University of the Philippines

College of Science

PHYSICS 72
SAMPLE EXAM
National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the best answer and shade the corresponding circle on your
answer sheet. To change your answer, cross-out and sign your original answer and then
shade your new answer. No computational devices allowed (e.g. calculators, mobile phones).
Following instructions is part of the exam.

Useful formulas: Useful constants:

Area Volume e -1.60 x 10-19 C

me 9.1 x 10-31 kg
Sphere (radius = r) o 8.854 x 10-12 C2/Nm2
Cylinder (radius k 9 x 109 Nm2/C2
=r, height = h) 2"rh "r 2 h

1. Conduction. Consider three conducting Spheres A, B and C, where each sphere is

initially neutral,!with insulator stands and connected to its neighbour by a conducting
!
wire. Sphere C is connected to the ground. Suddenly, a penguin carrying a +9nC charge
hovers near Sphere A. After the system reaches equilibrium, all the wire connections
suddenly disappear. At this point, what are the charges of each sphere?

A. A: -9nC; B: 0nC; C: +9nC

B. A: -9nC; B: 0nC; C: 0nC
C. A: -2nC; B: -3nC; C: -4nC
D. A: 0nC; B: 0nC; C: 0nC
E. A: -4nC; B: -3nC; C: -2nC

2. Game Na! An uncharged jolen is connected to a metallic sphere by a rope

(insulator). The sphere is given a charge +4Q then is connected to the ground.
After electrostatic equilibrium is reached, the sphere is disconnected from the ground.
Determine the final net charges of the jolen and the sphere.
A. Jolen: zero, sphere: zero
B. Jolen: zero, sphere: +4Q
C. Jolen: +4Q, sphere: zero
D. Jolen: +2Q, sphere: zero
E. Jolen: +2Q, sphere: +2Q

3. Electric field lines. Consider the electric field lines due to two
unknown Charges, X and Y, shown at the right. Which
statement is true about the charges?
A. X is greater in magnitude and more positive than Y.
B. X is less in magnitude and more positive than Y.
C. Y is greater in magnitude and more positive than X.
D. Y is less in magnitude and more positive than X.
E. X and Y are identical charges.

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

4. Electric field. Maria used a test charge, Q0 = 3nC to detect the electric field at Point
X. She found that E = 27N/Ci. On the other hand, if Mario used a test charge, Q0 = -
9nC to detect the electric field at Point X, he will find that E = _____.
A. -3N/Ci
B. +3N/Ci
C. -27N/Ci
D. +27N/Ci
E. -81N/Ci

5. Electric force. When April placed her test charge, QA = 3C at Point X, an electric
force, F = 12Nj, was exerted on it. After April left, May also brought her own test
charge, QM = 6C to Point X. May will detect an electric force, F = ___, exerted on her
test charge.
A. +6Nj
B. +12Nj
C. +24Nj
D. +36Nj
E. +48Nj

For the next two numbers, consider four charges (three +qs and one +3q) are placed at the
corners of the square of side s as shown at the right.
6. Electric field. Which arrow best represents the
direction of the (total) net electric field at Point P
which is at the side midway between a +q and +3q?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
E. E

7. Electric force. If a negative test charge (-3q) is

placed at Point P, which arrow best represents the
direction of the (total) electric force exerted on it?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
E. E

8. Ditto. Consider a -2Q charge placed at the origin O that causes an electric force
directed to the right on a +Q charge placed at point B. Which of the following process
will then cause a decrease in the magnitude of the electric force on +Q at point B
while maintaining its direction? Putting _____.
A. a charge +Q at A
B. a charge +2Q at A
C. a charge Q at O
D. a charge Q at A
E. a charge -2Q at A

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

9. Electric field. Four charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs are arranged at the
corners of a square. In which arrangement is the magnitude of the electric field at point
P a maximum?

