WORKBOOK - FÍSICA BÁSICA 2

1. ELECTRIC FORCES
Important concepts developed in this chapter:

1) Electric charge
2) Electrical induction
3) Coulomb’s Law

Preparation

Pre-lecture: Serway II Sections 1.2, 1.3, 1.4

From your pre-lecture reading, answer the following questions:

P1.1 What is an electric charge? What is the electric charge on an electron? What is the electric
charge of 1000 DNA bases? For this, look at the structure of DNA, where each phosphate group
(PO4-) contains a free electron.

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P1.2 What is meant by electrical conduction? Explain why touching a metallic object after
walking on a carpet can give an electric discharge? Why does the same thing not happen if one
was to touch a plank of wood? Explain the concept of charging by induction.

P1.3 What do you understand by electric force? Graph how electric force decays with distance
where there is repulsion between two similar charges and in the case where there is attraction
between two opposite charges.

P1.4 How is electric force measured and in which units of magnitude? What units do Coulomb’s
constant and the permittivity of free space have? Do dimensional analysis to ensure that the
constants have the correct units.

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P1.5 In the following space write the mathematical equations that you consider relevant for the
calculation of electrical forces.

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Multiple-choice Questions

The following conceptual questions are presented by the teacher on a slide. You will have
approximately one minute to answer the question individually using the electronic clicker.
Depending on the results, a discussion will be opened with your peers to try and clarify any
doubts. Pay attention to the recap for each question and take notes in the spaces provided.

Q1.1 A positively charged object is placed near a

NOTES:
conductive object attached to an insulating glass
pedestal (a). After the opposite side of the
conductor is grounded for a short time (b), the
conductor is negatively charged (c). Based on this
information, which of the following statements is
correct?
1. The negative charges travel towards
the earth and the positive charges are
absorbed from the earth.
2. The positive charges travel towards
the earth and the negative charges
are absorbed from the earth.
3. The positive charges move towards
the earth and the negative charges
are static.
4. The negative charges move towards
the earth and the positive charges are
static.
5. 1 and 3 are correct.
6. 2 and 4 are correct.

Q.1.2 A negatively charged balloon is

NOTES:
brought towards an uncharged metal
plate. The balloon:

1. Adheres to the plate because it interacts

more strongly with the positive charges
than the negative
2. Adheres to the plate because the electrons
in the plate move away, generating a net
positive charge on the surface.
3. It does not stick to the plate because there
is no net electric force because it is a
neutral plate.
4. It does not stick to the plate because the
electrons closer to the surface push the
balloon with an electric force.

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Q.1.3 A negatively charged balloon is brought

NOTES:
towards an uncharged insulating wall (e.g.
concrete). The balloon:

1. Adheres to the wall because the material is

neutral but there is a redistribution of electrical
charge.
2. Adheres to the wall because concrete always
has a non-zero charge.
3. It doesn’t adhere to the wall because there is
no electric force due to the charges being static
in the insulating material.
4. It doesn’t adhere to the wall because the
material is neutral and the charges are unable
to move.

NOTES:
Q. 1.4. A water molecule contains two hydrogens and one oxygen. The
hydrogens have a slightly positive charge and oxygen has a slightly negative
charge. However the net charge on the molecule is zero. When two water
molecules are close to each other is there a net electrical force?

1. No, because the molecules are

neutral.
2. No, because water molecules cannot
be polarised.
3. Yes, because small concentrations of
opposite charge are generated on
the molecule. The molecule is
polarised.
4. Yes, but the sign of the force
depends on the orientation of the
molecules.

Q. 1.5. If you add salt NaCl to a glass of water this salt dissolves, which
NOTES:
means that each ion Na+ and Cl- are going to be surrounded by water
molecules. Regarding the distribution of water molecules around the ions
we can say that:
1. There is no organised distribution
of wáter molecules around the
ions.
2. The hydrogen atoms will tend to
associate with the chlorine ions
and the oxygen atoms with the
sodium ions.
3. The hydrogen atoms will tend to
associate with the sodium ions and
the oxygen atoms with the
chlorine ions.
4. The oxygen and the hydrogen
atoms will tend to associate with
the sodium ions.
5. The oxygen and the hydrogen
atoms will tend to associate with
the chlorine ions.

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NOTES:
Molécula del agua y puentes de
hidrógeno

NOTES:
Q. 1.6. Two uniformly charged spheres are firmly attached to and
electrically insulated from a table. The charge on Sphere 2 is three times
that on Sphere 1. Which diagram correctly illustrates the magnitude and
direction of the electrostatic forces?

NOTES:
Q. 1.7. F1 and F2 are forces of attraction or repulsion between two
electrical loads. Is it correct to say that the directions of the forces F1 and
F2 are :

1. Only opposite when the charges have

equal signs.
2. Only equal when the charges have equal
signs.
3. Only opposite when the charges have
opposites signs.
4. Equal only when the charges have
opposite signs.
5. Always opposite when Siempre opuestos
cuales quieran sean los signos de las
cargas

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NOTES:
Q. 1.8. F is the magnitude of the force between two point charges,
separated by a distance r. Which of the following graphs is the one that
best represents the relationship between F and r?

RECAP

NOTES:

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Applications

Instructions:

1. Read the question well. Identify the physical concepts involved in each problem and
consider each question as a problem in itself.
2. Write out a strategy to solving the problem. Try to identify or outline steps to resolve it.
3. Solve the problem analytically and then, if required, numerically.
4. Review the units and determine if the numerical values make sense in relation to the initial
information. Recheck the proposed strategy: was it successful? Do you need to make
adjustments?

A 1.1. Sphere A, positively charged, is suspended in the air by a support and an insulating thread.
Another sphere B, of mass equal to 20g and with equal and opposite charge to that of the area A, is
located 10 cm below this, as shown in the diagram. Releasing B under these conditions it is found
to remain at rest.

A
+
10 cm
-
B

a) Draw a free-body diagram for A and B, identifying all of the forces acting on each body.

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b) The system is in equilibrium, therefore we can write the following equations:

c) What is the value of the electrical force that A has on B?

d) What is the value of the tension in the wire?

e) What is the magnitude of the charge on each of the two spheres?

f) How many excess electrons does Sphere B have?

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A 1.2. Two equally charged spheres of 25 g are suspended from two massless, inextensible wires
of 80 cm length. The wires form a 45° angle with the vertical axis. Calculate the charge on each
sphere and the tension in the wires.

45º

NOTE: Use exactly the same strategy as for the previous problem. The only difference is
that it is necessary to write equations for both the X axis and the Y axis.

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A 1.3 Find the mathematical expression (only the expression, you do not need to solve it) of the resultant
force acting on the charge +q in each of the following cases. This expression should be written in terms
of the variables presented in the diagram. Remember to draw a free body diagram identifying all of the
forces acting on +q, and write the expressions for X and Y. Note that the forces on one axis are cancelled.

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A 1.4 SERWEY II: CHAPTER 1: QUESTIONS 3 & 7

A 1.5 SERWEY II: CHAPTER 1: QUESTIONS 4 & 8

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