PHYSICS 102 MIDTERM EXAM

March 13, 2002

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Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 1, Page 2
Problem 1. Miscellany

a) (6 pts) Point charges q1 = +1.0 C, and q2 = -1.0 C, are placed at the corners of
a square as shown in the gure below. The square has sides of length a = 1 m. Find
the electric eld, E (both magnitude and direction) at point O.

The electric eld, E1 due to charge q1 acts in the y^ direction and the eld
E2 due to charge q2 acts in the +^x direction. The magnitudes of the two
elds are identical: jE1 j = jE2 j. Therefore, the resultant eld acts along a
direction which is due southeast of O . The magnitude of the resultant eld,
p
jEj = 2jE1j = 1:27  104 N/C .

b) (6 pts) The gure below shows two circuits A and B. The rms value of the generator
voltage is the same in both cases. In which circuit does the generator supply more
rms current at (i)high frequencies? (ii) low frequencies? Give a brief explanation.

At high frequencies, the eective impedance of circuit A is R, and that of

circuit B is 2R. Therefore, the generator delivers more current in circuit A. At
low frequencies, the eective impedance of circuit A is 2R, and that of circuit
B is R. So, in this case, the generator supplies more current in circuit B.
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 1, Page 3
c) (6 pts) A solenoid of length, L = 0.1 m, has a radius R = 0.05 m and N = 1.5 
104 turns. A small loop of radius r = 0.02 m is placed at the center of the solenoid
with its axis in the same direction as that of the solenoid. Determine the mutual
inductance, M, of this combination.
The mutual inductance is dened by Ns s = M Ip , where the suÆxes p and s
stand for the primary (solenoid) and the secondary (small loop) coils respec-
tively. Now, s = BA = 0 NL Ipr2 , and Ns = 1. Substituting in the denition
of M , we get M = 0 NL r2  24 mH .

d) (7 pts) In the circuit below, C1 = 12 F, C2 = C3 = 6 F. All the capacitors are
fully charged. Find the charge stored in C2 .

The equivalent capacitance, C0 of the two capacitors in parallel, C2 and C3 ,

is 12 F. Now, C1 and C0 are in series and the equivalent capacitance CT is
6 F. Since C1 and C0 are in series, they store the same amount of charge,
Q = CT V = 72C. The charge on C0 is shared by the two capacitors C2 and
C3 . Since, C2 = C3 , we readily see that the charge stored in C2 is 36 C .
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 2, Page 4
Problem 2.

A metallic sphere of radius R carries an excess charge Q. It is surrounded by a thick

concentric metallic shell (inner radius r1, outer radius r2) which also carries a net
charge Q.

a) (5 pts) What is the potential dierence between points O and A? Why?

Since points O and A are on a conducting surface, they must be at the same
potential (the electric eld inside a conductor is zero). Therefore, the potential
dierence between O and A is identically zero.
b) (5 pts) What is the electric eld (magnitude and direction) at point B in the gure,
which is at a distance r away from O? Why?
The eld at point B is given by 2rkQ2 and it points radially outwards at B. Here
is one way to see this: The presence of a charge Q on the inner sphere induces
a charge Q at r1 (the electric eld inside the metallic shell has to vanish).
That leaves an excess charge 2Q on the outer surface of the shell (remember
that the shell carries an excess charge Q). Applying Gauss' law, we see that
the eld at B is 2rkQ2 .
c) (5 pts) The outer surface is grounded as shown. What is the electric eld (magni-
tude and direction) at point B now? Why?
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 2, Page 5
Since the outer surface is grounded, the excess charge 2Q at r2 leaks to the
ground. However, there is still an excess charge Q at r1 (the electric eld has
to vanish inside the shell). Applying Gauss' law again, we see that the eld
at B has to vanish. Another way to see this is in terms of electric eld lines.
Field lines emerge from the charge Q on the innermost sphere, and terminate
at r1 , since they cannot go through the metal. Therefore, the eld at B has to
be zero.
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 3, Page 6
Problem 3.

The surface charge density on a parallel plate capacitor is  = 1.77  10 8 C/m2.

The plates of the capacitor are 2.0 cm apart. An electron enters the capacitor at
point A with a velocity of 7.00  106 m/s in the horizontal direction.

a) (8 pts) The electron exits the capacitor at point B. Find the velocity (both magni-
tude and direction) of the electron at B.
Let x^ the direction of the incoming electron and y^, the direction perpendicular
to it (and in the plane of the paper). Since the electric eld is along the y^ direc-
tion, the x component of the velocity remains unchanged. The y component
of the velocity can be computed in various ways.qFor instance, from kinematics,
vy2 = 2ay , and a =
e
. Then, one gets vy = 2m ed
= 3.7 106 m/s . Hence,
m 0 q 0

the magnitude of the velocity is vx2 + vy2 = 7.9 106 m/s , The direction of
the velocity is given by tan  = vvxy , i.e.,  = 28Æ , south of east.

