Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential – Practice Problems Name:

Conceptual Questions

1. If an electron is released from rest in a uniform electric field, the electric potential energy of the charge-field
system (a) increases, (b) decreases, or (c) remains the same. Explain.

2. If the electric potential at some point is zero, you can conclude that (a) no charges exist in the vicinity of that
point, (b) some charges are positive and some are negative, or (c) all charges in the vicinity have the same sign.
Choose each correct and explain.

3. A spherical balloon contains a positively charged particle at its center. As the balloon is inflated to a larger
volume while the charged particle remains at the center, which of the following changes? (a) The electric
potential at the surface of the balloon, (b) the magnitude of the electric field at the surface of the balloon, (c)
the electric flux through the balloon.

Practice Problems

4. A 12 V battery is connected to two parallel plates with separated by a distance of 0.50 cm (see example 16.1 on
pg. 500 for a diagram of the set-up). This creates a uniform electric field between the two plates. Find the
magnitude of the electric field.
Electric Potential Energy and Electric Potential – Practice Problems Name:

5. A proton is released from rest in a uniform electric field of magnitude 8.0 x 104 V/m, directed along the positive
x-axis. The proton undergoes a displacement of 0.30 meters in the direction of the field.
a. Find the change in electric potential of the proton as a result of this displacement.
b. Find the change in electric potential energy of the proton for this displacement and explain the physical
meaning of the sign of the change.
c. Find the speed of the proton after it has moved 0.30 meters, starting from rest.

6. A 4.0 µC point charge is at the origin (0, 0) on a coordinate system. A point charge q2 = -3.0 µC is on the x-axis at
(3.0, 0) meters, similar to the arrangement of example problem 16.3 on page 504.
a. If the electric potential is taken to be zero at infinity, find the total electric potential due to these
charges at point P, with the coordinates (0, 4.0) m.
b. How much work is required to bring a third point charge of 4.0 µC from infinity to P?