right|∣Q1​∣>∣Q2​∣
  2. B
    ∣Q1∣<∣Q2∣\left| {{Q_1}} \right| \lt \left| {{Q_2}} \right|∣Q1​∣<∣Q2​∣
  3. C
    at a finite distance to the left of Q1{{Q_1}}Q1​ the electric field is zero
  4. D
    at a finite distance to the right of Q2{{Q_2}}Q2​ the electric field is zero
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: A, D

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Analyze the nature of the charges:

    • Electric field lines originate from positive charges and terminate on negative charges.
    • In the given diagram, the electric field lines are shown originating from charge Q1Q_1Q1​ and terminating on charge Q2Q_2Q2​.
    • This indicates that Q1Q_1Q1​ is a positive charge (Q1>0Q_1 > 0Q1​>0) and Q2Q_2Q2​ is a negative charge (Q2<0Q_2 < 0Q2​<0).
  2. Compare the magnitudes of the charges (∣Q1∣|Q_1|∣Q1​∣ and ∣Q2∣|Q_2|∣Q2​∣):

    • The density of electric field lines (or the number of lines drawn) originating from or terminating on a charge is proportional to the magnitude of that charge.
    • By counting the number of field lines in the diagram, we can compare the magnitudes of the charges.
    • Number of lines originating from Q1Q_1Q1​ is 8.
    • Number of lines terminating on Q2Q_2Q2​ is 4.
    • Since the number of lines associated with Q1Q_1Q1​ is greater than the number of lines associated with Q2Q_2Q2​, we can conclude that the magnitude of Q1Q_1Q1​ is greater than the magnitude of Q2Q_2Q2​.
    • Therefore, ∣Q1∣>∣Q2∣|Q_1| > |Q_2|∣Q1​∣>∣Q2​∣.
    • This makes Option A correct and Option B incorrect.
  3. Locate the neutral point (where the electric field is zero):

