Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA)

Year I
2023 - 2024

Applied Physics I-Electrostatics:

Exercises on properties of charge,
electrostatic force, Electric field and
coordinate systems

Instructor: Projecte HABYARIMANA

December 06th, 2023

1. When two objects are rubbed with each other, approximately a charge of 50 nC can be
produced in each object. Calculate the number of electrons that must be transferred to
produce this charge.
2. Two identical metal spheres, J and K, separated by a distance of 112 cm, are suspended
from an insulated wooden bar, as shown in the figure
below. The charges on the spheres are −4 800 pC and +5
700 pC respectively. Sphere K experiences an
electrostatic force. In which direction will Sphere K
move?

3. Two small identical metal spheres, Y and Z, are suspended from long silk threads, as
shown in the diagram below. The spheres carry charges of
+6×10−9 C and −7×10−9 C respectively. Which sphere
has an excess of electrons?

4. Three objects are brought close to one another, two at a time. When objects A and B are
brought together, they attract. When objects B and C are brought together, they repel.
Which of the following are necessarily true? (a) Objects A and C possess charges of the
same sign. (b) Objects A and C possess charges of opposite sign. (c) All three objects
possess charges of the same sign. (d) One object is neutral. (e) Additional experiments
must be performed to determine information about the charges on the objects.
5. Suppose a charge +q on Earth’s surface and another +q charge is placed on the surface of
the Moon. (a) Calculate the value of q required to balance the gravitational attraction
between Earth and Moon.
(Take 𝑚𝐸 = 5.9 × 1024 𝑘𝑔, 𝑚𝑀 = 7.9 × 1022 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺 = 6.626 × 10−11 𝑁𝑚2 𝑘𝑔−2 )
6. Consider the charge configuration as shown in the figure below.
Calculate the total electric field vector at point A and its direction.
7. Two identical charged spheres, each having a mass of 3.00 × 10−2 𝑘𝑔, hang in
equilibrium as shown in the figure 1a. The length L of each string is 0.150 m, and the
angle θ is 5.0°. Find the magnitude of the charge on each sphere.

Figure 1
8. Charges q1 and q2 are located on x axis, at distance a and b, respectively, from the
origin as shown in the figure1b. (a) Find the component of the net electric field at point
P, which is at position (0, y). (b) Evaluate the electric field at point P in the special case
that |q1| = |q2 | and a = b.
9. Find the ratio of the Coulomb electric force 𝐹𝑒 to the gravitation force 𝐹𝑔 between two
electrons in vacuum.
10. Excess electrons are placed on a small lead sphere with mass 8.00 g so that its net charge
is −3.20 × 10−9C. (a) Find the number of excess electrons on the sphere. (b) How many
excess electrons are there per lead atom? The atomic number of lead is 82, and its
atomic mass is 207g/mol
11. Lightning occurs when there is a flow of electric charge (principally electrons) between
the ground and a thundercloud. The maximum rate of charge flow in a lightning bolt is
about 20,000 C/s; this lasts for 100 ms or less. How much charge flows between the
ground and the cloud in this time? How many electrons flow during this time?
12. Two coins lie 1.5 m apart on a table. They carry identical charges. Approximately how
large is the charge on each if a coin experiences a force of 2 N?
13. An electron is at a distance of 0.5 × 10−10 m from a proton, what is the electrical force
exerted on the electron by the proton and what is the gravitational force between these
particles. e = 1.6 × 10−19 C, me = 9.1 × 10−31 kg, mp = 1.67 × 10−27 kg; G = 6.67
×10−11 N m2 /kg2.
14. If two electrons are each 1.50 × 10−10 𝑚 from a proton, as shown in Figure below, find
the magnitude and direction of the net electric force they will exert on the proton.

15. Consider four equal charges q1, q2, q3 and q4 = q = +1μC located at four different points
on a circle of radius 1m, as shown in the figure below. Calculate the total force acting on
the charge q1 due to all the other charges and its direction.

