UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

Department of Physics

COURSE No.: PHY241 Test#2 DURATION: 2 HRS. DATE: 17/07/2020

TITLE OF PAPER: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

SUBJECT: PHYSICS

INSTRUCTIONS:

ANSWER: ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTION A;

ONE (1) QUESTION IN SECTION B; AND
TWO (2) QUESTIONS IN SECTION C.

YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION USEFUL:

Coulomb’s constant, k = 1/(4o) = 9 x 109 N. m2 C-2

Permittivity of free space, o = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2
Permeability of free space, o = 4 x 10-7 H m-1
Mass of a proton, mp = 1.673 x 10-27 kg
Charge of a proton, e = 1.6 x 10-19 C
[1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J]

Table of Derivatives and Integrals is given on Page 6.

DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO SO BY THE
SUPERVISOR
Number of pages 6
(including cover page)
(
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SECTION A: Answer all questions in this section (2 marks each)

A1. A solid conducting sphere (radius R = 10 cm) has a total charge q = +20 C. Determine
the electric field at a point that is 5 cm from the centre of this conducting sphere.

A2. The electric field in a region is given by . Determine the expression for the
potential in the region assuming a potential at infinity to be zero.

A3. The electric potential V(x) in a region along the axis varies with distance (in metres)
according to the relation Calculate the force experienced by a charge
placed at point m.

A4. Calculate the magnetic force on a 300 m length of wire stretched between two towers
carrying a 100 A current. You are given that the Earth’s magnetic field of 5.0 x 10 -5 T
makes an angle of 60° with the wire.

A5. The magnetic flux (B) through each loop of a 35-turns loop coil is given by
B = (0.036t - 0.007t3 ), where the time (t) is in seconds. Calculate the induced emf 
at t = 5.0 s.

SECTION B: Answer one (1) question in this section (20 marks each)

B1.

(a)
An electric charge Q is distributed uniformly throughout a
non-conducting sphere of radius ro (see Figure on the left).
Use Gauss’s law to determine the magnitude of the electric
field in terms of r (the distance from the centre of the
sphere for the following cases:

(i) r > ro; and [6 marks]

(ii) r < ro [8 marks]

(b) The electric field just outside a metal ball of 3.50 cm radius is 2.75 x 102 NC-1 and points
towards the ball. Determine the magnitude and sign of the charge that resides on the ball.
[6 marks]

Continued on page 3
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B2.
(a) A non-conducting ring , has a radius R and carries a charge Q uniformly distributed.

(i) Show that the potential at a point P along the perpendicular axis of the ring at a
distance x from the centre of the ring is given by

[5 marks]

(ii) Use the electric potential at part (i) to find the electric field at the point P.
[4 marks]
(b) Two concentric spherical conducting shells are separated by vacuum. The inner shell has
total charge +Q and outer radius ra, and the outer shell has charge –Q and inner radius rb
(see figure below).

(i) Use Gauss’s law to determine the electric field

between the shells and hence show that the
expression for the voltage there is given by

[7

marks]

(ii) Determine the expression for the capacitance

of this device. [2 marks]
(iii) Calculate the value of the capacitance of this
capacitor, given that ra = 9 cm and rb = 12
cm. [2 marks]

SECTION C: Answer two (2) questions in this section (20 marks each)
C1.
(a) A uniform field points horizontally from South to North; its magnitude is 1.5 T. If a 5.0
MeV proton moves vertically downwards through this field, calculate the initial force and
acceleration on the proton. [7 marks]
(b) A rectangular coil of dimensions 4.00 cm x 8.00 cm consists of 25 turns of wire. The coil
carries a current of 20.0 mA.
(i) Calculate the magnitude of its magnetic moment. [3 marks]
(ii) Suppose a magnetic field of magnitude 0.350 T is applied parallel to the plane of the
loop, what is the magnitude of the torque acting on the loop? [4 marks]
(iii) Calculate the magnitude of the torque on the coil when the 0.350 T magnetic field
makes angles of 60o and 0o with . [6 marks]
Continued on page 4
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C2.

(a)

A long straight wire of radius R carries a steady

current I that is uniformly distributed through the
cross section of the wire (Figure on the left). Use
Ampere’s law to determine the magnitude of the
magnetic field a distance r from the centre of the
wire in the region:

(i) , and [4
marks]
(ii) [4 marks]

(b) A metal tube has an inner radius a and outer radius b. It carries a current I uniformly spread
over its cross-sectional area. Find the magnetic field at the following points:
(i) r < a, [2marks]
(ii) a < r < b, and [4 marks]
(iii) r > b. [4 marks]

Draw a sketch graph showing the variation of the magnetic field with distance r from the
centre of the wire covering regions (i) to (iii) [2 marks]

C3.
(a)
A straight wire of length l carries a current I
as shown in the figure on the left.
Starting from Biot-Savart’s law, show
that the magnitude of the magnetic
field at point P along the perpendicular
bisector a distance d from its midpoint
is given by

[8 marks]
(b) A square coil of side l carries a current I. Show that the magnetic field at its centre is

[4 marks]
Continued on page 5
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(c) The magnetic flux through a metal ring varies with time t according to the relation
T.m2, with a = 6.0 s-3 and b = 18.0 s-2. The resistance of the ring is 3.0 Ω.
Determine the following:

(i) the expression for the induced emf ε, and [2 marks]

(ii) the maximum current induced in the ring during the interval from t = 0 to t = 2.0 s.

[6 marks]

Continued on page 6
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Derivates and Integrals

In what follows, the letters u and v stand for any function of x, and a and m are constants. To each
of the indefinite integrals should be added an arbitrary constant of integration.
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1. 10.
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4. 13.

5. 14.

6. 15.

7. 16.

8. 17.
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15.

16.

+++++++ END OF TEST +++++++++

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