    • A neutral point occurs where the net electric field due to the system of charges is zero. This happens when the electric fields from the individual charges are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
    • Let the position of Q1Q_1Q1​ be at x=0x=0x=0 and Q2Q_2Q2​ be at x=dx=dx=d. The electric field due to Q1Q_1Q1​ is E1⃗\vec{E_1}E1​​ and due to Q2Q_2Q2​ is E2⃗\vec{E_2}E2​​. The net field is E⃗=E1⃗+E2⃗\vec{E} = \vec{E_1} + \vec{E_2}E=E1​​+E2​​.
    • Case 1: Between the charges (0<x<d0 < x < d0<x<d):
      • E1⃗\vec{E_1}E1​​ points to the right (away from positive Q1Q_1Q1​).
      • E2⃗\vec{E_2}E2​​ also points to the right (towards negative Q2Q_2Q2​).
      • Since both fields are in the same direction, they cannot cancel out. So, no neutral point exists between the charges.
    • Case 2: To the left of Q1Q_1Q1​ (x<0x < 0x<0):
      • Let's consider a point at a distance r1r_1r1​ from Q1Q_1Q1​ and r2r_2r2​ from Q2Q_2Q2​. So, r2=r1+dr_2 = r_1 + dr2​=r1​+d.
      • E1⃗\vec{E_1}E1​​ points to the left, and its magnitude is E1=k∣Q1∣r12E_1 = \frac{k|Q_1|}{r_1^2}E1​=r12​k∣Q1​∣​.
      • E2⃗\vec{E_2}E2​​ points to the right, and its magnitude is E2=k∣Q2∣r22=k∣Q2∣(r1+d)2E_2 = \frac{k|Q_2|}{r_2^2} = \frac{k|Q_2|}{(r_1+d)^2}E2​=r22​k∣Q2​∣​=(r1​+d)2k∣Q2​∣​.
      • For the net field to be zero, we need E1=E2E_1 = E_2E1​=E2​. However, we know ∣Q1∣>∣Q2∣|Q_1| > |Q_2|∣Q1​∣>∣Q2​∣ and for any point to the left of Q1Q_1Q1​, the distance r1<r2r_1 < r_2r1​<r2​. Since the point is closer to the larger charge, the electric field from the larger charge (E1E_1E1​) will always be greater than the electric field from the smaller charge (E2E_2E2​). Thus, they can never cancel.
      • Mathematically: E1E2=∣Q1∣/r12∣Q2∣/r22=∣Q1∣∣Q2∣(r2r1)2\frac{E_1}{E_2} = \frac{|Q_1|/r_1^2}{|Q_2|/r_2^2} = \frac{|Q_1|}{|Q_2|} \left(\frac{r_2}{r_1}\right)^2E2​E1​​=∣Q2​∣/r22​∣Q1​∣/r12​​=∣Q2​∣∣Q1​∣​(r1​r2​​)2. Since ∣Q1∣∣Q2∣>1\frac{|Q_1|}{|Q_2|} > 1∣Q2​∣∣Q1​∣​>1 and r2r1>1\frac{r_2}{r_1} > 1r1​r2​​>1, the ratio E1E2\frac{E_1}{E_2}E2​E1​​ is always greater than 1. So, E1≠E2E_1 \neq E_2E1​=E2​.
      • Therefore, the electric field cannot be zero at any finite distance to the left of Q1Q_1Q1​. Option C is incorrect.
    • Case 3: To the right of Q2Q_2Q2​ (x>dx > dx>d):
      • Let's consider a point at a distance r2r_2r2​ from Q2Q_2Q2​ and r1r_1r1​ from Q1Q_1Q1​. So, r1=r2+dr_1 = r_2 + dr1​=r2​+d.
      • E1⃗\vec{E_1}E1​​ points to the right, and its magnitude is E1=k∣Q1∣r12=k∣Q1∣(r2+d)2E_1 = \frac{k|Q_1|}{r_1^2} = \frac{k|Q_1|}{(r_2+d)^2}E1​=r12​k∣Q1​∣​=(r2​+d)2k∣Q1​∣​.
      • E2⃗\vec{E_2}E2​​ points to the left, and its magnitude is E2=k∣Q2∣r22E_2 = \frac{k|Q_2|}{r_2^2}E2​=r22​k∣Q2​∣​.
      • The fields are in opposite directions. For them to cancel, their magnitudes must be equal: E1=E2E_1 = E_2E1​=E2​.
      • k∣Q1∣(r2+d)2=k∣Q2∣r22\frac{k|Q_1|}{(r_2+d)^2} = \frac{k|Q_2|}{r_2^2}(r2​+d)2k∣Q1​∣​=r22​k∣Q2​∣​
      • ∣Q1∣∣Q2∣=(r2+d)2r22=(1+dr2)2\frac{|Q_1|}{|Q_2|} = \frac{(r_2+d)^2}{r_2^2} = \left(1 + \frac{d}{r_2}\right)^2∣Q2​∣∣Q1​∣​=r22​(r2​+d)2​=(1+r2​d​)2
      • Since ∣Q1∣>∣Q2∣|Q_1| > |Q_2|∣Q1​∣>∣Q2​∣, the ratio ∣Q1∣∣Q2∣\frac{|Q_1|}{|Q_2|}∣Q2​∣∣Q1​∣​ is greater than 1. The equation (1+dr2)2=∣Q1∣∣Q2∣\left(1 + \frac{d}{r_2}\right)^2 = \frac{|Q_1|}{|Q_2|}(1+r2​d​)2=∣Q2​∣∣Q1​∣​ has a real, finite, positive solution for r2r_2r2​.
      • This means there exists a neutral point at a finite distance to the right of Q2Q_2Q2​. Option D is correct.

Conclusion:

Based on the analysis, the correct statements are ∣Q1∣>∣Q2∣|Q_1| > |Q_2|∣Q1​∣>∣Q2​∣ and that the electric field is zero at a finite distance to the right of Q2Q_2Q2​.

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