UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

Department of Physics

COURSE No.: PHY241 Test#2 DURATION: 1.5 HRS. DATE: 29/03/2012

TITLE OF PAPER: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

SUBJECT: PHYSICS

INSTRUCTIONS:

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTION A AND ANY TWO QUESTIONS OF YOUR

CHOICE FROM SECTION B.

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

Table of derivatives and integrals is given on page 4.

DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO DO SO BY THE
SUPERVISOR
Number of pages 4
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SECTION A: Answer all questions from this section (2 marks each)

A1.

A2.

A3.

A4.

A5.

SECTION B: Answer any two (2) questions out of the three in this section
(20 marks each)

B1.

(a) Over a certain region of space, the electric potential is .

Determine:
(i) the expressions for the x, y and z components of the electric field over this region;
[6 marks]
(ii) the magnitude of the electric field at the point P that has coordinates (1, 0, -2) m.
[2 marks]

(b) The Figure below shows a cylindrical capacitor made up of a solid cylindrical conductor
of radius a and charge +Q that is coaxial with a cylindrical conducting shell of negligible
thickness, radius b > a and charge –Q. The space between the conductors is filled with air.

If the length of the capacitor is L, show that the capacitance is given by

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[12 marks]

Continued on page 2
Turn over

B2.

(a)
A uniform diameter wire segment (see figure on
the left), carries a current I. Use Biot-Savart law to
determine the magnitude and direction of the
magnetic field produced at point C by:

(i) each straight segment of length L; [3 marks]

(ii) the semi-circular segment of radius R; and [5 marks]
(iii) the entire wire shown in the Figure. [2 marks]

(b) The magnitude of the magnetic field B at some distance a from a short straight current-
carrying wire is given by ; where the symbols have their usual
meanings.

A conductor in the shape of a square of edge length l =

0.040 m carries a current I = 10 A (see Figure on the left).

(i) With the aid of a appropriate diagram, use Biot-Savart law to

show that the magnitude of the magnetic field at the centre
of the square is given by

[5 marks]

(ii) Calculate the magnitude and direction of B at the centre of the square. [3 marks]

(iii) If the conductor is formed into a single circular loop and carries the same current,
what is the value of the magnetic field at its centre? [4 marks]

Continued on page 3
Turn over

B3.

(a) A coaxial cable of length l, consist of an inner conductor with radius r1 and an outer
conductor with a radius r2 (see Figure below). Assume that the conductors are thin so that
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the magnetic field within them can be ignored and that the conductors carry equal currents
I in opposite directions.

Using Ampere’s law, show that the magnitude of the magnetic field at a point between r1
and r2 is given by

[4 marks]

(b) The Figure below shows a long coaxial cable comprising two concentric conductors with
dimensions as shown. There are equal and opposite currents I in the conductors.

Use Ampere’s law to find the magnetic field B at the following points:

(i) r < a, (ii) a < r < b, (iii) b < r < c, and (iv) r > c [12 marks]
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Continued on page 4
Turn over
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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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