UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

2010/2011 END-OF-SEMESTER SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS

FRONT PAGE

COURSE CODE. PHY241 DURATION 2 HRS. DATE: JULY 2011

TITLE OF PAPER: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

SUBJECT: PHYSICS TITLE OF EXAMINATION BSc Level 200

MORNING/AFTERNOON

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTION A; AND

2. ANSWER ANY THREE QUESTIONS OF YOUR CHOICE FROM SECTION B.

YOU MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION USEFUL:

Electric charge, e = 1.60 x 10-19 C

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

Table of derivatives and integrals is given on page 5.

DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO SO BY THE
SUPERVISOR
Number of pages 5
Section A: Answer all questions from this section (2 marks each)

A1. A solid conducting sphere (radius R = 30 cm) has a total charge q = +10 C. Determine the
electric field at a point that is 15 cm from the centre of this conducting sphere.

A2. An HCL molecule has a dipole moment of 3.4 x 10 -30 Cm. The two atoms are separated by
1.0 x 10-10 m. Determine the net charge on each atom.

A3. A closely wound solenoid of overall length 30 cm has a magnetic field B = 5 x 10-4 T at its
centre due to a current I = 1.2 A. Determine the number of turns of wire on this solenoid.

A4. The electric potential in a certain region is volts. Determine (i) the
magnitude of the electric field at x = +2.0 m.
A5. Calculate the energy stored in an inductor of inductance 25 mH when a steady current of
0.25 A is established in it.

Section B ANSWER ANY THREE (3) QUESTIONS OUT OF THE FIVE (5)
IN THIS SECTION (20 marks each)

B1.
(a) (i) In the figure below, a semi-infinite thin non-conducting rod has a uniform linear charge
density λ. Show that the electric field at a point P makes an angle 45° with the rod and that this
result is independent of the distance R. [6 marks]

(ii) Show that the maximum field strength Emax along the axis of a uniformly charged ring
occurs at and is given by

[5 marks]

where a is the radius of the ring and Q is the total charge of the ring.

Continued on page 2
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(b)

1
 A thin rod of length l and uniform charge per unit
length λ lies along the x-axis (see Figure on the
left). Show that the electric field at P, a distance y
from the rod along its bisector, has no x
component and is given by

[9 marks]

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) From the electric potential, 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 show that the expression

for the voltage between the shells is given by

[7

marks]

(ii) Determine the expression for the capacitance of

this device. [2 marks]

(iii) If ra = 9.5 cm and rb = 10.5 cm, calculate

the value of the capacitance of this capacitor.

[2 marks]

Continued on page 2
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2
B3.
(a)By applying Biot-Savart law, show that the magnitude of the magnetic field near a straight long
wire carrying a current I, is given by:

where R is the perpendicular distance from the wire. [8 marks]

(b)
One quarter of a circular loop of wire, radius R
carries a current I as shown on the left. The
current enters and leaves on straight segments of
the wire as shown. The straight wires are along
the radial direction from the centre C of the
circular portion.

(i) Derive the expression for the magnetic field at the centre, C. [9 marks]
(ii) Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at C, given that R = 3.5cm,
I = 7 A. [3 marks]

B4
(a) A resistor with resistance R = 10 MΩ is connected in series with a capacitor with capacitance
C = 1.0 μF and battery with emf ε = 12.0 V through a switch . Before the switch is closed at
time t = 0 s, the capacitor is uncharged. Determine:

(i) the time constant τ of the circuit; [2 marks]

(ii) the fraction of the final charge on the plates at time t = 46 s; and [4 marks]
(iii) the fraction of the initial current remaining at time t = 46 s. [3 marks]

(b) A 300 V dc power supplpy is used to charge a 25 μF capacitor. After the capacitor is fully
charged, it is disconnected from the power supply and connected across a 10 mH inductor.
Assuming the resistance in the circuit to be negligible, determine:
(i) the frequency and period of the circuit, and [4 marks]
(ii) the capacitor charge and the circuit current 1.2 ms after the inductor and capacitor are
connected together. [7 marks]

Continued on page 4
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B5.
3
(a) A 3.0 MΩ resistor, a 1.0 μF capacitor and a switch are connected in series with an ideal
battery of emf ε = 4.0 V. At t = 0, the switch is closed. At t = 1.0 s, find the rate at which:

(i) the charge of the capacitor is increasing; [3

marks]
(ii) energy is being stored in the capacitor; [4
marks]
(iii) thermal energy is appearing in the resistor; and [2
marks]
(iv) energy is being delivered by the battery. [2
marks]

(b)
A 140 mH inductor and a 4.9 Ω resistor are connected
with a switch to a 6.0 V battery as shown in the figure
on the left.

(i) If the switch is thrown to position a (connecting

the battery), how much time elapses before the
current reaches 220 mA?
[5 marks]
(ii) Find the current in the inductor 10.0 s after the
switch is closed. [2 marks]

(iii) Now the switch is quickly thrown from a to b.

How much time elapses before the current falls to
160 mA?
[2 marks]

Continued on page 5
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4
 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.

5
 1. 10.
11.
2.
12.
3.
13.
4.
14.
5.

6. 15.

7. 16.

8. 17.

9. 18.

10.
19.
11.
20.
12.
21.
13.
22.
14.

15.
-------------- End of Examination --------
16.

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

6.
7.
8.
9.