b) (7 pts) As in (a), an electron enters a capacitor with a horizontal velocity of

7.00  106 m/s. The electric eld inside this capacitor is E = 9000N/C, pointing
upwards. Suppose we require the electron to pass through the capacitor, unde ected.
Determine the magnitude and the direction of a magnetic eld that is necessary to
achieve this.
For the electron to be unde ected, the magnetic force must compensate the
electric force, i.e., eE=evB. This requires B = e/v = 1:310 3 T . To oppose
the electric force directed downwards, B must be directed out of the plane of
the paper, as can be seen from the right-hand rule. Remember that the electron
is negatively charged!
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 4, Page 7
Problem 4. ( 15 pts)
Find the current owing (both magnitude and direction) through each of the three
resistors in the circuit below; R=100
.

Let I1 the current owing from the positive terminal of the V1 = 15V battery,
and I2 , the current owing from the positive terminal of the V2 = 9V battery.
If I be the current owing downwards through the resistance R in the middle,
Kirchho's junction rule requires I1 + I2 = I . Kirchho's loop rules require
V1 IR I1 R = 0 and V2 IR I2 R = 0. The solutions to this system of
linear equations are I1 = :07A; I2 = :01A; I = :08A:
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 5, Page 8
Problem 5.

A long thin copper rod of mass m = 0.06 kg and length L = 4.0 m is suspended by a
massless rope as shown. A current I1 = 44 A ows along the rod from right to left.
The rod is placed in a region of uniform magnetic eld, B = 0.002 T, which points
out of the plane of the paper.

a) (8 pts) Determine the tension in the rope.

Since the current I1 ows from right to left and the magnetic eld B points
out of the page, the rod experiences an upward force, Fmag = I1 LB . Therefore,
T + I1 LB = mg , whence T = mg I1 LB = 0.236 N.

b) (7 pts) We want to levitate an identical rod, by passing a current, I2 through it.

The second rod is placed at a distance of r = 1 cm below the rst rod, as shown in
the gure. Determine the magnitude and direction of the current, I2 , owing through
the second rod.

The second rod is in equilibrium because the force it experiences from the net
magnetic eld, Btot , counteracts the force of gravity. The net magnetic eld
Btot is the resultant of the eld produced by the current in the rst rod, I1
and the external magnetic eld B . It is easy to see that Btot = B +
2r .
0 I1

Thus, mg = I2 LBtot . Note that I2 has to ow from right to left. A current

owing from left to right would lead to a magnetic force acting in the downward
direction and will not aid levitation. Therefore, we get I2 = LBmgtot  51A
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 6, Page 9
Problem 6.

A student pulls a rectangular conducting loop of resistance R=0.08

, length L=10
cm, and width W=4 cm through a region of width d=15 cm in which a uniform
magnetic eld produced by an electromagnet is present. The magnetic eld B=2.0 T
is directed into the page. The loop moves with a uniform speed of v=5.0 cm/s.

a) (10 pts) Plot the induced emf as a function of time and indicate the direction of the
induced current in the loop. Assume that the loop enters the region of the magnetic
eld at time t=0 sec.
When the loop enters/leaves the region of the magnetic eld, there will be
an induced emf in accordance with Faraday's law. When the loop is entirely
inside the region, the induced emf vanishes, since there is no change in the ux
through the loop. From the dimensions of the loop, its speed, and the width
of the eld region, we see that there will be an induced emf between t = 0 sec
and t = 2 sec (when the loop is entering the eld region) and between t = 3 sec
and t = 5 sec (when the loop is leaving the eld region). Note that the current
owing through the loop is (counter)clockwise when the loop (enters)leaves the
eld region, as can be inferred from Lenz's law. The magnitude of the induced
emf is given by Faraday's law, E = ddt = BW v = 4 mV.
Physics 102 Midterm Examination, March 13, 2002 Problem 6, Page 10

emf (mV)

4.0 ( CW Current )

1 2 3 4 5
0
t (seconds)

( CCW Current )
-4.0

b) (5 pts) Determine the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by the student
on the loop when it is moving out of the region of the magnetic eld with uniform
speed (v=5.0 cm/s).
A clockwise current I = E =R = 0:05A ows through the loop as it leaves the
eld region. The net force on the loop due to the magnetic eld B , is given by
F = IW B , and acts to the left, consistent with Lenz's law. (Note that the forces
acting on the longer sides, L, of the loop cancel out.) Therefore, the student has
to exert a force to the right and its magnitude is again F = IW B = 0:004N .
Aliter: This problem can also be solved from energy considerations. Since the

power dissipated in the loop is equal to the rate at which the student does work,
E 2=R = F v, from which we get, F = Rv E 2 = 0:004N .