Electrostatics MCQs 2026

Materials that allow electric charge to flow freely through them are called

1. AInsulators✓
2. BConductors✓
3. CDielectrics✓
4. DSemiconductors only✓

Connecting a charged conductor to the earth to remove excess charge is called

1. AInduction✓
2. BPolarization✓
3. CGrounding (earthing)✓
4. DConduction only✓

Materials that do not allow electric charge to flow through them easily are called

1. AConductors✓
2. BInsulators✓
3. CSuperconductors✓
4. DElectrolytes only✓

The SI unit of electric potential is the

1. ACoulomb✓
2. BFarad✓
3. CVolt✓
4. DNewton✓

A device used to build up very high electrostatic potentials for physics experiments is the

1. AVan de Graaff generator✓
2. BTransformer✓
3. CCapacitor bank✓
4. DElectric motor✓

Lightning conductors (rods) installed on tall buildings work by

1. AAbsorbing all electrical energy from clouds✓
2. BBlocking electric fields completely✓
3. CProviding a safe path for lightning current to reach the ground✓
4. DRepelling lightning strikes away from the building✓

The phenomenon in which the pointed ends of a charged conductor lose charge rapidly due to concentrated field strength is called

1. AGrounding✓
2. BInduction✓
3. CPolarization✓
4. DAction at points (corona discharge)✓

An electrostatic precipitator is used mainly to

1. AGenerate high voltage✓
2. BStore electric charge✓
3. CRemove dust and particulate pollutants from industrial exhaust gases✓
4. DMeasure electric field strength✓

Photocopiers and laser printers use electrostatic principles mainly to

1. AAttract toner particles to charged regions on a drum to form the image✓
2. BHeat the paper for printing✓
3. CGenerate the ink color✓
4. DCool the printing drum✓

The force between two charges of 1 coulomb each placed 1 meter apart in vacuum is approximately

1. A9 x 10^-9 N✓
2. B9 x 10^9 N✓
3. C9 x 10^19 N✓
4. D1 N✓

Electrostatic force between two point charges compared to gravitational force between two masses of similar magnitude is generally

1. AMuch weaker✓
2. BMuch stronger✓
3. CExactly equal✓
4. DZero✓

A surface on which all points have the same electric potential is called

1. AA field line✓
2. BA conductor surface only✓
3. CA Gaussian surface✓
4. DAn equipotential surface✓

The work done in moving a charge between two points at the same potential is

1. AMaximum✓
2. BZero✓
3. CInfinite✓
4. DNegative✓

The SI unit of capacitance is the

1. AVolt✓
2. BFarad✓
3. CCoulomb✓
4. DOhm✓

A capacitor consists of

1. AA single charged conductor✓
2. BA coil of wire only✓
3. CTwo conductors separated by an insulator (dielectric)✓
4. DA resistor and a battery✓

Inserting a dielectric material between capacitor plates generally

1. ADecreases its capacitance✓
2. BIncreases its capacitance✓
3. CHas no effect on capacitance✓
4. DConverts it into a resistor✓

For capacitors connected in parallel, the equivalent capacitance is

1. AThe sum of individual capacitances✓
2. BLess than the smallest individual capacitance✓
3. CThe reciprocal sum of individual capacitances✓
4. DAlways equal to zero✓

For capacitors connected in series, the equivalent capacitance is found using

1. ADirect sum of capacitances✓
2. BProduct of capacitances only✓
3. CThe reciprocal sum formula 1/C = 1/C1 + 1/C2 + ...✓
4. DThe average of capacitances✓

The energy stored in a charged capacitor is given by

1. AE = QV^2✓
2. BE = 1/2 QV✓
3. CE = Q/V✓
4. DE = 2QV✓

The ability of a conductor to store electric charge is called its

1. ACapacitance✓
2. BResistance✓
3. CConductance✓
4. DPotential✓

The process of charging a conductor without direct contact with another charged body is called

1. AConduction✓
2. BGrounding✓
3. CFriction✓
4. DElectrostatic induction✓

Rubbing an ebonite (rubber) rod with fur makes the rod

1. ANegatively charged✓
2. BPositively charged✓
3. CNeutral✓
4. DMagnetized✓

The electric potential energy of a system of two point charges is defined as the work done in

1. AMoving one charge to infinity✓
2. BSeparating the two charges completely✓
3. CAssembling the charges from infinity to their given positions✓
4. DRotating the charges around each other✓

According to the law of conservation of charge, the total charge in an isolated system

1. AIncreases with time✓
2. BDecreases with time✓
3. CCan be created but not destroyed✓
4. DRemains constant✓

Like charges

1. AAttract each other✓
2. BNeutralize each other✓
3. CHave no effect on each other✓
4. DRepel each other✓

Unlike charges

1. ARepel each other✓
2. BAttract each other✓
3. CCancel to zero charge always✓
4. DHave no interaction✓

Coulomb's law states that the electrostatic force between two point charges is

1. ADirectly proportional to the product of charges and inversely proportional to the square of distance✓
2. BDirectly proportional to distance✓
3. CInversely proportional to the product of charges✓
4. DIndependent of distance✓

