Electric Fields Practice B

Name ___________________________________

1.

Period _______

This question is about electric charge at rest.

(a)

Date ____________________

Define electric field strength at a point in an electric field.

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(2)

Four point charges of equal magnitude, are held at the corners of a square as shown below.
2a

+Q

+Q

2a

The length of each side of the square is 2a and the sign of the charges is as shown. The point P is at the centre of the
square.
(b)

(i)

Deduce that the magnitude of the electric field strength at point P due to one of the point charges is

kQ
2
equal to 2a .
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(2)
(ii)

On the diagram above, draw an arrow to represent the direction of the resultant electric field at point P.
(1)

(iii)

Determine, in terms of Q, a and k, the magnitude of the electric field strength at point P.
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(3)

2.

This question is about the electric field due to a charged sphere and the motion of electrons in that field.
The diagram below shows an isolated, metal sphere in a vacuum that carries a negative electric charge of 9.0 nC.

(a)

On the diagram draw arrows to represent the electric field pattern due to the charged sphere.
(3)

(b)

The electric field strength at the surface of the sphere and at points outside the sphere can be determined by
assuming that the sphere acts as though a point charge of magnitude 9.0 nC is situated at its centre. The radius
2
of the sphere is 4.5 10 m. Deduce that the magnitude of the field strength at the surface of the sphere is 4.0
4
1
10 Vm .
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(1)

An electron is initially at rest on the surface of the sphere.

(c)

(i)

Describe the path followed by the electron as it leaves the surface of the sphere.
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(1)

(ii)

Calculate the initial acceleration of the electron.

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(3)

(iii)

State and explain whether the acceleration of the electron remains constant, increases or decreases as it
moves away from the sphere.
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(2)

(iv)

6 1
At a certain point P, the speed of the electron is 6.0 10 ms . Determine the potential difference
between the point P and the surface of the sphere.
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(3)
(Total 13 marks)
2