10th class Physics, Chapter 15: Electrostatics MCQs

1. Electrical breakdown is:

1. (A) the process of ionizing a gas due to a strong electric field ✓
2. (B) the process of neutralizing a charged object
3. (C) the process of charging an insulator
4. (D) the process of discharging a conductor

2. Which of the following is a visible example of electrical breakdown?

1. (A) Corona discharge ✓
2. (B) Electric current
3. (C) Magnetic field
4. (D) Electric potential

3. What happens when two unlike charges are brought close to each other?

1. (A) They attract ✓
2. (B) They repel
3. (C) They neutralize each other
4. (D) Nothing happens

4. According to Coulomb's law, what happens to the attraction of two oppositely charged objects as their distance of separation increases?

1. (A) Decreases ✓
2. (B) Increases
3. (C) Remains unchanged
4. (D) Cannot be determined

5. The device which works on the principle of electrostatics:

1. (A) electric bell
2. (B) photocopier ✓
3. (C) electric heater
4. (D) transformer

6. The SI unit of electric charge is:

1. (A) ampere
2. (B) volt
3. (C) coulomb ✓
4. (D) newton

7. Two glass rods both rubbed with silk are brought near each other. They will:

1. (A) repel each other ✓
2. (B) attract each other
3. (C) neutralize each other
4. (D) have no effect on each other

8. The total charge of an isolated system:

1. (A) always decreases
2. (B) becomes zero with time
3. (C) remains constant ✓
4. (D) always increases

9. Protons are:

1. (A) negatively charged and orbit the nucleus
2. (B) positively charged and located in the nucleus ✓
3. (C) negatively charged and located in the nucleus
4. (D) neutral and located in the nucleus

10. When a charged rod is brought near a neutral conductor without touching it, the conductor:

1. (A) develops opposite charges at its two ends ✓
2. (B) becomes fully positive
3. (C) becomes fully negative
4. (D) does not change at all

11. A neutral sphere is charged positively by induction using a negatively charged rod. In earthing, electrons flow:

1. (A) from the Earth to the sphere
2. (B) from the rod to the sphere
3. (C) from the sphere to the rod
4. (D) from the sphere to the Earth ✓

12. The leaves of a charged gold leaf electroscope diverge because:

1. (A) they are attracted by the jar
2. (B) they carry the same kind of charge and repel each other ✓
3. (C) they carry opposite charges
4. (D) they are neutral

13. If the leaves of a charged electroscope collapse when a material touches its disk, the material is:

1. (A) an insulator
2. (B) a charged object
3. (C) a semiconductor
4. (D) a good conductor ✓

14. The drum of a photocopier is coated with:

1. (A) copper
2. (B) silver
3. (C) carbon
4. (D) selenium ✓

15. In a photocopier the toner powder sticks to the drum only at:

1. (A) the bright areas
2. (B) the negatively charged areas
3. (C) the positively charged image areas ✓
4. (D) the neutral areas

16. The dust particles in an electrostatic precipitator are collected on:

1. (A) positively charged plates ✓
2. (B) negatively charged plates
3. (C) neutral plates
4. (D) the thin metal rods

17. Coulomb's law was given in the year:

1. (A) 1785 ✓
2. (B) 1687
3. (C) 1820
4. (D) 1905

18. In Coulomb's law F = k q₁q₂ / r², the value of k in air is about:

1. (A) 9 × 10⁻⁹ N m² C⁻²
2. (B) 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻²
3. (C) 3 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹
4. (D) 9 × 10⁹ N m² C⁻² ✓

19. If the distance between two charges is doubled, the electrostatic force between them becomes:

1. (A) double
2. (B) four times
3. (C) one fourth ✓
4. (D) one half

20. If the charge on one of two point charges is doubled, the force between them:

1. (A) remains the same
2. (B) becomes four times
3. (C) is doubled ✓
4. (D) is halved