A. B. C. D.
E. None of the above.

10. Dipole moment. Consider a dipole (two charges bounded together but separated by a
distance d = 1m) of dipole moment magnitude |p| =7Cm is placed in a region with an
electric field E = E0i as shown on the right. It did not and will not rotate. What are the
charges of Charge X and Charge Y?
A. QX: +7C; Qy: 7C
B. QX: 7C; Qy: +7C
C. QX: +7C; Qy: +7C
D. QX: 7C; Qy: 7C
E. QX: 0C; Qy: 0C

11. Electric flux. Consider the (two dimensional, broken

lines) Gaussian surfaces and a negative charge (Q).
Rank the Gaussian surfaces according to the fluxes
passing through them.
A. square > oblong > circle > triangle
B. square > triangle > oblong > circle
C. square > triangle > oblong = circle
D. square = oblong > triangle = circle
E. triangle = circle > square = oblong

12. Electric flux and field. Consider a positive charge +Q and a Gaussian surface (broken
line) enclosing it. If the radius of the Gaussian surface is doubled, the electric field at
a point in the new Gaussian surface _______, while the flux through the Gaussian
surface _______.
A. is quartered; is quartered
B. halved; remains the same
C. remains the same; is halved
D. is quartered; remains the same
E. remains the same; is quartered

13. Electric flux. A plane of area A = 7m2k is immersed in a electric field E = (2N/C)j +
(3N/C)k. What is the electric flux, , through the plane?
A. (14Nm2/C)
B. (21Nm2/C)
C. (35Nm2/C)
D. (21Nm2/C)k
E. (14Nm2/C)j + (21Nm2/C)k

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

For the next two numbers, consider two infinite line charge (linear charge density + and
+2), perpendicular to each other and a Point P as shown below. These line charge and Point
P are in one plane. The x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is the vertical.
14. Gausss surface. What is (are) the simplest Gaussian surface(s) that can be used
to manually calculate the electric field at Point P?
A. Two cylinders of infinite length, parallel to the lines
and both centered at Point P. Both have radius d.
B. Two cylinders of infinite length, parallel to the lines
and both centered at Point P. One has radius d,
another has radius 2d.
C. Two cylinders, one is parallel to and centered along
the horizontal line with radius d, another is parallel
and centered at the vertical line with radius 2d.
D. Two cylinders, one is parallel to and centered along
the horizontal line with radius d, another is parallel
and centered at the vertical line with radius d.
E. The problem is asymmetric thus; Gauss law cannot
be used to manually solve the given problem.

15. Electric Field. What is the electric field at Point P?

A. [ /(40d)]i + [ /(20d)]j
B. [ /(20d)]i + [ /(40d)]j
C. [3 /(40d)](2 i + 2 j)
D. [ /(40d)](2 i + 2 j)
E. The problem is asymmetric thus; Gauss law cannot be used to manually solve the
given problem.

16. Conductor. Consider an egg-shaped chunk of metal with a

cavity. Initially, its net charge is zero. Then a positive
charge, , Q, is placed inside its cavity. Rank the (two
dimensional, broken lines) Gaussian surfaces according to
the charges they enclose.
A. oblong > rectangle > square = circle = triangle
B. oblong > square > rectangle > circle = triangle
C. oblong = rectangle > square = circle = triangle
D. circle = triangle > oblong = rectangle > square
E. circle = triangle > rectangle > oblong > square

17. Surface charge. Two hollow conducting spheres have a

common center O. A charge of 250nC is placed on the
inner conductor and a charge of + 40nC is placed on the
outer conductor. The inner and outer surfaces of the spheres
are denoted bu A, B, C and D, respectively. The charges on
surfaces A and B are ___nC and __nC, respectively.
A. 0 and 40
B. 0 and 210
C. 0 and 250
D. 40 and 250
E. 250 and 40
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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

For the next two numbers, consider two concentric metal spheres shown below. Sphere A is
solid, with radius R1. Sphere B is hollow, with inner radius R2 and outer radius R3. Initially,
the two spheres have no net charge. Then a -4Q charge is placed on Sphere A.
18. Shux flux. Determine the net charges on the inner and outer surfaces of sphere B at
electrostatic equilibrium.
A. Inner: -4Q, outer: +4Q
B. Inner: +4Q, outer: -4Q
C. Inner: -4Q, outer: zero
D. Inner: +4Q, outer: zero
E. Inner: zero, outer: zero

19. Gosh Law. What is the magnitude and direction of

the electric field at a point P at a distance r from the
center (where R2<r<R3)?
A. No electric field at point P
B. kQ/r2, towards the center
C. kQ/r2, away from the center
D. 4kQ/r2, towards the center
E. 4kQ/r2, away from the center

