$A$ circular ring carries a uniformly distributed positive charge. The electric field $(E)$ and potential $(V)$ vary with distance $(r)$ from the centre of the ring along its axis as:

Assertion: Consider two identical charges placed at a distance $2d$ apart along the $x-$axis. The equilibrium of a positive test charge placed at the point $O$ midway between them is stable for displacements along the $x-$axis.
Reason: The net force on the test charge at point $O$ is zero.

Three charges are placed as shown in the figure. The magnitude of $q_1$ is $2.00\, \mu C$,but its sign and the value of the charge $q_2$ are not known. Charge $q_3$ is $+4.00\, \mu C$,and the net force on $q_3$ is entirely in the negative $x-$ direction. As per the condition given,the signs of $q_1$ and $q_2$ will be

Answer carefully:
$(a)$ Two large conducting spheres carrying charges $Q_{1}$ and $Q_{2}$ are brought close to each other. Is the magnitude of electrostatic force between them exactly given by $Q_{1} Q_{2} / 4 \pi \varepsilon_{0} r^{2}$,where $r$ is the distance between their centres?
$(b)$ If Coulomb's law involved $1/r^{3}$ dependence (instead of $1/r^{2}$),would Gauss's law be still true?
$(c)$ $A$ small test charge is released at rest at a point in an electrostatic field configuration. Will it travel along the field line passing through that point?
$(d)$ What is the work done by the field of a nucleus in a complete circular orbit of the electron? What if the orbit is elliptical?
$(e)$ We know that electric field is discontinuous across the surface of a charged conductor. Is electric potential also discontinuous there?
$(f)$ What meaning would you give to the capacitance of a single conductor?
$(g)$ Guess a possible reason why water has a much greater dielectric constant $(=80)$ than,say,mica $(=6)$?

In the following four situations,charged particles are at an equal distance from the origin. Arrange them in order of the magnitude of the net electric field at the origin,starting from the greatest.

Five balls marked $a$ to $e$ are suspended using separate threads. Pairs $(b, c)$ and $(d, e)$ show electrostatic repulsion,while pairs $(a, b)$,$(c, e)$,and $(a, e)$ show electrostatic attraction. The ball marked $a$ must be: