ELECTRIC FIELDS

14

6 (a) State an expression for the electric field strength E at a distance r from a point charge Q in a
vacuum.
State the name of any other symbol used.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Two point charges A and B are situated a distance 10.0 cm apart in a vacuum, as illustrated in
Fig. 6.1.

charge A charge B

10.0 cm

Fig. 6.1

A point P lies on the line joining the charges A and B. Point P is a distance x from A.

The variation with distance x of the electric field strength E at point P is shown in Fig. 6.2.

2.5

E / 10–2 N C–1

2.0

1.5

1.0
0 2 4 6 8 10
x / cm

Fig. 6.2

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State and explain whether the charges A and B:

(i) have the same, or opposite, signs

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) have the same, or different, magnitudes.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) An electron is situated at point P.

Without calculation, state and explain the variation in the magnitude of the acceleration of the
electron as it moves from the position where x = 3 cm to the position where x = 7 cm.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

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............................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 10]

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5 (a) Define electric potential at a point.

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...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Two isolated charged metal spheres X and Y are situated near to each other in a vacuum with
their centres a distance of 24 m apart. Point P is at a variable distance x from the centre of
sphere X on the line joining the centres of the spheres.

Fig. 5.1 shows the variation with x of the electric potential V due to the spheres at point P.

0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
x/m

Fig. 5.1

State three conclusions that can be drawn about the spheres from Fig. 5.1. The conclusions
may be qualitative or quantitative.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[3]

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(c) A positively charged particle is placed at point P in (b), such that x = 12 m.

The particle is released.

Describe and explain the subsequent motion of the particle.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 8]

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5 An α-particle is travelling in a vacuum towards the centre of a gold nucleus, as illustrated in

Fig. 5.1.

gold nucleus α-particle

charge 79e energy 7.7 × 10–13 J

Fig. 5.1

The gold nucleus has charge 79e.

The gold nucleus and the α-particle may be assumed to behave as point charges.
At a large distance from the gold nucleus, the α-particle has energy 7.7 × 10–13 J.

(a) The α-particle does not collide with the gold nucleus. Show that the radius of the gold nucleus
must be less than 4.7 × 10–14 m.

[3]

(b) Determine the acceleration of the α-particle for a separation of 4.7 × 10–14 m between the
centres of the gold nucleus and of the α-particle.

acceleration = ................................................. m s–2 [3]

(c) In an α-particle scattering experiment, the beam of α-particles is incident on a very thin gold
foil.
Suggest why the gold foil must be very thin.

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 7]
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4 (a) State what is represented by an electric field line.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Two point charges P and Q are placed 0.120 m apart as shown in Fig. 4.1.

0.120 m

P Q
+4.0 nC –7.2 nC

Fig. 4.1

(i) The charge of P is +4.0 nC and the charge of Q is –7.2 nC.

Determine the distance from P of the point on the line joining the two charges where the
electric potential is zero.

distance = ...................................................... m [2]

(ii) State and explain, without calculation, whether the electric field strength is zero at the
same point at which the electric potential is zero.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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6 Two solid metal spheres A and B, each of radius 1.5 cm, are situated in a vacuum. Their centres
are separated by a distance of 20.0 cm, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

1.5 cm 1.5 cm
20.0 cm

sphere A sphere B

Fig. 6.1 (not to scale)

Both spheres are positively charged.

Point P lies on the line joining the centres of the two spheres, at a distance x from the centre of
sphere A.

The variation with distance x of the electric field strength E at point P is shown in Fig. 6.2.

50

40

30

E / N C–1
20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
–10 x / cm

–20

–30

–40

–50

Fig. 6.2

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(a) Use Fig. 6.2 to determine the ratio

magnitude of charge on sphere A
.
magnitude of charge on sphere B
Explain your working.

ratio = ...........................................................[3]

(b) The variation with distance x of the electric potential V at point P is shown in Fig. 6.3.

0.8

0.7

0.6
V/V
0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
x / cm

Fig. 6.3

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An α-particle is initially at rest on the surface of sphere A.

The α-particle moves along the line joining the centres of the two spheres.

Determine, for the α-particle as it moves between the two spheres,

(i) its maximum speed,

maximum speed = ................................................. m s–1 [3]

(ii) its speed on reaching the surface of sphere B.

speed = ................................................. m s–1 [2]

[Total: 8]

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6 A solid metal sphere of radius R is isolated in space. The sphere is positively charged so that the
electric potential at its surface is VS. The electric field strength at the surface is ES.

(a) On the axes of Fig. 6.1, show the variation of the electric potential with distance x from the
centre of the sphere for values of x from x = 0 to x = 3R.

1.0 Vs

0.8 Vs
potential
0.6 Vs

0.4 Vs

0.2 Vs

0
0 R 2R 3R
distance x

Fig. 6.1
[3]

(b) On the axes of Fig. 6.2, show the variation of the electric field strength with distance x from
the centre of the sphere for values of x from x = 0 to x = 3R.

1.0 Es

0.8 Es
field
strength 0.6 Es

0.4 Es

0.2 Es

0
0 R 2R 3R
distance x

Fig. 6.2
[3]

[Total: 6]

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5 (a) State Coulomb’s law.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Two identical oil droplets are in a vacuum. The centres of the droplets are a distance of
3.8 × 10–6 m apart. The droplets have equal charge and exert an electric force on each other
of magnitude 6.3 × 10–17 N.

