CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 21
Exam-style questions 8 a

1 C
 (Direction of field: away from the positive
charge/ towards negative. Force: the charge
on an electron is negative therefore force away
from the negative plate)[1]
2 B
 (A: charge on an electron, C: calculated E as
V × d, D: calculated d/V only)[1]
3 a The foil is positively charged and
experiences a force in the same direction
as the electric field.[1]
Five good lines, not touching, good shape[2]
b T
 he foil will become negatively charged
[1] (One mark for three good lines, not
touching, good shape)
and will experience a force in the opposite
direction to the field.[1] Arrows in correct direction[1]

4 field strength E = F/Q[1] b T

 he positive charge on the sphere induces
negative charges on the plate.[1]
= 4.4 × 10
−13
N/8.8 × 10
−17
C = 5000 N C [1]
−1

The opposite charges attract.[1]

5 p.d. V = E × d[1]
= 4000 × 0.04 = 160 V[1] C i  T
 he sphere would still be attracted to
the plate.[1]
6 a separation d = V/E[1]
   The negative charge on the sphere now
= 2400/3.0 × 104 = 0.08 m = 8.0 cm[1] induces positive charges on the plate.[1]
b field strength E = V/d [1] = 2400/0.02[1] ii  T
 he field direction would reverse.[1]
= 1.2 × 105 V m−1[1] (But any indication that the shape
changes [0])
7 T
 he field is directly proportional to the p.d.,
so doubling the p.d. doubles the field strength. 9 a A series of parallel lines between the
[1] plates[1]
 he field strength is inversely proportional
T Arrows vertically downwards[1]
to the plate separation, so reducing the b Vertically downwards[1]
separation by a factor of 3 trebles the field
strength.[1] c 6.4 × 10−14 N[1]
 herefore, the electric field strength is
T d  = F/q = 6.4 × 10−14/1.6 × 10−19[1]
E
increased by a factor of 6.[1] = 400 000 V[1]
 = V/d leading to V = Ed = 400 000 × 2.5
e E
× 10−2[1]
= 10 000 V[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

10 a Electric field strength is force per unit
charge on a stationary charge[1]
per unit positive charge[1]
b E = V/d = 5.0 × 106/8.0 × 10−2[1]
F = EQ = (5.0 × 106/8.0 × 10−2) × 1.6 × 10−19
[1]
= 1.0 × 10−11 N[1]
c DW = FDx = 1.0 × 10−11 × 8.0 × 10−2[1]
11 a i   Arrows from the inner electrode to
the outer electrode[1]
ii Lines are closer together.[1]
b DV = EDx = 5.0 × 106 × 1.25 × 10−3[1]
= 6250 V[1]
c Given that E = 5.0 × 106 N C−1 (or 5.0 ×
106 V m−1), in a distance of 4.0 µm the
potential drops 5.0 × 106 × 4.0 × 10−6 V[1]

work done = 8.0 × 10−13 J[1] potential drop = 20 V[1]

(Other routes are possible.)
d 8.0 × 10−13 J[1]
e Ek = ½mv2 = 8.0 × 10−13[1]
v2 = 2 × 8.0 × 10−13/1.7 × 10−27[1]
v = 3.1 × 107 m s−1[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020