Electric Fields Solutions

Problem 1:
(a) Define:
(i) electric field strength the magnitude E of the electric field, a force-to-charge ratio, in newtons
per coulomb defined by the equation:
F on q at ( x, y, z )
E at ( x, y, z )
q
(ii) electric potential at a point in an electric field the potential energy per charge, in joules per
coulomb, given by the equation:
U elec
V
q
(b) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field strength at a point 5 10 8 m from an electron:
Fon q
Given: Qsource 1.6 10 19 C Find: E Equations: E
q
Qsource q
r 5 10 8 m Fon q k
r2
k 8.99 10 9 Nm2 /C2

Fon q Qsource q
Derivation: E let Fon q k
q r2
Q q
k source
2
E r simplify
q
Q
E k source
r2

1.6 10 19 C

Solution: E 8.99 10 9 Nm 2 /C2 2

5 10 8 m
E 6 10 5 N/C
(c) Calculate the magnitude of the electric potential at a point 5 10 8 m from an electron:
Qsource
Given: Qsource 1.6 10 19 C Find: E Equations: V k
r
r 5 10 8 m
k 8.99 10 9 Nm2 /C2

1.6 10 C19

Solution: V 8.99 10 9 Nm2 /C2 8

5 10 m
V 3 10 2 V

Problem 2:
Sketch graphs (with distance on the horizontal axis) of the following:
(a) field strength against distance from a point charge

(b) potential against distance from a point charge

(c) field strength against distance from the center of a charged metal sphere of radius R

(d) potential against distance from the center of a charged metal sphere of radius R
For the next two graphs, refer to the diagram below:

(e) field strength at point p against x

(f) potential at point p against x

Problem 3:
Calculate the amount of electrical potential energy gained by an electron when it is moved from infinity to
a point 0.5 cm from another electron.

q1q2
Given: q1 q2 1.6 10 19 C Find: U elec Equations: U elec k
r
r 0.5 cm
k 8.99 10 9 Nm2 /C2

0.5 cm 10-2 m
Conversions: 5 10 3 m
1 1 cm

1.6 10 19 C 2


Solution: U elec 8.99 10 Nm / C
9 2 2
3
5 10 m
U elec 5 10 26 J
Problem 4:
The diagram below shows two small isolated, charged metal spheres:

(a) Calculate the magnitude of the potential at point p1

Given: Q1 1.5 1012 C Find: V Equations: V V

i
i

Q
Q 2 2.0 1012 C V k
r
r 8 cm
k 8.99 10 9 Nm 2 / C 2

8 cm 10-2 m
Conversions: 8 10 2 m
1 1 cm

Q
Derivation: V V V
1 2 let V k
r
Q1 Q
k k 2 factor out k and rewrite
r r
Q Q2
k 1
r

Solution: V 8.99 10 Nm /C
9 2 2

8 102 m

1.5 1012 C 2.0 1012 C



2
5.6 10 V
(b) Find the magnitude and direction of the field strength at point p 2
Q
Given: Q1 1.5 1012 C Find: E Equations: E k
r2
Q 2 2.0 1012 C E 2 Ex2 E y2
Ey
r 8 cm tan
Ex
k 8.99 10 Nm / C
9 2 2

45

8 cm 10-2 m
Conversions: 8 102 m
1 1 cm

Derivation:
E E E
x 1 x 2 x E y E1 y E2 y
Q1 Q Q1 Q
k 2
cos k 22 cos k 2
sin k 22 sin
r r r r
Q Q Q Q
k 1 2 2 cos k 2 2 1 sin
r r

Ey
E Ex2 E y2 arctan
Ex
Q2 Q1
2 2 k sin
Q Q Q Q
arctan
2
k 1 2 2 cos k 2 2 1 sin
r
r r Q1 Q2
k cos
r
2

Q Q1

k
Q1 Q2 cos 2 Q2 Q1 sin 2 arctan 2
r2 1
Q Q2

Solution: E
(8.99 109 Nm2 / C2 )
3.5 10 12

C cos45 0.5 10 12 C sin 45
2

2

8 10 2
m
2

E 4 N/C

8 from the positive x-axis

Problem 5:
Calculate the speed of an electron which has fallen freely through a potential difference of 500 V .

Given: V 500 V Find: v Equations: U elec K 0

q 1.6 1019 C U elec qV
1 2
me 9.11 10 31 kg K mv
2

1 2
Derivation: U elec K 0 let U elec qV and K mv
2
1 2
qV mv 0 subtract qV
2
1 2
mv qV multiply by 2
2
mv 2 2qV divide by m
2qV
v2 take the square root
m
2qV
v
m

Solution: v

2 1.6 10 19 C 500 V
9.11 10 31 kg
v 1.33 107 m/s
Problem 6: Calculate the strength of the electric field needed to accelerate alpha particles (of mass
6.68 1027 kg and charge 3.2 10 19 C ) from rest to a speed of 2.5 105 m/s in a distance of 5 mm .

F
Given: m 6.68 10 27 kg Find: E Equations: E
q
q 3.2 1019 C F ma
v0 0 m/s v 2f v02 2ax
v f 2.5 105 m/s
x 5 mm

5 mm 10-3 m
Conversion: 5 103 m
1 1 mm

F
Derivation: E let F ma
q
ma v 2f
E let v 2f v02 2ax and v0 0 m/s so a
q 2 x
2
mv
E
f

2qx

E
6.68 10 kg 2.5 10 m/s
27 5 2

23.2 10 C5 10 m
Solution: 19 3

E 1.3 105 N/C

 Electro-Magnetism

Problem 3: A proton enters a uniform magnetic field of flux density 0.1 T with a velocity of 10 4 m/s at
60 to the flux lines. It follows a helical path. Calculate:

(a) the time taken to complete one revolution of the helical path

Given: B 0.1 T Find: t Equation: FB qvBsin

v 10 m/s
4
Fc mac
v2
60 ac
r
q 1.6 10 19 C C 2r
C
m 1.67 10 27 kg v
t

Derivation: FB Fc let FB qvBsin and Fc mac

v2
qvB sin mac let ac
r
mv 2
qvB sin solve for r
r
mv
r
qB sin

Using this, we can find:

C mv
v let C 2r and r
t qB sin
2mv
v solve for t
qBt sin
2mv
t simplify
qBv sin
2m
t
qB sin

Solution: t

2 1.67 10 27 kg

1.6 10 19 C 0.1 T sin 60
7
t 7.6 10 s