16. Two charges are located on the x axis with 𝑞1 = 2.3 × 10−8 𝐶 at the origin, and with
𝑞2 = −5.6 × 10−8 𝐶 at x = 1.30 m. Find the force exerted by these two charges on a third
charge 𝑞 = 3.3 × 10−8 𝐶, which is located at
a) x = 1.55m on the x-axis
b) Solve the same problem for the case q is on the y-axis at y = 1.03m
17. In the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, an electron circles a proton in an orbit of radius
5.3 × 10−11 m. The attraction of the proton for the electron furnishes the centripetal force
to hold the electron in orbit. Find the force of electrical attraction between the particles.
18. State Coulomb's law and its mathematical representation. Explain the variables involved.
19. Explicit the fundamental properties of charges
20. The charges shown in the figure 2(a) are stationary. Find the force on the 4.0 µC charge
due to the other two.

Figure 2
21. Three charges are placed on three corners of a square, as shown in the figure 2(b). Each
side of the square is 30.0 cm. Compute the total electric field 𝐸⃗ and its direction at the
fourth corner. What would be the force on 6.00 µC charge placed at the vacant corner?
22. A particle of charge Q = 4.1 × 10−6 C is placed at the origin. If one want to exert a force
of 6.3 × 10−6N on the particle in the +x direction with a positive charge of 1.6 × 10−7 C
where must the charge be placed?
23. A charge of 2.3 × 10−4 C is in an electric field and feels a force of 0.34N in the x
direction. What is the electric field at that point.
24. An electric field exists in space. At the origin, the field is 735N/C and points in the x
direction. At x = 3m the x axis, the field is 404N/C and points in the y direction.
a) What force is exerted on a charge of 0.018C when the charge is at the origin? when
the charge is at x=3m?
b) What force is exerted on a charge of -0.032C when the charge is at origin? when
the charge is at x=3m?
25. Three point charges q, Q, and − 2 Q are located as indicated in Figure 3.

Figure 3
a) What is the expression of the resultant electric force exerted on the charge q?

b) Where should we place a point charge +2.5Q for having the zero resultant force on q?

We assume that Q  0 .

26. A charge of 1.25 × 10−7 C is at distance of 0.38m from a second charge of −5.3 × 10−7C
as in the Figure 4

Figure 4
a) What electric field do these charges produce at a point P1, on the line joining the
charges and midway between charges?
b) What electric field do these charges produce at a point P2, on the line joining the
charges at a distance of 0.28m past the second charge?
27. Three charges are placed as shown in Figure 5. The magnitude of 𝑞1 is 2.00µC, but its
sign and the value of the charge 𝑞2 are not known. Charge 𝑞3 is +4.00µC, and the net
force F on 𝑞3 is entirely in the negative x-direction. Considering the different possible
signs of 𝑞1 , there are four possible force diagrams representing the forces 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 that
𝑞1 and 𝑞2 exert on 𝑞3 . (a) Sketch these four possible force configurations. (b) Using
the sketches from (a) and the direction of F , deduce the
signs of the charges 𝑞1 and 𝑞2 . (c) Calculate the
magnitude of 𝑞2 . (d) Determine F the magnitude of the
net force on 𝑞3 .

Figure 5
28. (a) Define the concept of an electric field and its relation to the force experienced by a
test charge.
(b) If a charge of +4nC experiences an electrostatic force of 6mN in an electric field,
determine the strength and direction of the electric field at that point.
29. A point charge of +2nC produces an electric field of 500N/C at a distance of 10cm.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the force on a +1nC charge placed at that
point.
30. Describe the behavior of conductors in the context of electrostatic equilibrium.
31. Plot the points A (3, 5) and B (-2, -4) on a Cartesian plane. Calculate the distance
between points A and B.
32. A particle moves in a plane such that its position vector is given by
𝑟 = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ + 𝑡(𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂). Find the Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical
coordinates of the particle at t = 2s.
33. A point P has coordinates (2, 3, 4) in a Cartesian coordinate system. Find its cylindrical
and spherical coordinates. Show them in help with the graph
34. A point P has coordinates (2, π/4, π/3) in a spherical coordinate system. Find its
Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates.
35. A point P has coordinates (2, π/4, 3) in a cylindrical coordinate system. Find its
Cartesian and spherical coordinates.
36. Convert the point (2, -6) from Cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates
37. a. Discuss real-world applications where Cartesian, polar, cylindrical, or spherical
coordinates are most useful.
b. Explain why certain coordinate systems might be preferred over others in specific
applications, citing examples.