Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Class 12 Physics · Physics Part I · Chapter 2

CBSE Class 12 Board Examination community

View all
Physics, Chemistry, Maths + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics, Chemistry, Biology + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Physics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Accountancy, Business Studies, Economics + English
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Accountancy
  • Business Studies
  • + 3 more
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Physics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • History
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Mathematics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Sociology
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Economics
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Home Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Urdu Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • اردو
  • Urdu Elective
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Geography
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Accountancy
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
English Core
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Flamingo
  • Vistas
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Political Science
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Chemistry
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Business Studies
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Hindi Core
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • हिंदी
~7 pages per kitPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (اختیاری)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Mathematics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (आधार)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृतम् (केन्द्रिकम्)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
संस्कृत (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदी (ऐच्छिक)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
اردو (کور)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Urdu Elective
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Computer Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Chemistry
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Fine Art · Painting
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (गायन / वादन)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Informatics Practices
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Biotechnology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Accountancy
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
सृजनात्मक लेखन और अनुवाद
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
हिंदुस्तानी संगीत (तबला / पखावज)
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Business Studies
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Economics
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
TrendingStart now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
History
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Geography
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Elective · Kaleidoscope
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Political Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Sociology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Psychology
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Flamingo
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
English Core · Vistas
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Home Science
~50days leftPre-boards · school dates varyDec 2026 · school-specific · tentative
Start now for December pre-boards. Reuse it for boards.
  • Space weighted by unit marks
  • Charts from the book's own data
  • Traps corrected
Only 7 pagesPage 1 free
Browse all 64 kits →

Summary

Electrostatic potential at a point is the work done per unit positive charge in bringing it from infinity to that point, \(V=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\dfrac{q}{r}\) for a point charge. Potential is a scalar, making it easier to handle than the field, and the two are linked by \(\vec{E}=-\nabla V\); the field always points from high to low potential. Equipotential surfaces, on which \(V\) is constant, are everywhere perpendicular to field lines, and no work is done moving a charge along them. The electrostatic potential energy of a charge configuration is the total work done in assembling it. A conductor in equilibrium has zero field inside and a constant potential throughout, with charge residing on its surface. Dielectrics, when polarised, reduce the field inside by a factor of the dielectric constant. A capacitor stores charge and energy; its capacitance \(C=Q/V\) depends only on geometry and the dielectric. For a parallel-plate capacitor \(C=\dfrac{\varepsilon_0 A}{d}\), increased \(K\) times by a dielectric. Capacitors in series and parallel combine by reciprocal and direct sums respectively, and the energy stored is \(U=\tfrac{1}{2}CV^2\), residing in the field between the plates.

Electric potential of charges and dipolesEquipotential surfacesPotential energy of charge systemsConductors and dielectricsCapacitance and parallel-plate capacitorCombinations and energy of capacitors

Key terms

Electrostatic potential
Work per unit positive charge to bring it from infinity to a point; scalar, unit volt.
Equipotential surface
A surface of constant potential; the field is perpendicular to it and no work is done along it.
Potential energy
Work done in assembling a charge configuration against electrostatic forces.
Capacitance
Ratio of stored charge to potential, \(C=Q/V\); SI unit farad.
Dielectric constant
Factor \(K\) by which a dielectric reduces the field and raises the capacitance.
Polarisation
Induced dipole moment per unit volume in a dielectric placed in a field.

Extra questions & answers

Try one from this chapter
The electric potential at a point due to a point charge +Q placed in vacuum is V. If the distance of the point from the charge is doubled, the new potential becomes
Flashcards & interactive practice

Practice quiz · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Score on this chapter, climb the leaderboard, and get an AI diagnosis of your mistakes.

Dual AI-verified questions Real exam pattern 1 free quiz every month, then ₹9 per quiz — or a monthly plan

#1

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance Fundamentals | CBSE Class 12 Board Examination

Start here
10 Qs · ~10 min

Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis

3/10avg score
3/10best
#2

Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Physics 10 Qs · ~10 min

Instant score, answer review and weak-topic diagnosis

Data & insights