20. Field and potential. Charges +Q and Q are arranged at the

corners of a square. If the magnitude of the electric field E and
the electric potential V are determined at P, the center of the
square, we find that _____.
A. E 0 and V > 0
B. E 0 and V < 0
C. E = 0 and V = 0
D. E = 0 and V > 0
E. none of the above

21. Scattering! An electron is accelerated through a potential difference V1 and then

directed into the region between two plates, with initial velocity parallel to the plates. A
potential V2 is applied between the plates. This deflects the electron through an angle
. Which of the following changes will be most effective in increasing the angle of
deflection?
A. increasing both V1 and V2
B. decreasing both V1 and V2
C. increasing V1 and decreasing V2
D. decreasing V1 and increasing V2
E. none of the above

22. HP. A positively charged gummy wizard freely moved from Slytherin to Grryfindor due
to an unknown uniform electric field. Compare the potential energy (U) and potential (V)
at Slytherin and at Grryfindor.
A. USly = UGrry; VSly = VGrry
B. USly > UGrry; VSly > VGrry
C. USly > UGrry; VSly < VGrry
D. USly < UGrry; VSly > VGrry
E. USly > UGrry; VSly < VGrry
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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

23. Work Out! Find the work done in assembling these charges in vacuum assuming that
all charges come from infinity. (Note: Uo = kq2/a)
A. - 4U0 /3
B. - U0/3
C. 0
D. U0/3
E. 4U0 /3

24. Equipotential lines. Shown on the right are

equipotential lines and the paths of four identical
positive charges. The strongest electric force was
exerted on charge number ____.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. Equal forces were exerted on all four charges.

25. In-gradient. In a certain region of space, the electric potential is V(x, y, z) = Ax2
Bxy, where A and B are positive constants. The electric field is given by:
A. E (x, y, z) = (2Ax-By) i Bx j
B. E (x, y, z) = - (2Ax-By) i + Bx j
C. E (x, y, z) = - Bx i (2Ax-By) j
D. E (x, y, z) = Bx i + (2Ax-By) j
E. E (x, y, z) = - Ax2 i + Bxy j

26. Electric Potential and Electric Field. Consider the plot of

the potential (versus position) shown on the side. Which
among the figures below best represents the plot of the
corresponding electric field (versus position)? no answer

A B C

D E

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

27. Potential. Consider a metal sphere with a cavity.

Initially, its net charge is zero. Then a positive
charge, Q, is placed inside its cavity. Which is the
correct ranking of the Points X, Y, and Z according
the value of the potential at their locations?
A. X > Y > Z
B. X > Z > Y
C. Y > X > Z
D. Y > Z > X
E. Z > X > Y

28. Capacitor. Which of the following statements is false?

A. In the charging a capacitor, an electric field is produced between its plates.
B. The potential difference between the plates of a capacitor is directly proportional to
the electric field.
C. The work required to charge a capacitor can be thought as the work required to
create the electric field between its plates.
D. The energy density in the space between the plates of a capacitor is directly
proportional to the first power of the electric field.
E. none of the above

29. Dense ka! Consider a charged isolated air parallel plate capacitor, what will happen to
the electrical energy density if its plate area is halved?
A. quadrupled
B. doubled
C. no change
D. halved
E. quartered

30. Capacitor combination. You want to use three capacitors in a circuit. If each
capacitor has a capacitance of 3 pF, the configuration that gives you an equivalent
capacitance of 2 pF between points x and y is ____________________ .

A. B. C. D.
E. None of the above.

31. Dielectric. An air filled parallel plate capacitor is connected to a battery and allowed to
charge up. Now a slab of dielectric material is placed between the plates of the
capacitor while the capacitor is still connected to the battery. After this is done,
______.
A. the charge on the capacitor had increased
B. the charge on the capacitor had not increased
C. the voltage across the capacitor had increased
D. the energy stored in the capacitor had decreased
E. none of the above

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

32. Dielectric. A charged capacitor has an initial electric field E0 and potential difference
V0 across its plates. Without connection any source of emf, a dielectric ( > 1) slab is
inserted between the plates to produce and electric field Ed and a potential difference
Vd across the capacitor. The pair of statements that best represents the relationships
between the electric field and the potential difference is ____________.
A. Ed = E0 and Vd > V0
B. Ed > E0 and Vd > V0
C. Ed > E0 and Vd = V0
D. Ed < E0 and Vd > V0
E. Ed < E0 and Vd < V0

