Electrostatics

Coulomb's law, electric field and potential, dipoles, Gauss's law with symmetry, conductors, capacitance and dielectrics — a chapter where choosing the right symmetry converts a page of integration into a one-line answer.

20 min readWeightage: 8–9% (3–4 questions in NEET, 2–3 in JEE Main)30-question chapter test included

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Is NCERT enough for Electrostatics in JEE?

NCERT gives complete theory for Coulomb's law, fields, Gauss's law, potential and capacitors. JEE Main tests capacitor combinations with dielectrics and Gauss's-law applications more deeply than NCERT exercises, so pair NCERT with PYQs.

Common JEE questions on Electrostatics

When should I use Gauss's law?: When the charge distribution has symmetry — spherical, cylindrical or planar. Choose a Gaussian surface on which E is constant or perpendicular.
How does a dielectric change a capacitor?: A fully filled slab multiplies capacitance by K. With the battery connected, V stays fixed and charge rises; with it disconnected, charge stays fixed and V falls.
What is the potential energy of a system of charges?: Sum kqᵢqⱼ/rᵢⱼ over every pair once. The work needed to assemble the system equals this energy.
Why is the field inside a conductor zero?: Free charges move until they cancel any internal field, so all excess charge sits on the surface and the conductor is an equipotential.

Practise JEE Mains PYQ papers with solutions

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Want this taught live? JEE 2027 & 2028 batches

Electrostatics (Physics) is part of the JEE Main & Advanced syllabus plan. Pick the batch by the year you appear in — Class 11 students join the two-year JEE 2028 program, Class 12 students and repeaters join the one-year or crash program for JEE 2027.

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