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Electrostatics question

2021 · 26 Feb · Shift 2 · Q52
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  5. /2021 · 26 Feb · Shift 2 · Q52

Electrostatics question

2021 · 26 Feb · Shift 2 · Q52

JEE MainPhysicsElectrostaticsMCQ+4 / −1
Given below are two statements: Statement I : An electric dipole is placed at the center of a hollow sphere. The flux of the electric field through the sphere is zero but the electric field is not zero anywhere in the sphere. Statement II : If R is the radius of a solid metallic sphere and Q be the total charge on it. The electric field at any point on the spherical surface of radius r (
  1. A
    Both Statement I and Statement II are true
  2. B
    Statement I is false but Statement II is true
  3. C
    Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  4. D
    Both Statement I and Statement II are false
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: C

  1. Analyze Statement I

An electric dipole has charges +q+q+q and −q-q−q, so the net enclosed charge is zero.

By Gauss's law,

Φ=∮E⃗⋅dA⃗=Qenclosedε0\Phi = \oint \vec E \cdot d\vec A = \frac{Q_{\text{enclosed}}}{\varepsilon_0}Φ=∮E⋅dA=ε0​Qenclosed​​

Since for a dipole,

Qenclosed=(+q)+(−q)=0,Q_{\text{enclosed}} = (+q) + (-q) = 0,Qenclosed​=(+q)+(−q)=0,

we get

Φ=0.\Phi = 0.Φ=0.

So, the net electric flux through the sphere is zero.

Now check the second part: whether electric field is zero anywhere on the sphere.

For a dipole placed at the center, the electric field on the spherical surface is generally not zero everywhere; it varies with angle. In fact, at most points it is nonzero. Hence the intent of the statement is that although total flux is zero, the field itself is not zero on the sphere.

Therefore, Statement I is true.


  1. Analyze Statement II

For a charged solid metallic sphere of radius RRR carrying charge QQQ:

  • Inside the conductor, i.e. for r<Rr < Rr<R, E=0E = 0E=0
  • Outside the conductor, i.e. for r>Rr > Rr>R, E=14πε0Qr2E = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{Q}{r^2}E=4πε0​1​r2Q​
  • On the surface, just outside, E=14πε0QR2E = \frac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\frac{Q}{R^2}E=4πε0​1​R2Q​

So if Statement II claims the electric field at any point depends on rrr in a way inconsistent with the conductor result (as indicated), then it is false. The standard fact is that inside a metallic sphere electric field is zero, not proportional to 1/r21/r^21/r2 or any nonzero expression.

Hence, Statement II is false.


  1. Choose the correct option
  • Statement I: True
  • Statement II: False

Therefore, the correct option is:

C\boxed{\text{C}}C​
  1. Comparison with stored answer

Stored correct answer: C\boxed{\text{C}}C​

My derived answer matches the stored answer.

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