JEE Main · Physics · Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
Electric Potential: JEE Main previous year questions
29 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 7 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 9 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 29
- in 27 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 7/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.3
- model; history: 0.2 a shift on average, typically 0.1–0.4
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 7 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 27 of 108 shifts: 29 questions, #114 of 196 topics.
- 02
62% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 5 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Potential of a Spherical Shell, asked 4 times in 4 shifts (2020, 2023, 2025), most often as “assertion-reason on potential of charged shell”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 16 of the 59 ideas in this topic; 39 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (38%); 38% need a numerical answer, 45% are easy and 7% hard.
- 06
The skill tested most is calculation (45%), then multi-step (28%).
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: 5 in 12 shifts · 2021: 8 in 24 shifts · 2022: 4 in 24 shifts · 2023: 3 in 12 shifts · 2024: 3 in 18 shifts · 2025: 4 in 8 shifts · 2026: 2 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.2
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.3
- 0.1
- Usual gap
- 1.0 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 27/108
- 25% of analysed shifts
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 29 questions on Electric Potential since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy13 · 45%
- Medium14 · 48%
- Hard2 · 7%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 11 Q38%
- Numerical value · 11 Q38%
- Diagram based · 6 Q21%
- Assertion–reason · 1 Q3%
Skill tested
SHARE- Calculation · 13 Q45%
- Multi-step · 8 Q28%
- Application · 5 Q17%
- Conceptual · 2 Q7%
- Data or graph · 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 16 of the 59 ideas in this topic. 39 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly16 · 27%
- Touched inside another question4 · 7%
- Never asked39 · 66%
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.
15 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
16 different ideas were tested; 7 came more than once.
assertion-reason on potential of charged shell
Single correct · 4 shifts · 1 numericalpotential energy change moving charge between points
Diagram based · 4 shifts · 2 numericalfield vector from potential function
Single correct · 3 shifts · 1 numericalpotential difference between points at equal distance
Single correct · 3 shiftsenergy of drop formed by merging charged drops
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalpotential of merged charged drops
Diagram based · 2 shifts · 1 numericalpotential difference between concentric charged shells
Diagram based · 2 shiftsenergy change on connecting conducting spheres
Single correct · 1 shiftpotential difference between points between plates
Diagram based · 1 shiftpotential of combined dipoles at general point
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalpotential at centre of charged arc
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalgraph interpretation of potential versus distance
Diagram based · 1 shiftcharge on capacitor after sharing
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalnuclear radius from alpha closest approach
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalfield from potential function
Single correct · 1 shiftpotential difference between centres of two coaxial rings
Single correct · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potential of a Spherical Shellassertion-reason on potential of charged shell | 4 | 4 | Single correctConceptual | 1 | |
| Work Done in Fieldpotential energy change moving charge between points | 4 | 4 | Diagram basedCalculation | 2 | |
| Field-Potential Relationfield vector from potential function | 3 | 3 | Single correctCalculation | 1 | |
| Point Charge Potentialpotential difference between points at equal distance | 3 | 3 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Self-Energy of a Spherical Shellenergy of drop formed by merging charged drops | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 2 | |
| Potential of a Solid Non-Conducting Spherepotential of merged charged drops | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedApplication | 1 | |
| Potential of Concentric Spherical Shellspotential difference between concentric charged shells | 2 | 2 | Diagram basedCalculation | – | |
| Heat Loss During Charge Sharingenergy change on connecting conducting spheres | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Equipotential Planes of Uniform Fieldpotential difference between points between plates | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedMulti-step | – | |
| Electric Potential of a Dipolepotential of combined dipoles at general point | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Potential of a Semi-Circular Ringpotential at centre of charged arc | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| V-r Graphs for Spherical Geometriesgraph interpretation of potential versus distance | 1 | 1 | Diagram basedData or graph | – | |
| Charge Sharing Between Conductorscharge on capacitor after sharing | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Distance of Closest Approachnuclear radius from alpha closest approach | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Electric Field from 3D Potential Functionfield from potential function | 1 | 1 | Single correctCalculation | – | |
| Axial Potential of Ringpotential difference between centres of two coaxial rings | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – |
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 Potential 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 2Q37The electric potential as a function of is given by V. The electric field at a point (2, 3) m is __________ V/m.
