JEE Main · Physics · Electric Charges and Fields
Electric Field: JEE Main previous year questions
38 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 7 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 13 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 38
- in 34 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 7/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.3
- model; history: 0.3 a shift on average, typically 0.1–0.6
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 7 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 34 of 108 shifts: 38 questions, #89 of 196 topics.
- 02
55% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 8 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Superposition Principle for Electric Fields, asked 6 times in 5 shifts (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), most often as “net field at centre from point charges”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 19 of the 53 ideas in this topic; 29 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (53%); 21% need a numerical answer, 21% are easy and 8% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is calculation (34%), then multi-step (21%).
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Physics questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 0 in 1 shift · 2020: 8 in 12 shifts · 2021: 6 in 24 shifts · 2022: 10 in 24 shifts · 2023: 1 in 12 shifts · 2024: 6 in 18 shifts · 2025: 5 in 8 shifts · 2026: 2 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.3
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.4
- 0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.0 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 34/108
- 31% of analysed shifts
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 38 questions on Electric Field since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy8 · 21%
- Medium27 · 71%
- Hard3 · 8%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 20 Q53%
- Diagram based · 9 Q24%
- Numerical value · 8 Q21%
- Two statements · 1 Q3%
Skill tested
SHARE- Calculation · 13 Q34%
- Multi-step · 8 Q21%
- Application · 8 Q21%
- Conceptual · 6 Q16%
- Recall · 1 Q3%
- Data or graph · 1 Q3%
- Diagram reading · 1 Q3%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 19 of the 53 ideas in this topic. 29 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly19 · 36%
- Touched inside another question5 · 9%
- Never asked29 · 55%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
18 ideas inside
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
Every idea inside this topic
19 different ideas were tested; 9 came more than once.
net field at centre from point charges
Single correct · 5 shifts · 2 numericalequilibrium of charged bob near sheet
Diagram based · 5 shifts · 2 numericalfield at centre of charged arc
Single correct · 4 shiftsstopping distance of charge in field
Single correct · 3 shiftswork by variable field along path
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalneutral point between two charges
Single correct · 2 shiftsfield from parallel charged sheets
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalfield quantity of infinite line charge
Diagram based · 2 shiftstrajectory of charge through finite field region
Diagram based · 2 shiftsforce on charge between parallel plates
Single correct · 1 shiftposition of maximum axial field of ring
Single correct · 1 shiftcharged bob hanging in uniform field near wall
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericaldeflection angle of charge in uniform field
Single correct · 1 shiftcharge to balance droplet weight
Single correct · 1 shiftfield lines per area from charge density
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalaxial field of charged disc
Single correct · 1 shiftelectric field at centre of cube with one reversed charge
Diagram based · 1 shiftfield ratio at two points for sphere with cavity
Diagram based · 1 shifttrue statement selection on field of charged shell
Single correct · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superposition Principle for Electric Fieldsnet field at centre from point charges | 6 | 5 | Single correctCalculation | 2 | |
| Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheetequilibrium of charged bob near sheet | 5 | 5 | Diagram basedMulti-step | 2 | |
| Charged Arc Fieldfield at centre of charged arc | 4 | 4 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Charged Particle Trajectory in Uniform Fieldstopping distance of charge in field | 3 | 3 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Work Done by Variable Electric Fieldwork by variable field along path | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Neutral Point Locationneutral point between two charges | 2 | 2 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Field of Parallel Charged Sheetsfield from parallel charged sheets | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Finite/Infinite Line Fieldfield quantity of infinite line charge | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedCalculation | – | |
