Name:_______________________________Class:___________________Date:____________________

Electric Forces and Fields

Section Study Guide

Teacher Notes and Answers
ELECTRIC CHARGE e. Student diagrams should show F1 pointing
1. a. Experiment A, no charges were from q3 toward q1 and F2 pointing from
transferred. Experiment B, charges were q3 toward q2
transferred between the sphere and the f. 36.9
ground. Experiment C, charges were g. F1x  −0.719 N; F2x  0.719 N;
transferred between the sphere and the rod F1y  −0.540 N; F2y  −0.540 N
b. Student diagrams should show: Sphere A, h. −1.08 N pointing down
negative charges (−) on the left, positive () i. downward along the y-axis
on the right; Sphere B, excess (−) all over;
Sphere C, excess () all over. THE ELECTRIC FIELD
c. Sphere B has excess (−); Sphere C has 1. a. 21.2 cm
excess () b. all same strength of 1.60  10−6 N/C
d. Experiment A along the diagonal lines, with E1 pointing
e. no change in Experiment A or Experiment away from q1, E2 from q2 , E3 from q3, and
B; reduced charge in Experiment C E4 from q4
c. Resultant electric field E  0
ELECTRIC FORCE 2. a. 4.61  10−14 N down
1. a. 20.0 cm b. 4.61  10−14 N up
b. 0.899 N (attraction along the line 1 − 3) c. 1.44  10−18 C
c. 0.899 N (attraction along the line 1 − 2) d. 9 electrons
d. 1.40 N repulsion pulling to the right

Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Holt Physics 1 Study Guide
 Electric Forces and Fields

Concept Review
Electric Charge
1. A plastic rod rubbed with wool was used to charge a small metal sphere in
three experiments, as illustrated below. The spheres were held by insulating
stands. The sphere in Experiment B was grounded. Assume the rod had a
positive charge.

a. Were charges transferred in Experiments A, B, or C? If so, between which

objects?
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b. Sketch the charge distribution for the spheres in each experiment.
c. The rod was removed after a while. In which experiment(s) did the sphere
end up with excess electric charge?
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d. In which experiment(s) did polarization occur?
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e. What happened to the excess charge on the rod after it was removed in
experiment A? in B? in C?
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 Electric Forces and Fields

Math Skills
Electric Force
Use kC = 8.99  109 Nm2/C2.
1. Two point charges, q1 and q2, of 4.00 C each, are placed 16.0 cm and
16.0 cm away from the origin on the x-axis. A charge q3 of 1.00 C is
placed 12.0 cm away from the origin on the y-axis.
a. Find the distance from q3 to q1 and from q3 to q2.
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b. Find the magnitude and the direction of the force F13 exerted by q1 on q3.
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c. Find the magnitude and the direction of the force F23 exerted by q2 on q3.
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d. Find the magnitude and the direction of the force F12 exerted by q1 on q2.
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e. In the space below, sketch the vectors representing forces F13 and F23.

f. Find the angle between the q1q3 line and the x-axis.
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g. Find the x and y components of forces F13 and F23.
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h. Find the resultant force of forces F13 and F23.
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i. If q3 is released, in which direction will it move?
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 Electric Forces and Fields

Concept Review
The Electric Field
Use kC = 8.99  109 Nm2/C2.
1. Four positive charges, q1, q2, q3, and q4, of
8.00 C, each are arranged to form a 30.0 cm
wide square as shown.
a. Find the distance of each charge from the
center of the square.
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b. Find the strength and direction of the electric
field vectors of q1, q2, q3, and q4, at the center of the square.
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c. Find the strength and direction of the electric field at the center of the
square.
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2. In a Millikan experiment, a droplet of mass 4.7  1015 kg floats in an electric
field of 3.20  104 N/C.
a. What is the force of gravity on this droplet?
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b. What is the electric force that balances it?
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c. What is the excess charge?
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d. How many excess electrons are there on this droplet?
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