Q147 / 150 · MHT CET 2026 (19 April Shift 1) · Physics
'$n$' small spherical drops of the same size which are charged to 'V' volt each coalesce to form a single big drop. The potential of a big drop is
- A$nV$
- B$\dfrac{V}{n}$
- C$\left(n^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)V$
- Correct answerD$\left(n^{\frac{2}{3}}\right)V$
Solution
Let the radius of each small drop be $r$ and its charge be $q$.
The potential of each small drop is $V = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{q}{r}$.
When $n$ such drops coalesce, the total charge of the big drop is $Q = nq$.
The volume is conserved, so the volume of the big drop is equal to the sum of the volumes of the $n$ small drops.
$\dfrac{4}{3}\pi R^3 = n \left(\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^3\right)$
$R^3 = n r^3$
$R = n^{\frac{1}{3}} r$
The potential of the single big drop is:
$V' = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q}{R}$
$V' = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{nq}{n^{\frac{1}{3}} r}$
$V' = n^{1 - \frac{1}{3}} \left(\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{q}{r}\right)$
$V' = n^{\frac{2}{3}} V$
The potential of each small drop is $V = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{q}{r}$.
When $n$ such drops coalesce, the total charge of the big drop is $Q = nq$.
The volume is conserved, so the volume of the big drop is equal to the sum of the volumes of the $n$ small drops.
$\dfrac{4}{3}\pi R^3 = n \left(\dfrac{4}{3}\pi r^3\right)$
$R^3 = n r^3$
$R = n^{\frac{1}{3}} r$
The potential of the single big drop is:
$V' = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{Q}{R}$
$V' = \dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{nq}{n^{\frac{1}{3}} r}$
$V' = n^{1 - \frac{1}{3}} \left(\dfrac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\dfrac{q}{r}\right)$
$V' = n^{\frac{2}{3}} V$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'D'.