| Charge Trajectory in Uniform Fieldtrajectory of charge through finite field region | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedConceptual | – | |
| Field of Two Parallel Sheetsforce on charge between parallel plates | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Maximum Axial Field of a Ringposition of maximum axial field of ring | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Equilibrium of Suspended Chargescharged bob hanging in uniform field near wall | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueApplication | 1 | |
| Charged Particle Trajectory in E-Fielddeflection angle of charge in uniform field | 1 | 1 | Single correctMulti-step | – | |
| Equilibrium of Suspended Chargescharge to balance droplet weight | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Field of a Solid Non-Conducting Spherefield lines per area from charge density | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Axial Field of a Charged Discaxial field of charged disc | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Missing Charge Superposition Trickelectric field at centre of cube with one reversed charge | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedApplication | – | |
| Field Inside a Spherical Cavityfield ratio at two points for sphere with cavity | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Field of a Spherical Shelltrue statement selection on field of charged shell | 1 | 1 | Single correctConceptual | – |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Electric Field questions, year by year
The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20262 questions in 1 shift
- 6 Apr, Shift 1Q38A thin half ring of radius 35 cm is uniformly charged with a total charge of coulomb. If the magnitude of the electric field at centre…
Idea: Charged Arc Field
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q49A three coulomb charge moves from the point to the point in an electric field expressed as…
Idea: Work Done by Variable Electric Field
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20255 questions in 3 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q34A small bob of mass 100 mg and charge is connected to an insulating string of length 1 m. It is brought near to an…
Idea: Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct · figure - 2 Apr, Shift 1Q37Consider two infinitely large plane parallel conducting plates as shown below. The plates are uniformly charged with a surface charge…
Idea: Field of Two Parallel Sheets
New ideaEasySingle correct · figure - 2 Apr, Shift 1Q39A point charge is placed at the origin. A second point charge is placed at in Cartesian coordinate system. The…
Idea: Neutral Point Location
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 2 Apr, Shift 2Q44Consider a circular loop that is uniformly charged and has a radius . Find the position along the positive -axis of the…
Idea: Maximum Axial Field of a Ring
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 4 Apr, Shift 2Q38A metallic ring is uniformly charged as shown in figure. AC and BD are two mutually perpendicular diameters. Electric field due to arc AB…
Idea: Charged Arc Field
MediumDiagram based · figure
JEE Main 20246 questions in 6 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 1Q55An infinite plane sheet of charge having uniform surface charge density is placed on - plane. Another…
Idea: Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet
MediumNumerical value - 6 Apr, Shift 1Q59Three infinitely long charged thin sheets are placed as shown in figure. The magnitude of electric field at the point is…
Idea: Field of Parallel Charged Sheets
MediumNumerical value · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q55If the net electric field at point P along Y axis is zero, then the ratio of is ,…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value · figure - 1 Feb, Shift 2Q55Suppose a uniformly charged wall provides a uniform electric field of N/C normally. A charged particle of mass 2 g being…
Idea: Equilibrium of Suspended Charges
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 29 Jan, Shift 1Q55An electron is moving under the influence of the electric field of a uniformly charged infinite plane sheet S having surface charge…
Idea: Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet
HardNumerical value - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q40Two charges and are separated by a distance 'r ' in air. At a distance from charge , the resultant electric field is zero.…
Idea: Neutral Point Location
New ideaEasySingle correct
JEE Main 20231 question in 1 shift
- 13 Apr, Shift 1Q54A thin infinite sheet charge and an infinite line charge of respective charge densities and are placed parallel at 5…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value
JEE Main 202210 questions in 9 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q56The volume charge density of a sphere of radius m is . The number of lines of force per unit surface area…
Idea: Field of a Solid Non-Conducting Sphere
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 28 Jul, Shift 2Q10A uniform electric field E = (8m/e) V/m is created between two parallel plates of length 1 m as shown in figure. (where m = mass of…
