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
Science in context guidance 3  he field strength is greatest at the top
T
(pointed) part of the building. The electric
There are a number of issues with harnessing field lines are closest together there.
lightning:
4 0V +2.0 kV +6.0 kV 0V
• It is difficult to predict when the lightning
will strike. This makes it an unreliable power
source.
• It is difficult to know where the lightning will
strike. Where would you put the lightning rods
required to harness it?
• Lightning provides (very short) bursts of
energy. This energy would have to be somehow
stored (giant capacitors?) so the energy can
be used appropriately (and other a suitable
period of time).
Although the energy released during a lightning
strike is huge, it is over in a very short amount of 5 e lectric field strength E = F/Q = 150/20 × 10−3 =
time. 3 000 000 strikes a day would mean around 7500 N C−1 downwards
35 strikes / second on average, or an average power 6 e lectric field strength E = V/d = 1000/0.40 =
output of 350 MW. Even the smallest nuclear 2500 V m−1 = 2500 N C−1
power plants have an output of around 500 MW,
7 e lectric field strength E = F/Q = 8 × 10−16 / 1.6
so even harnessing all of the lightning on the
× 10−19 = 5000 V m−1 or N C−1
planet would provide a fairly insignificant amount
of electrical energy. 8 a Rearrange E = V/d so that voltage to cause
sparks is given by V = Ed = 40 000 × 4
= 160 000 V. This is only an estimate as

Self-assessment questions the formula only really works for parallel
1 a Diagram i shows positive charges plates; using approximations like this is a
repelling; the arrow heads point away good way to find a rough estimate.
from the charges. b Rearrange E = V/d so that minimum
b Diagram iii shows negative charges distance is given by d = V/E = 325/40 000
repelling; the arrow heads point towards = 0.008 cm = 0.08 mm
the charges.
c Rearrange E = V/d so that voltage to
c Diagram ii shows opposite charges cause lightning is given by V = Ed =
attracting; the positive charge is on the 40 000 × 10 000 = 400 MV (remember that
right. the field strength was given in volts per
2 centimetre)

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

9 a  0V +2.0 kV 3 a The foil is positively charged and

experiences a force in the same direction
as the electric field.[1]
A C D B
b  he foil will become negatively charged
T
[1]
and will experience a force in the opposite
earth direction to the field.[1]
4 field strength E = F/Q[1]
b potential difference = 2.0 kV = 4.4 × 10−13 N/8.8 × 10−17 C = 5000 N C−1[1]
c  lectric field strength between parallel
E 5 p.d. V = E × d[1]
plates is uniform, so has the same value at = 4000 × 0.04 = 160 V[1]
both points.
6 a separation d = V/E[1]
E = V/d = 2.0 × 103/0.25 = 8.0 kV m−1
= 2400/3.0 × 104 = 0.08 m = 8.0 cm[1]
d  = QE = +5 × 10−6 × 8.0 × 103 = 0.04 N to
F
b field strength E = V/d [1] = 2400/0.02[1]
the left
= 1.2 × 105 V m−1[1]
10 E = V/d = 5.0 × 103/0.10 = 5.0 × 104 V m−1 or N
C−1 7  he field is directly proportional to the p.d.,
T
so doubling the p.d. doubles the field strength.
F = QE = +2 × 10−6 × 5.0 × 104 = 0.10 N
[1]
11 force F = QE = −1.6 × 10−19 × 5.0 × 106 = −8.0 ×
 he field strength is inversely proportional
T
10−13 N
to the plate separation, so reducing the
Rearrange F = ma to give magnitude of separation by a factor of 3 trebles the field
acceleration strength.[1]
a = F/m = 8.0 × 10−13/9.11 × 10−31  herefore, the electric field strength is
T
= 8.8 × 10 m s 17 −2 increased by a factor of 6.[1]
e+, e– e+
12 a 8 a
–
e+, e– +
e–
+
e–
b 3+ +
2
– +
3+1 (smallest mass)
2+ 1+ (smaller mass)
– 1+
+

Ions with a greater mass will show smaller Five good lines, not touching, good shape[2]
deflection.
(One mark for three good lines, not
Ions with greater charge will have greater touching, good shape)
deflection.
Arrows in correct direction[1]

Exam-style questions b  he positive charge on the sphere induces

T
negative charges on the plate.[1]
1 C
 (Direction of field: away from the positive
The opposite charges attract.[1]
charge/ towards negative. Force: the charge
on an electron is negative therefore force away C i T
 he sphere would still be attracted to
from the negative plate)[1] the plate.[1]
2 B
 (A: charge on an electron, C: calculated E as    The negative charge on the sphere now
V × d, D: calculated d/V only)[1] induces positive charges on the plate.[1]

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

ii T
 he field direction would reverse.[1]
(But any indication that the shape
changes [0])
9 a A series of parallel lines between the
plates[1]
Arrows vertically downwards[1]
b Vertically downwards[1]
c 6.4 × 10−14 N[1]
d  = F/q = 6.4 × 10−14/1.6 × 10−19[1]
E
= 400 000 V[1]
e  = V/d leading to V = Ed = 400 000 × 2.5
E b
× 10−2[1]
= 10 000 V[1]
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]
work done = 8.0 × 10−13 J[1]
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]
11 a i   Arrows from the inner electrode to
the outer electrode[1]
ii Lines are closer together.[1]
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]
potential drop = 20 V[1]
(Other routes are possible.)

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