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JEE Advanced 2022 Paper 2 · Physics · Electrostatics · medium

A point charge +q is held at a distance d in front of a very large grounded conducting plane.

One or more options correct

A point charge +q+q is held at a distance dd in front of a very large grounded conducting plane. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. A. The force on the charge has magnitude q216πε0d2\dfrac{q^2}{16\pi\varepsilon_0d^2}.
  2. B. The total charge induced on the plane is −q-q.
  3. C. The work an external agent must do to take the charge slowly to infinity is q28πε0d\dfrac{q^2}{8\pi\varepsilon_0d}.
  4. D. The induced surface charge density at the point of the plane nearest to the charge is −q2πd2-\dfrac{q}{2\pi d^2}.
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Answer: A, B, D

Use the method of images: an image −q-q at distance 2d2d behind the plane reproduces the field in front. (A) is correct: F=14πε0q2(2d)2=q216πε0d2F=\dfrac{1}{4\pi\varepsilon_0}\dfrac{q^2}{(2d)^2}=\dfrac{q^2}{16\pi\varepsilon_0d^2}. (B) is correct: all field lines from +q+q end on the plane, so the induced charge totals −q-q. (C) is incorrect: the force at separation xx from the plane is q2/(16πε0x2)q^2/(16\pi\varepsilon_0x^2), so W=∫d∞q216πε0x2dx=q216πε0dW=\int_d^\infty\dfrac{q^2}{16\pi\varepsilon_0x^2}dx=\dfrac{q^2}{16\pi\varepsilon_0d}, which is half of the stated value (the value q2/(8πε0d)q^2/(8\pi\varepsilon_0 d) would be the energy of a real pair of charges qq and −q-q separated by 2d2d, not the work against the induced charge). (D) is correct: at the foot point the two charges give a field 2⋅q4πε0d22\cdot\dfrac{q}{4\pi\varepsilon_0d^2} normal to the plane, and σ=−ε0E=−q2πd2\sigma=-\varepsilon_0E=-\dfrac{q}{2\pi d^2}.
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