🌍 Introduction
This chapter introduces the concept of electric charge, Coulomb’s law, and electric field. It is the foundation of Electrostatics and carries high weightage in Board Exams and NEET/JEE.
✨ Key Notes
🔹 Electric Charge
Fundamental property of matter.
Two types: Positive and Negative.
Like charges repel, unlike charges attract.
Conserved and quantized (q = ne).
🔹 Conductors & Insulators
Conductors → allow flow of charge (metals).
Insulators → do not allow charge to flow (rubber, glass).
🔹 Coulomb’s Law
Force acts along the line joining two charges.
Proportional to product of charges, inversely to square of distance.
🔹 Electric Field (E)
Represented by field lines (originating from +ve, ending on –ve).
🔹 Electric Dipole
Two equal and opposite charges separated by a small distance.
Dipole moment (p): 
📑 Important Board Questions
Q1. State and explain Coulomb’s law.
Q2. Define electric field intensity. Derive its SI unit.
Q3. Write the properties of electric field lines.
Q4. Define electric dipole and dipole moment.
Q5. Explain the principle of superposition in electrostatics.
---
🧾 NEET/JEE MCQs
Q1. Coulomb’s law is similar to:
a) Newton’s law of gravitation
b) Faraday’s law
c) Ampere’s law
d) Ohm’s law
👉 Answer: (a)
Q2. SI unit of charge is:
a) Volt
b) Ampere
c) Coulomb
d) Newton
👉 Answer: (c)
Q3. Electric field due to a point charge is inversely proportional to:
a) r
b) r²
c) r³
d) r⁴
👉 Answer: (b)
📌 Summary
Charge is conserved & quantized.
Coulomb’s law gives force between two charges.
Electric field & dipole concepts are crucial for exams.
Superposition principle is applied when multiple charges act.
Keywords:
Class 12 Physics Notes, Electric Charges and Fields, NEET Physics, JEE Mains Electrostatics, CBSE Class 12 Physics.
