Class 12 · Notes

Electrostatics— Notes, Formulas & Revision

Complete revision notes and formulas for Electrostatics (Class 12). Curated for JEE, NEET, AP Physics, SAT, and CUET. Tap any topic to open the live simulation and full PYQ set.

Electric Field Lines

Place charges in space and watch electric field lines form in real time. Understand superposition and field behavior visually.

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01

Electric field (E) at a point is the force experienced by a unit positive test charge placed there: E = F/q₀.

02

Coulomb's Law: F = kq₁q₂/r², where k = 9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² = 1/(4πε₀).

03

Field lines originate from positive charges and terminate on negative charges. They never cross.

04

The density of field lines indicates field strength — closer lines mean stronger field.

05

Electric field due to a point charge: E = kq/r², directed radially outward for +q, inward for −q.

06

Superposition principle: The net field at a point is the vector sum of fields due to individual charges.

07

In a uniform field, field lines are parallel and equally spaced.

08

At the surface of a conductor, the electric field is always perpendicular to the surface.

Coulomb's Law

Force between two point charges.

Electric Field (point charge)

Field magnitude at distance r from charge q.

Field Due to Dipole (axial)

On the axis of a dipole, far from it.

Field Due to Dipole (equatorial)

On the perpendicular bisector of a dipole.

Dipole Moment

Product of charge and separation distance.

Force on Charge in Field

Force on charge q in electric field E.

Electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is ZERO.

Field lines are perpendicular to equipotential surfaces.

A dipole in a uniform field experiences torque τ = pE sinθ but zero net force.

A dipole in a non-uniform field experiences both torque and a net force.

The number of field lines from a charge is proportional to the magnitude of the charge.

In JEE, superposition + symmetry arguments simplify complex charge distribution problems.

Capacitors & Dielectrics

Build parallel plate capacitors, insert dielectrics, and observe how capacitance, charge, and energy storage change.

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01

A capacitor stores electrical energy in the electric field between two conductors separated by a dielectric.

02

Capacitance C = Q/V, where Q is charge and V is potential difference. Unit: Farad (F).

03

For a parallel plate capacitor: C = ε₀κA/d, where A is plate area, d is separation, κ is dielectric constant.

04

Inserting a dielectric increases capacitance by factor κ. This is because the dielectric reduces the effective electric field.

05

Energy stored in a capacitor: U = ½CV² = ½QV = Q²/(2C).

06

In series combination: 1/C_eq = 1/C₁ + 1/C₂ + ... (charge same, voltage divides).

07

In parallel combination: C_eq = C₁ + C₂ + ... (voltage same, charge divides).

08

The electric field between plates is uniform: E = V/d = σ/ε₀ (for parallel plates without edge effects).

Capacitance (Parallel Plate)

Depends on area, separation, and dielectric.

Energy Stored

Energy in the electric field.

Series Combination

Equivalent capacitance decreases in series.

Parallel Combination

Equivalent capacitance increases in parallel.

Electric Field

Uniform field between parallel plates.

Force Between Plates

Attractive force between oppositely charged plates.

When a dielectric is inserted with battery connected: V stays same, C increases → Q increases, U increases.

When a dielectric is inserted with battery disconnected: Q stays same, C increases → V decreases, U decreases.

The energy 'lost' when connecting two charged capacitors goes into heat and radiation: U_lost = ½(C₁C₂/(C₁+C₂))(V₁−V₂)².

Capacitors block DC but pass AC — this is because they charge fully under DC and current stops.

In JEE, capacitor-dielectric problems often test whether battery is connected or disconnected — read carefully!

The time constant for RC circuits is τ = RC. After 5τ, the capacitor is ~99% charged.

Electrostatics on sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs). Free physics revision for Class 12, JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT Subject Physics, and CUET-UG.