Idea: Charged Particle Trajectory in E-Field
New ideaMediumSingle correct · figure - 30 Jul, Shift 2Q10A charge q is uniformly distributed along the length L of a rod. It is then bent in the shape of a semicircle. The magnitude of electric…
Idea: Charged Arc Field
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 24 Jun, Shift 1Q38A vertical electric field of magnitude N/C just prevents a water droplet of a mass 0.1 g from falling. The value of…
Idea: Equilibrium of Suspended Charges
New ideaEasySingle correct - 25 Jun, Shift 1Q38In the figure, a very large plane sheet of positive charge is shown. and are two points at distance and from the…
Idea: Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet
EasyDiagram based · figure - 27 Jun, Shift 1Q44A force of 10 N acts on a charged particle placed between two plates of a charged capacitor. If one plate of capacitor is removed, then…
Idea: Field of Parallel Charged Sheets
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 28 Jun, Shift 1Q38Given below are two statements : Statement-I : A point charge is brought in an electric field. The value of electric field at a point near…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
MediumTwo statements - 28 Jun, Shift 1Q39The three charges q/2, q and q/2 are placed at the corners A, B and C of a square of side 'a' as shown in figure. The magnitude of…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
MediumSingle correct · figure - 28 Jun, Shift 2Q40Two point charges A and B of magnitude C and C respectively are placed at a distance d apart. The…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
EasySingle correct - 29 Jun, Shift 1Q48A positive charge particle of 100 mg is thrown in opposite direction to a uniform electric field of strength…
Idea: Charged Particle Trajectory in Uniform Field
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct
JEE Main 20216 questions in 6 shifts
- 27 Aug, Shift 1Q11A uniformly charged disc of radius R having surface charge density is placed in the plane with its center at the origin.…
Idea: Axial Field of a Charged Disc
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 27 Aug, Shift 2Q10Figure shows a rod AB, which is bent in a circular arc of radius R. A charge is uniformly distributed over rod AB. What…
Idea: Charged Arc Field
New ideaMediumSingle correct · figure - 24 Feb, Shift 1Q15A cube of side ‘a’ has point charges +Q located at each of its vertices except at the origin where the charge is Q. The electric field…
Idea: Missing Charge Superposition Trick
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 25 Feb, Shift 2Q10An electron with kinetic energy enters between parallel plates of a capacitor at an angle ‘’ with the plates. It leaves the…
Idea: Charged Particle Trajectory in Uniform Field
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 26 Feb, Shift 1Q12Find the electric field at point P (as shown in figure) on the perpendicular bisector of a uniformly charged thin wire of length L…
Idea: Finite/Infinite Line Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 16 Mar, Shift 2Q19Find out the surface charge density at the intersection of point m plane and -axis, in the region of uniform line charge of 8…
Idea: Finite/Infinite Line Field
New ideaMediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20208 questions in 8 shifts
- 8 Jan, Shift 1Q10Three charged particles A, B and C with charges , and are present on the circumference of a circle of radius d. The…
Idea: Superposition Principle for Electric Fields
New ideaMediumSingle correct · figure - 8 Jan, Shift 2Q13A particle of mass m and charge q is released from rest in a uniform electric field. If there is no other force on the particle, the…
Idea: Charged Particle Trajectory in Uniform Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 9 Jan, Shift 1Q10Consider a sphere of radius R which carries a uniform charge density . If a sphere of radius is carved out of it, as…
Idea: Field Inside a Spherical Cavity
New ideaHardDiagram based · figure - 2 Sep, Shift 1Q11A charged particle (mass and charge ) moves along axis with velocity . When it passes through the origin it enters a…
Idea: Charge Trajectory in Uniform Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 2 Sep, Shift 2Q3A small point mass carrying some positive charge on it, is released from the edge of a table. There is a uniform electric field in this…
Idea: Charge Trajectory in Uniform Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 4 Sep, Shift 1Q10Two charged thin infinite plane sheets of uniform surface charge density and , where ,…
Idea: Field of an Infinite Non-Conducting Sheet
New ideaHardDiagram based · figure - 4 Sep, Shift 2Q11A particle of charge q and mass m is subjected to an electric field in the -direction, where a and are…
Idea: Work Done by Variable Electric Field
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 6 Sep, Shift 2Q11Consider the force F on a charge 'q' due to a uniformly charged spherical shell of radius R carrying charge Q distributed uniformly over…
Idea: Field of a Spherical Shell
New ideaEasySingle correct
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.