33. Dielectric. Consider the capacitor of with plate area A on the right with a dielectric of
constants inserted between its plates while it is connected to the battery. The
dielectric has an area A/2 and thickness d. The rest of the volume between the plate
remains a vacuum. If the capacitance, C0, without the dielectrics is C0 = 0A/d, calculate
the new capacitance, Cnew, with the dielectrics in terms
of C0.
A. 0A/d
B. 0A (+ 1)/d
C. 0A (1/ + 1)/d
D. 0A /( + 1)/d
E. C0 ( - 1)/ ( + 1)

34. Jiejie help! Three materials I, II and III are subjected to I
varying electric fields. If the figure to the right gives the plot J
of the current density J against the electric field E, arrange II
the three materials in order of increasing conductivity.
A. I < II < III III
B. I < III < II
C. II < III < I
D. III < II < I
E. III < I < II E

35. Resistance. If the length and diameter of a wire of circular cross section are both
doubled, the resistance is ________.
A. halved
B. doubled
C. unchanged
D. quadrupled
E. quartered

36. Ohms Law. The same potential difference is applied across two wires. Wire A carries
twice the current of wire B. If the resistance of wire B is R, the resistance of wire A is
___.
A. R
B. 2R
C. 4R
D. R/2
E. R/4
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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

37. Power. The curve that best represents the

power loss in a resistor is ____.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5

38. Ohms Laws. A 12V battery has an internal resistance of 0.2. If the battery is being
charged by a current of 30A, the magnitude of the potential difference between its
terminals is ___.
A. 12V
B. 18V
C. 42V
D. 0V
E. 6V

39. Ohms Laws. The figure contains a battery and

a resistor in series. Which of the following
statements is false?
A. The battery is being discharged.
B. The current in the circuit is 2 A.
C. The rate of heating in the external resistor (2.5) is 10 W.
D. Point is at a higher potential than point and V = 5 V.

E. The battery is supplying energy to the circuit at the rate of 6 W.

40. Equi Current. You are given three identical resistors, each with resistance R. What is
the highest possible equivalent current that can be obtained by any network
combination of the three resistors, if this network combination is connected across a
battery with voltage V?
A. 3V/R
B. 3V/2R
C. V/R
D. 2V/3R
E. V/3R

41. DC circuit. In the circuit, R is a variable resistor. As R is decreased, ___.

A. I1 increases, I2 increases
B. I1 increases, I2 decreases
C. I1 decreases, I2 increases
D. I1 decreases, I2 decreases
E. I1 remains unchanged, I2 increases

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National Institute of Physics Summer AY 2009-2010 Physics 72

For the next three numbers, consider a 4-nF capacitor that is charged by connecting it in
series to a 5- resistor and a 20-V battery. After the capacitor is fully charged with
maximum charge QMAX = 10 nC, the battery is disconnected from the circuit.
42. Ako ang simula. What is initial current passing through the circuit at the start of the
charging process?
A. zero
B. 2 A
C. 4 A
D. 5 A
E. 20 A

43. Char char. What are the final charge and the voltage across the capacitor at the
moment that the capacitor is fully-charged?
A. Zero; zero
B. 80 nC; 10V
C. 80 nC; 20 V
D. 100 nC; 10 V
E. 100 nC; 20 V

44. Connection failed. After the capacitor is fully charged, the battery is disconnected from
the circuit. What are the charge and the voltage across the capacitor after a long time
that the capacitor is discharged?
A. Zero; zero
B. 80 nC; 10V
C. 80 nC; 20 V
D. 100 nC; 10 V
E. 100 nC; 20 V

45. Kirchhoffs Laws. Given the loop direction and the assigned current, which of the
following can be a loop equation for the circuit shown on the right?
A. + 3V (7)I 5V + (9)I = 0
B. 3V + (7)I + 5V + (9)I = 0
C. + 3V + (7)I + 5V + (9)I = 0
D. 3V (7)I 5V (9)I = 0
E. + 3V (7)I + 5V (9)I = 0

END OF EXAM
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