Electric Fields, Capacitance

Paper-2, As Level
June 2002
6
Two horizontal metal plates are situated 1.2 cm apart, as illustrated in Fig. 6.1.

Fig. 6.1
The electric field between the plates is found to be 3.010 4NC1 in the downward direction.
(a) (i) On Fig. 6.1, mark with a + the plate which is at the more positive potential.
(ii) Calculate the potential difference between the plates.

potential difference = ................................................ V

[3]

(b) Determine the acceleration of an electron between the plates, assuming there is a
vacuum between them.

acceleration = .......................................... ms 2
1(6)

June 2005
6

Two parallel metal plates P and Q are situated 8.0 cm apart in air, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

[3]

Fig. 6.1
Plate Q is earthed and plate P is maintained at a potential of +160 V.
(a) (i) On Fig. 6.1, draw lines to represent the electric field in the region between the
plates.

[2]

(ii) Show that the magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 2.0 10 3Vm1.

[1]
(b) A dust particle is suspended in the air between the plates. The particle has charges of
+1.2 1015 C and 1.2 1015 C near its ends. The charges may be considered to be
point charges separated by a distance of 2.5 mm, as shown in Fig. 6.2.

Fig. 6.2
The particle makes an angle of 35 with the direction of the electric field.
(i) On Fig. 6.2, draw arrows to show the direction of the force on each charge due to
the electric field.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the magnitude of the force on each charge due to the electric field.

force = ............................................. N
(iii) Determine the magnitude of the couple acting on the particle.

[2]

couple = .......................................... Nm

[2]

(iv) Suggest the subsequent motion of the particle in the electric field.
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[2]

2(6)

June 2007
2

(a) Define electric field strength.

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(b) Two flat parallel metal plates, each of length 12.0 cm, are separated by a distance of
1.5 cm, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1

[1]

The space between the plates is a vacuum.

The potential difference between the plates is 210 V. The electric field may be assumed
to be uniform in the region between the plates and zero outside this region.
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates.

field strength = ........................................N C1

[1]

(c) An electron initially travels parallel to the plates along a line mid-way between the plates,
as shown in Fig. 2.1. The speed of the electron is 5.0 10 7 m s1.
For the electron between the plates,
(i) determine the magnitude and direction of its acceleration,

acceleration = ..............................................m s 2
direction ...................................................

[4]

(ii) calculate the time for the electron to travel a horizontal distance equal to the length
of the plates.

time = ...............................................s

[1]

(d) Use your answers in (c) to determine whether the electron will hit one of the plates or
emerge from between the plates.

[3]

3(2)

Nov 2002
6

An electron travelling horizontally in a vacuum enters the region between two horizontal

metal plates, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

Fig. 6.1
The lower plate is earthed and the upper plate is at a potential of + 400V. The separation of
the plates is 0.80 cm.
The electric field between the plates may be assumed to be uniform and outside the plates
to be zero.
(a) On Fig. 6.1,
(i) draw an arrow at P to show the direction of the force on the electron due to the
electric field between the plates,
(ii) sketch the path of the electron as it passes between the plates and beyond them.

[3]
(b) Determine the electric field strength E between the plates.

E = V m1
(c) Calculate, for the electron between the plates, the magnitude of
(i) the force on the electron,

force = .. N
(ii) its acceleration.

[2]

acceleration = ms 2

[4]

(d) State and explain the effect, if any, of this electric field on the horizontal component of
the motion of the electron.
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4(6)

Nov 2003
5

Two large flat metal plates A and B are placed 9.0 cm apart in a vacuum, as illuminated in
Fig.5.1.

Fig.5.1
A potential difference of 450V is maintained between the plates by means of a battery.
(a) (i) On Fig.5.1, draw an arrow to indicate the direction of the electric field between
plates A and B.

[2]

(ii) Calculate the electric field strength between A and B.

field strength = ..NC1

[3]

(b) An electron is released from rest at the surface of plate A.

(i) Show that the change in electric potential energy in moving from plate A to plate B
is 7.2 1017 J.

(ii) Determine the speed of the electron on reaching plate B.

speed = ms1
(c) On the axes of Fig.5.2, sketch a graph to show the variation with distance d from plate
A of the speed v of the electron.

