1.

A spherical planet of uniform density has three times the mass of the Earth and twice the
average radius. The magnitude of the gravitational field strength at the surface of the Earth is g.
What is the gravitational field strength at the surface of the planet?

A. 6g

2
g
B. 3

3
g
C. 4

3
g
D. 2
(Total 1 mark)

2. An electron passes the north pole of a bar magnet as shown below.

What is the direction of the magnetic force on the electron?

A. Into the page

B. Out of the page

C. To the left

D. To the right
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 1
3. This question is about motion in a magnetic field.

An electron, that has been accelerated from rest by a potential difference of 250 V, enters a
region of magnetic field of strength 0.12 T that is directed into the plane of the page.

(a) The electron’s path while in the region of magnetic field is a quarter circle. Show that the
6 –1
(i) speed of the electron after acceleration is 9.4 × 10 m s .

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(2)

–4
(ii) radius of the path is 4.5 × 10 m.

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(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 2
 (b) The diagram below shows the momentum of the electron as it enters and leaves the
region of magnetic field. The magnitude of the initial momentum and of the final
–24
momentum is 8.6 × 10 N s.

(i) On the diagram above, draw an arrow to indicate the vector representing the
change in the momentum of the electron.
(1)

(ii) Show that the magnitude of the change in the momentum of the electron is
–23
1.2 × 10 Ns.

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(1)

–11
(iii) The time the electron spends in the region of magnetic field is 7.4 × 10 s.
Estimate the magnitude of the average force on the electron.

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(1)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 3
4. A positively charged particle follows a circular path as shown below.

Which of the following electric fields could have caused the charged particle to follow the
above path?

(Total 1 mark)

5. The definition of the ampere refers to the

A. number of electrons passing a given point per second.

B. force between parallel current-carrying conductors.

C. power dissipated per unit resistance.

D. amount of charge transferred per second.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 4
6. A spacecraft travels away from Earth in a straight line with its motors shut down. At one instant
–1 –1
the speed of the spacecraft is 5.4 km s . After a time of 600 s, the speed is 5.1 km s . The
average gravitational field strength acting on the spacecraft during this time interval is

–4 –1
A. 5.0 × 10 N kg

–2 –1
B. 3.0 × 10 N kg

–1 –1
C. 5.0 × 10 N kg

–1
D. 30 N kg
(Total 1 mark)

7. Two isolated point charges, –7 μC and +2 μC, are at a fixed distance apart. At which point is it
possible for the electric field strength to be zero?

(not to scale)
(Total 1 mark)

8. A long straight wire carries an electric current perpendicularly out of the paper. Which of the
following represents the magnetic field pattern due to the current?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 5
9. This question is about electric charge.

(a) A plastic rod XY is held at end X. The end Y is rubbed with a piece of cloth and, as a
result, the end Y becomes electrically charged.

The procedure is now repeated using a copper rod and it is found that the copper rod
remains electrically neutral. Explain these observations in terms of the properties of
conductors and insulators.

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(5)

IB Questionbank Physics 6
 (b) Two plastic rods each have a positive charge +q situated at one end. The rods are
arranged as shown.

Assume that the charge at the end of each rod behaves as a point charge. Draw, in the
shaded area on the diagram, the electric field pattern due to the two charges.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 7
10. The diagram below shows a uniform electric field of strength E. The field is in a vacuum.

An electron enters the field with a velocity v in the direction shown. The electron is moving in
the plane of the paper. The path followed by the electron will be

A. parabolic.

B. in the direction of E.

C. in the direction of v.

D. circular.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 8