ECKO ANTHONY P.

DIAZ
GRADE 12 STEM C

GENERAL PHYSICS
Activity 1

1. From the concepts that you have learned above, how do you think electric potential relates
to:

a. work:

When a positive charge is worked on to move it from one position to another, the
potential energy and electric potential of that area rise.

b. potential energy:

The electric potential at a position is defined as the quotient of the potential energy of
every charged particle at that location divided by its charge. Its units are designated as
JC-1. The electric potential is a measure of energy per unit charge and the amount of
energy per unit surface area.

c. electric field:

If the electric potential at each point in a region of space is known, the electric field may
be calculated from the potential. The electric field is given by E = grad V, which is the
inverse of the gradient of the electric current.

2. In examining Fig. 5, how would you describe the direction and strength of electric field
vector, nature of the electric field sources, and electrostatic potential surfaces given the
equipotential lines, and even the potential differences at:

a. a single positive charge (Fig. 5a):

The electric field in a single positive charge is always perpendicular to an equipotential

surface. The bigger the quantity of voltage, the closer the equipotential surface is to the
point charge.

b. an electric dipole (Fig. 5b):

The electric dipole is a charge vector that moves from negative to positive. The electric
field has a tendency to point in the same direction as the dipole moment. As a result, the
net force of a dipole's two charges is equal and opposite - there is no force.

c. at two equal positive charges (Fig. 5c):

At any position, the potential owing to a charge is proportional to its magnitude and
inversely proportional to distance from the point charge.

Activity 2

1. Two point charges are located on the x-axis, 𝑞1 = −ℯ at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑞2 = +ℯ at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

(a.) Find the work that must be done by an external force to bring point charge 𝑞3 = +ℯ
from infinity to 𝑥 = 2𝑎. [Hint: The work W equals the difference between (i) the
potential energy U associated with q3 when it is at x = 2a and (ii) the potential energy
when it is infinitely far away. The second of these is zero, so the work required is
equal to U.]
ECKO ANTHONY P. DIAZ
GRADE 12 STEM C

( 𝑞1 𝑞2
)
2 2 2
𝑊=
+𝑒
8π0𝑎
=
+𝑒
4πε0 𝑟13
+ 𝑟23
=
4𝑒
4πε0 ( −𝑒
2𝑎
+
+𝑒
𝑎 )= +𝑒
8πε0𝑎

(b.) Find the total potential energy of the system of three charges.

( )
2 2 2 2 2
+𝑒 −𝑒 −𝑒 +𝑒 −𝑒
𝑈= 4πε0 𝑎
+ 2𝑎
+ 2𝑎
= 8πε0𝑎

2. A proton (charge +ℯ = 1.602 𝑥 10−19 C) moves a distance 𝑑 = 0.50 𝑚 in a straight line between
points a and b in a linear accelerator. The electric field is uniform along this line, with
magnitude 𝐸 = 1.5 𝑥 107 𝑉/𝑚 = 1.5 𝑥 107 𝑁/𝐶 in the direction from a to b. Determine:

(a.) the force on the proton;

F = qE =(1.602 x 10 -19) (1.5 x 107 N/C) = 2.403 x 10 -12 = 2.4 x 10 -12

(b.) the work done on it by the field;

W = qEd = (1.602 x 10 -19) (1.5 x 107 N/C) (0.5) = 1.2 x 10 -12 J

(c.) The potential difference 𝑉𝑎 − 𝑉𝑏.

U = Ed = (1.5 x 107) (0.5) = 0.75 x 107 N

3. An electric dipole consists of point charges 𝑞1 = +12 𝑛𝐶 and 𝑞2 = −12𝑛𝐶 placed 10.0 cm apart
(Fig. 8). Compute the electric potentials at point a, b, and c.

( ) + (9. 0 𝑥 10 ( )=
2 −9 2 −9
9 𝑁𝑚 12 𝑥 10 9 𝑁𝑚 −12 𝑥 10
𝑉 = (8. 99 𝑥 10 2 ) 0.060 𝑚 2 ) 0.040 𝑚
𝐶 𝐶

(1800 ) + (− 2700
𝑁𝑚
𝐶
𝑁𝑚
𝐶 ) = 1800 𝑉 + (− 2700 𝑉) =− 900𝑉

4. A particle with a charge of +4.20 𝑛𝐶 is in a uniform electric field 𝑬⃗ directed to the left. It is
released from rest and moves to the left; after it has moved 6.00 cm, its kinetic energy is found
to be +1.50 𝑥 10−6 𝐽.

(a) What work was done by the force?

−6
𝑊𝑎→𝑏 = 𝐾𝑏 − 𝐾𝑎 = 1. 5 𝑥 10 𝐽

(b) What is the potential of the starting point with respect to the endpoint?

𝑊𝑎→𝑏
𝑉𝑎−𝑏 = 𝑉𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎
= 375 𝑉

(c) What is the magnitude of 𝑬⃗?

𝑊𝑎→𝑏 𝑉𝑎−𝑉𝑏 3
𝐸/𝑞/𝑑 = 𝑊𝑎→𝑏, 𝑠𝑜 𝐸 = 𝑎 = 𝑑
= 5. 95𝑥10 𝑉/𝑚
𝑑
ECKO ANTHONY P. DIAZ
GRADE 12 STEM C

Reflection

Electricity can be found everywhere around us, powering devices such as cell phones, laptop
computers, lights, soldering irons, and air conditioners. It's difficult to avoid in today's
environment. Even if you try to ignore it, electricity exists in nature, from lightning in a storm to
synapses within our bodies. Electricity is an essential component of modern life and the
economy. Lighting, heating, cooling, and refrigeration are all powered by electricity, as are
appliances, computers, electronics, industrial, and public transportation systems. You won't be
able to turn on your central heating, use the toilet, keep food in the fridge/freezer, or have clean
running water if you try to live without electricity.A shortage of power will have a significant
impact on overall productivity for everyone, particularly in the economy. Electric energy is
critical to our society's technological growth.