The value of Coulomb's constant k in vacuum is approximately

1. A6.674 x 10^-11 N m^2/kg^2✓
2. B9 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2✓
3. C1.6 x 10^-19 C✓
4. D8.85 x 10^-12 F/m✓

The SI unit of electric charge is the

1. AVolt✓
2. BFarad✓
3. CAmpere✓
4. DCoulomb✓

The region around a charged object where its influence (force) can be experienced is called

1. AElectric potential✓
2. BElectric flux✓
3. CElectric field✓
4. DElectric current✓

Electric field lines around an isolated positive point charge point

1. AToward the charge✓
2. BIn circles around the charge✓
3. CParallel to each other✓
4. DRadially outward from the charge✓

Electric field lines around an isolated negative point charge point

1. ARadially inward toward the charge✓
2. BRadially outward from the charge✓
3. CParallel to each other✓
4. DIn closed loops✓

Electric field lines never intersect because

1. AThey are always parallel✓
2. BThe field at a point can have only one direction✓
3. CThey are too weak to cross✓
4. DThey repel each other✓

Work done in moving a unit positive charge from infinity to a point in an electric field is called

1. AElectric field intensity✓
2. BElectric potential✓
3. CElectric flux✓
4. DElectric current✓

The permittivity of free space (epsilon-naught) is a measure of

1. AThe magnetic property of vacuum✓
2. BThe resistance of a conductor✓
3. CHow much electric field is permitted to exist in vacuum✓
4. DThe charge stored in a capacitor✓

Gauss's law relates the total electric flux through a closed surface to the

1. ATotal charge enclosed within the surface✓
2. BSurface area of the enclosure✓
3. CDistance between charges✓
4. DMagnetic field inside the surface✓

Electric flux through a surface is defined as a measure of

1. AThe charge stored on the surface✓
2. BThe potential difference across the surface✓
3. CThe resistance of the surface✓
4. DThe number of electric field lines passing through the surface✓

Two point charges kept close together, equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, form what is called an

1. AElectric dipole✓
2. BElectric monopole✓
3. CElectric quadrupole✓
4. DIsolated charge✓

The product of the magnitude of either charge and the separation distance in a dipole is called the

1. AElectric dipole moment✓
2. BElectric field strength✓
3. CElectric flux✓
4. DElectric potential energy✓

Charging a neutral body by rubbing it with another material, causing transfer of electrons, is called charging by

1. AInduction✓
2. BConduction✓
3. CGrounding✓
4. DFriction✓

When two similar conductors, one charged and one uncharged, are brought into direct contact, charge is shared through

1. AInduction✓
2. BConduction✓
3. CFriction✓
4. DPolarization✓

A conductor placed in an external electric field experiences a redistribution of free charges, resulting in the field inside the conductor becoming

1. AZero✓
2. BDoubled✓
3. CEqual to the external field✓
4. DReversed in direction✓

The electric potential at the surface of an isolated charged sphere is directly proportional to

1. AThe square of the radius✓
2. BThe inverse of the charge✓
3. CThe charge and inversely proportional to the radius✓
4. DThe volume of the sphere✓

The smallest unit of electric charge that exists independently is the charge of

1. AAn electron (elementary charge e)✓
2. BA neutron✓
3. CAn atom✓
4. DA molecule✓

Two capacitors of 2 microfarad and 3 microfarad connected in parallel give an equivalent capacitance of

1. A1.2 microfarad✓
2. B2.5 microfarad✓
3. C0.6 microfarad✓
4. D5 microfarad✓

Two capacitors of 2 microfarad and 3 microfarad connected in series give an equivalent capacitance of approximately

1. A5 microfarad✓
2. B2.5 microfarad✓
3. C1.2 microfarad✓
4. D6 microfarad✓

The energy stored in a 2 microfarad capacitor charged to 100 volts is

1. A0.02 J✓
2. B0.2 J✓
3. C2 J✓
4. D0.01 J✓

A parallel plate capacitor's capacitance can be increased by

1. AIncreasing the separation between plates✓
2. BDecreasing the plate area✓
3. CDecreasing the separation between plates or increasing plate area✓
4. DRemoving the dielectric✓

The direction of the electric field at a point is defined as the direction of force experienced by

1. AA negative test charge✓
2. BAny neutral object✓
3. CThe source charge itself✓
4. DA small positive test charge placed at that point✓

Rubbing a glass rod with silk makes the glass rod

1. ANegatively charged✓
2. BNeutral✓
3. CMagnetized✓
4. DPositively charged✓