Fig.5.2
5(5)

[4]
[1]

Nov 2005
6

Two horizontal metal plates X and Y are at a distance 0.75 cm apart. A positively charged
particle of mass 9.6 1015 kg is situated in a vacuum between the plates, as illustrated in
Fig. 6.1.

Fig. 6.1
The potential difference between the plates is adjusted until the particle remains stationary.
(a) State, with a reason, which plate, X or Y, is positively charged.
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[2]

(b) The potential difference required for the particle to be stationary between the plates is
found to be 630 V. Calculate
(i) the electric field strength between the plates,

field strength = .. N C1

[2]

(ii) the charge on the particle.

charge = .. C
6(6)

[3]

June 2007
3

Two charged points A and B are separated by a distance of 6.0 cm, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1
The variation with distance d from A of the electric field strength E along the line AB is
shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2
An electron is emitted with negligible speed from A and travels along AB.
(a) State the relation between electric field strength E and potential V.
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(b) The area below the line of the graph of Fig. 3.2 represents the potential difference
between A and B.
Use Fig. 3.2 to determine the potential difference between A and B.

[2]

potential difference = . V

[4]

(c) Use your answer to (b) to calculate the speed of the electron as it reaches point B.

speed = . m s1

[2]

(d) (i) Use Fig. 3.2 to determine the value of d at which the electron has maximum
acceleration.

d = cm
(ii) Without any further calculation, describe the variation with distance d of the
acceleration of the electron.

[1]

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7(3)

Nov 2006
6

An alternating supply of frequency 50 Hz and having an output of 6.0 V r.m.s. is to be

rectified so as to provide direct current for a resistor R. The circuit of Fig. 6.1 is used.

Fig. 6.1
The diode is ideal. The Y-plates of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (c.r.o.) are connected between
points A and B.
(a) (i) Calculate the maximum potential difference across the diode during one cycle.

[2]

potential difference = V

[2]

(ii) State the potential difference across R when the diode has maximum potential
difference across it. Give a reason for your answer.
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[1]

(b) The Y-plate sensitivity of the c.r.o. is set at 2.0 Vcm1 and the time-base at 5.0ms cm1.
On Fig. 6.2, draw the waveform that is seen on the screen of the c.r.o.

[3]

Fig. 6.2
(c) A capacitor of capacitance 180 F is connected into the circuit to provide smoothing of
the potential difference across the resistor R.
(i) On Fig. 6.1, show the position of the capacitor in the circuit.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the energy stored in the fully-charged capacitor.

energy = J
(iii) During discharge, the potential difference across the capacitor falls to 0.43V0,
where V0 is the maximum potential difference across the capacitor.
Calculate the fraction of the total energy that remains in the capacitor after thedischarge.

[3]

fraction =

[2]

June 2006

An isolated conducting sphere of radius r is placed in air. It is given a charge +Q. This charge
may be assumed to act as a point charge situated at the centre of the sphere.
(a) (i) Define electric field strength.
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[1]

(ii) State a formula for the electric field strength E at the surface of the sphere. Also,
state the meaning of any other symbols used.
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[2]

(b) The maximum field strength at the surface of the sphere before electrical breakdown
(sparking) occurs is 2.0 106 Vm1. The sphere has a radius r of 0.35 m.
Calculate the maximum values of
(i) the charge that can be stored on the sphere,

charge = ... C

[2]

potential = ... V

[2]

(ii) the potential at the surface of the sphere.

(c) Suggest the effect of the electric field on a single atom near the spheres surface as
electrical breakdown of the air occurs.
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June 2005

[2]

An isolated conducting sphere of radius r is given a charge +Q. This charge may be
assumed to act as a point charge situated at the centre of the sphere, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Fig. 5.1
Fig. 5.2. shows the variation with distance x from the centre of the sphere of the potential V
due to the charge +Q.

Fig. 5.2
(a) State the relation between electric field and potential.
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[1]

(b) Using the relation in (a), on Fig. 5.3 sketch a graph to show the variation with distance x
of the electric field E due to the charge +Q.

[3]
Fig. 5.3
8

(a) Define capacitance.

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(b) (i) One use of a capacitor is for the storage of electrical energy.
Briefly explain how a capacitor stores energy.
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[1]

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[2]

(ii) Calculate the change in the energy stored in a capacitor of capacitance 1200 F
when the potential difference across the capacitor changes from 50 V to 15 V.

energy change = ....................................... J

[3]