Electrostatics - JEE Topper’s Notes

I. Electric Charge

• Coulomb’s Law (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Definition and mathematical expression
  • Coulomb’s constant
  • Application to point charges in various configurations
• Electric Field (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Definition and concept of electric field lines
  • Electric field due to point charges, charged spheres, cylinders, and planes
  • Electric field lines vs. equipotential lines
• Electric Potential (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Definition and mathematical expression
  • Calculating the electric potential for various charge distributions
  • Relationship between electric field and electric potential
• Gauss’s Law (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Statement and mathematical expression
  • Application to various simple and symmetric charge distributions
  • Gauss’s law as a tool for simplifying electric field calculations

II. Electrostatics of Conductors

• Electrostatic Induction (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Charge distribution on conductors
  • Induced charges, positive and negative charges
• Capacitors (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Definition and working principle
  • Parallel plate capacitor, cylindrical capacitor, and spherical capacitor
  • Capacitance, factors affecting capacitance
  • Capacitors in series and parallel

III. Dielectric Materials

• Polarization (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Induced polarization in dielectric materials
  • Types of polarization: electronic, ionic, and dipole
• Dielectric Constant (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Definition and significance
  • Relation between dielectric constant and electric field
  • Effect of dielectric materials on capacitance

IV. Electric Field and Potential in Various Geometries

• Point Charge (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Derivation of electric field and potential for a point charge
• Charged Sphere (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Electric field and potential inside and outside the sphere
• Charged Cylinder (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Electric field and potential inside and outside the cylinder
• Charged Plane (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Electric field and potential in front of and behind the plane
• Charged Parallel Plates (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Uniform electric field, potential between the plates
  • Capacitance of parallel plate capacitor

V. Electrostatic Energy and Work

• Electric Energy Stored in a Capacitor (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Expression for energy stored
  • Energy density
• Work Done in Moving Charges in an Electric Field (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Work done by external forces and by electric field
  • Potential difference as work done per unit charge

VI. Electrostatic Potential Energy and Potential

• Potential Energy of a System of Charges (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Expression for potential energy of a system of point charges
  • Calculating potential energy using superposition principle
• Electrostatic Potential (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 1)
  • Definition and significance
  • Calculation of electrostatic potential
  • Electrostatic potential and potential energy: the connection

VII. Applications of Electrostatics

• Van de Graaff Generator (NCERT Class 12, Chapter 2)
  • Principle and construction of the Van de Graaff generator
  • Applications and practical uses
• Electrostatic Precipitator (N