Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance NEET MCQ

1. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

a) Electric field
b) Force
c) Electrostatic potential
d) Current

Answer:

c) Electrostatic potential

Explanation:

Electrostatic potential, unlike electric field or force, is a scalar quantity. It has magnitude but no direction.

2. The work done in moving a charge against the electric field is stored as:

a) Kinetic energy
b) Potential energy
c) Heat energy
d) Magnetic energy

Answer:

b) Potential energy

Explanation:

The work done against an electric field gets stored as electric potential energy of the charge.

3. A capacitor stores energy in the form of:

a) Magnetic field
b) Electric field
c) Heat
d) Radiation

Answer:

b) Electric field

Explanation:

A capacitor stores energy in the electrostatic field between its plates.

4. The SI unit of capacitance is:

a) Volt
b) Ohm
c) Ampere
d) Farad

Answer:

d) Farad

Explanation:

The SI unit of capacitance is Farad, represented as F.

5. If the separation between the plates of a capacitor is halved, its capacitance:

a) Remains the same
b) Doubles
c) Is halved
d) Quadruples

Answer:

b) Doubles

Explanation:

The capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor is inversely proportional to the distance between its plates. So, halving the distance doubles the capacitance.

6. A dielectric material is introduced between the plates of a capacitor. What happens to its capacitance?

a) Decreases
b) Increases
c) Remains the same
d) Becomes zero

Answer:

b) Increases

Explanation:

Introducing a dielectric material increases the capacitance as it reduces the effective electric field between the plates.

7. Which of the following materials will be the best choice for a dielectric material in a capacitor?

a) Metal
b) Air
c) Mica
d) Iron

Answer:

c) Mica

Explanation:

Mica is a good dielectric material due to its high dielectric constant and insulating properties.

8. The ability of a body to store an electrical charge is called:

a) Resistance
b) Inductance
c) Capacitance
d) Impedance

Answer:

c) Capacitance

Explanation:

Capacitance is the measure of a body's ability to store an electric charge.

9. In a charged capacitor, if the voltage across its plates is doubled, the stored energy will:

a) Remain the same
b) Double
c) Quadruple
d) Be halved

Answer:

c) Quadruple

Explanation:

The energy stored in a capacitor is directly proportional to the square of the voltage. Hence, doubling the voltage will quadruple the energy.

10. Equipotential surfaces are:

a) Perpendicular to electric field lines
b) Parallel to electric field lines
c) At an acute angle to electric field lines
d) At an obtuse angle to electric field lines

Answer:

a) Perpendicular to electric field lines

Explanation:

Equipotential surfaces are always perpendicular to the electric field lines at every point.

11. The work done in moving a charge between two points on an equipotential surface is:

a) Maximum
b) Minimum
c) Zero
d) Infinite

Answer:

c) Zero

Explanation:

Since the potential difference between any two points on an equipotential surface is zero, the work done is also zero.

12. If three capacitors are connected in series, the overall capacitance will be:

a) The sum of their capacitances
b) Greater than any individual capacitance
c) Smaller than any individual capacitance
d) Equal to the average capacitance

Answer:

c) Smaller than any individual capacitance

Explanation:

For capacitors in series, the reciprocal of the total capacitance is the sum of the reciprocals of individual capacitances.

13. What is the potential difference across a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium?

a) Infinity
b) High
c) Zero
d) Unpredictable

Answer:

c) Zero

Explanation:

In electrostatic equilibrium, there is no net motion of charges, and hence the potential difference across a conductor is zero.

14. The electric potential due to a point charge is V. If the distance from the charge is doubled, the electric potential becomes:

a) V/2
b) 2V
c) V/4
d) 4V

Answer:

a) V/2

Explanation:

The electric potential due to a point charge is inversely proportional to the distance. Thus, doubling the distance reduces the potential to half.

15. When a dielectric is inserted in a capacitor, the electric field between the plates:

a) Increases
b) Decreases
c) Remains unchanged
d) Becomes zero

Answer:

b) Decreases

Explanation:

The introduction of a dielectric reduces the effective electric field due to its polarization.

16. The voltage across a capacitor's plates is V and its capacitance is C. The energy stored in the capacitor is given by:

a) V^2/C
b) C^2/V
c) 0.5*V^2*C
d) 0.5*C*V^2

Answer:

d) 0.5*C*V^2

Explanation:

The energy (U) stored in a capacitor is given by U = 0.5*C*V^2.

17. If the distance between the plates of a capacitor is increased, the voltage between the plates:

a) Increases
b) Decreases
c) Remains unchanged
d) Becomes zero

Answer:

a) Increases

Explanation:

For a charged capacitor, if the distance is increased, the electric field between the plates and hence the voltage will increase.

18. A capacitor is said to be charged when:

a) There is a potential difference between its plates
b) The dielectric is fully polarized
c) It is connected to a battery
d) Both plates have equal and opposite charges

Answer:

d) Both plates have equal and opposite charges

Explanation:

Charging a capacitor means giving equal and opposite charges to its plates.

19. Capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor depends on:

a) Charge on the plates
b) Voltage across the plates
c) Area of the plates and distance between them
d) Type of material of the plates

Answer:

c) Area of the plates and distance between them

Explanation:

Capacitance is directly proportional to the area of the plates and inversely proportional to the distance between them.

20. Electrostatic potential is a measure of:

a) Electric field strength
b) Amount of charge
c) Work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point
d) Energy required to move a charge in an electric field

Answer:

c) Work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to that point

Explanation:

Electrostatic potential at a point is defined as the work done in bringing a unit positive charge from infinity to that point without acceleration.

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