Idea: Field-Potential Relation
EasySingle correct - 6 Apr, Shift 2Q40A sphere of capacitance 100 pF is charged to a potential of 100 V. Another identical uncharged metal sphere is brought in contact with the…
Idea: Heat Loss During Charge Sharing
New ideaMediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20254 questions in 4 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 2Q42Two large plane parallel conducting plates are kept 10 cm apart as shown in figure. The potential difference between them is V. The…
Idea: Equipotential Planes of Uniform Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 3 Apr, Shift 1Q39The electrostatic potential on the surface of uniformly charged spherical shell of radius R = 10 cm is 120 V. The potential at the centre…
Idea: Potential of a Spherical Shell
EasySingle correct - 7 Apr, Shift 1Q38Two charges and are separated by a distance of 30 cm. A third charge initially at 'C' as shown in the figure, is moved…
Idea: Work Done in Field
MediumDiagram based · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q35Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R Assertion A : Work done in moving a…
Idea: Potential of a Spherical Shell
EasyAssertion–reason
JEE Main 20243 questions in 3 shifts
- 9 Apr, Shift 1Q55At the centre of a half ring of radius cm and linear charge density , the potential is V. The value…
Idea: Potential of a Semi-Circular Ring
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 27 Jan, Shift 1Q40An electric charge µC is placed at origin (0, 0) m of X-Y co-ordinate system. Two points P and Q are situated at…
Idea: Point Charge Potential
Asked the year beforeEasySingle correct - 31 Jan, Shift 2Q55The distance between charges and is and between and is . The electrostatic potential at point at a…
Idea: Electric Potential of a Dipole
New ideaMediumNumerical value · figure
JEE Main 20233 questions in 3 shifts
- 6 Apr, Shift 1Q42For a uniformly charged thin spherical shell, the electric potential (V) radially away from the centre (O) of shell can be graphically…
Idea: V-r Graphs for Spherical Geometries
New ideaEasyDiagram based · figure - 8 Apr, Shift 2Q41Electric potential at a point 'P' due to a point charge of C is 50 V. The distance of 'P' from the point charge is:…
Idea: Point Charge Potential
EasySingle correct - 12 Apr, Shift 1Q5664 identical drops each charged upto potential of 10 mV are combined to form a bigger drop. The potential of the bigger drop will be…
Idea: Potential of a Spherical Shell
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20224 questions in 4 shifts
- 30 Jul, Shift 2Q21A nuclear physicist performed an experiment on the scattering of alpha particles by thin metal foil of gold. The alpha particles were…
Idea: Distance of Closest Approach
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 28 Jun, Shift 2Q56A capacitor C of capacitance 5 µF is charged to a potential of 30 V using a battery. The battery is then removed and the charged…
Idea: Charge Sharing Between Conductors
New ideaEasyNumerical value · figure - 29 Jun, Shift 2Q48If the electric potential at any point in space is given by volt. The electric field at the point …
Idea: Electric Field from 3D Potential Function
New ideaEasySingle correct - 30 Jun, Shift 1Q55Eight similar drops of mercury are maintained at 12 V each. All these spherical drops combine into a single big drop. The potential energy…
Idea: Self-Energy of a Spherical Shell
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20218 questions in 7 shifts
- 3 Aug, Shift 2Q11An electric charge is placed at the origin (0, 0) of X–Y coordinate system. The coordinates of two points A and B…
Idea: Point Charge Potential
New ideaEasySingle correct - 3 Aug, Shift 2Q29The electric potential at point is volt. The electric field…
Idea: Field-Potential Relation
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 4 Aug, Shift 1Q23A drop of liquid of mass kg falls away from the bottom of a charged conducting sphere of radius 20 cm, carrying with…
Idea: Work Done in Field
Asked the year beforeHardNumerical value - 4 Aug, Shift 2Q9The electric potential at any point P(x, y, z) is volts. The electric field at point Q(2, 3, 1) will be (in…
Idea: Field-Potential Relation
New ideaEasySingle correct - 26 Aug, Shift 2Q20The two thin coaxial rings, each of radius ‘a’ and having charges and respectively are separated by a distance of ‘s’. The…
Idea: Axial Potential of Ring
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 25 Feb, Shift 1Q22512 identical drops of mercury are charged to a potential of 2 V each. The drops are joined to form a single drop. The potential of this…
Idea: Potential of a Solid Non-Conducting Sphere
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 26 Feb, Shift 1Q27In an electrical circuit, a battery is connected to pass 20 C of charge through it in a certain given time. The potential difference…
Idea: Work Done in Field
Asked the year beforeEasyNumerical value - 26 Feb, Shift 2Q3027 similar drops of mercury are maintained at 10 V each. All these spherical drops combine into a single big drop. The potential energy of…
Idea: Self-Energy of a Spherical Shell
New ideaHardNumerical value
JEE Main 20205 questions in 5 shifts
- 8 Jan, Shift 2Q10Consider two charged metallic spheres and of radii and , respectively. The electric fields (on ) and…
Idea: Potential of a Spherical Shell
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 2 Sep, Shift 2Q10A charge Q is distributed over two concentric conducting thin spherical shells radii r and R (R > r). If the surface charge densities on…
Idea: Potential of Concentric Spherical Shells
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 3 Sep, Shift 2Q11Concentric metallic hollow spheres of radii R and 4R hold charges and respectively. Given that surface charge densities of the…
Idea: Potential of Concentric Spherical Shells
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 4 Sep, Shift 1Q11A two point charges 4q and q are fixed on the -axis at and , respectively. If a third point charge…
Idea: Work Done in Field
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure - 5 Sep, Shift 1Q11A solid sphere of radius R carries a charge Q + q distributed uniformly over its volume. A very small point like piece of it of mass m…
Idea: Potential of a Solid Non-Conducting Sphere
New ideaMediumDiagram based · figure
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.