Determine the magnitude of the charge on each droplet.

charge = ...................................................... C [2]

(c) One of the oil droplets in (b) is now placed between two horizontal metal plates, as shown in
Fig. 5.1.

+ 1200 V

oil droplet

metal plates

5.2 cm

0V

Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

A potential difference (p.d.) of 1200 V is applied between the plates, with the top plate at the
higher potential. The oil droplet is stationary and in equilibrium.

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(i) State the sign of the charge on the oil droplet.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) On Fig. 5.1, draw four lines to represent the electric field between the plates. [3]

(iii) The distance between the plates is 5.2 cm.

Determine the mass of the oil droplet.

mass = ..................................................... kg [3]

[Total: 11]

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4 (a) State what is indicated by the direction of an electric field line.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Fig. 4.1 shows a pair of parallel metal plates with a potential difference (p.d.) of 2400 V
between them.

+ 2400 V

metal plates

4.6 cm

0V

Fig. 4.1

The plates are separated by a distance of 4.6 cm. The plates are in a vacuum.

(i) On Fig. 4.1, draw five lines to represent the electric field in the region between the plates.
[3]

(ii) Calculate the strength of the electric field between the plates.

electric field strength = ............................................... N C–1 [2]

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(c) A moving proton enters the region between the plates from the left, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

+ 2400 V

region of
electric field

proton

0V

Fig. 4.2

(i) The proton is deflected by the electric field.

On Fig. 4.2, draw a line to show the path of the proton as it moves through and out of the
region of the electric field. [2]

(ii) A helium nucleus ( 42He) now enters the region of the electric field along the same initial
path as the proton and travelling at the same initial speed.

State and explain how the final speed of the helium nucleus compares with the final
speed of the proton after leaving the region of the electric field.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

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...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 12]

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5 (a) Define electric potential at a point.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) An isolated conducting sphere is charged. Fig. 5.1 shows the variation of the potential V due
to the sphere with displacement x from its centre.

0
– 0.3 – 0.2 – 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3
x/m

– 250

V/V

– 500

– 750

– 1000

Fig. 5.1

Use Fig. 5.1 to determine:

(i) the radius of the sphere

radius = ..................................................... m [1]

(ii) the charge on the sphere.

charge = ..................................................... C [2]

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(c) Two spheres are identical to the sphere in (b). Each sphere has the same charge as the
sphere in (b).

The spheres are held in a vacuum so that their centres are separated by a distance of 0.46 m.
Assume that the charge on each sphere is a point charge at the centre of the sphere.

(i) Calculate the electric potential energy EP of the two spheres.

EP = ...................................................... J [2]

(ii) The two spheres are now released simultaneously so that they are free to move.

Describe and explain the subsequent motion of the spheres.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

[Total: 10]

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2 A charged oil drop is in a vacuum between two horizontal metal plates. A uniform electric field is
produced between the plates by applying a potential difference of 1340 V across them, as shown
in Fig. 2.1.

top metal plate

+ 1340 V

oil drop,
1.4 × 10–2 m weight 4.6 × 10–14 N

uniform electric field bottom metal plate

0V

Fig. 2.1

The separation of the plates is 1.4 × 10–2 m.

The oil drop of weight 4.6 × 10–14 N remains stationary at a point mid-way between the plates.

(a) (i) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field strength.

electric field strength = ............................................... N C–1 [2]

(ii) Determine the magnitude and the sign of the charge on the oil drop.

magnitude of charge = ........................................................... C

sign of charge ...............................................................

[3]

(b) The electric potentials of the plates are instantaneously reversed so that the top plate is at a
potential of 0 V and the bottom plate is at a potential of +1340 V. This change causes the oil
drop to start moving downwards.

(i) Compare the new pattern of the electric field lines between the plates with the original
pattern.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

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(ii) Determine the magnitude of the resultant force acting on the oil drop.

resultant force = ..................................................... N [1]

(iii) Show that the magnitude of the acceleration of the oil drop is 20 m s–2.

[2]

(iv) Assume that the radius of the oil drop is negligible.

Use the information in (b)(iii) to calculate the time taken for the oil drop to move to the
bottom metal plate from its initial position mid-way between the plates.

time = ...................................................... s [2]

(c) The oil drop in (b) starts to move at time t = 0. The distance of the oil drop from the bottom
plate is x.

On Fig. 2.2, sketch the variation with time t of distance x for the movement of the drop from
its initial position until it hits the surface of the bottom plate. Numerical values of t are not
required.

0.7

x / 10–2 m

0
0 t

Fig. 2.2
[2]

[Total: 14]

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6 Two vertical parallel metal plates are situated 2.50 cm apart in a vacuum. The potential For
difference between the plates is 350 V, as shown in Fig. 6.1. Examiner’s
Use

350 V

electron

+ –

2.50 cm

Fig. 6.1

An electron is initially at rest close to the negative plate and in the uniform electric field
between the plates.

(a) (i) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field between the plates.

electric field strength = ....................................... N C–1 [2]

(ii) Show that the force on the electron due to the electric field is 2.24 × 10–15 N.

[2]

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(b) The electron accelerates horizontally across the space between the plates. Determine For
Examiner’s
(i) the horizontal acceleration of the electron, Use

acceleration = ....................................... m s–2 [2]

(ii) the time to travel the horizontal distance of 2.50 cm between the plates.

time = ............................................. s [2]

(c) Explain why gravitational effects on the electron need not be taken into consideration in
your calculation in (b).

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

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