Physics 202 MWF 10:20 Spring 1996 (Ford)
Exam I Chapts. 24-27 in SZY College Physics 7e
Show all your work. Partial credit will be given if earned. Write your answers in the blanks provided.


(15 pts) 1. Point charge q1 = +8.0 × 10-6 C is at the origin and point charge q2 = -3.0 × 10-6 C is on the x-axis at x = -1.0 m, as shown in the sketch. Three spherical gaussian surfaces are placed as shown in the sketch. Sphere a is centered at the origin and has radius ra = 0.5 m. Sphere b is centered at the origin and has radius rb = 1.5 m. Sphere c is centered at x = 2.0 m, y = 0 and has radius rc = 0.5 m. What is the magnitude of the net electric flux through each of these spheres?

Ans. sphere a ___________________

sphere b _____________________

sphere c _____________________


(24 pts) 2. A negative point charge q2 = -6. 0× 10-9 C is placed at the origin and a positive point charge q1 = +8.0 × 10-9 C is placed on the y-axis at y = +3.0 m.

a) On the sketch given below show clearly the directions of the electric fields E1 and E2 at point P due to each of the two point charges. Point P is on the x-axis at x = 4.0 m.

b) Calculate the x- and y-components of the resultant electric field at point P due to these two point charges. (In your answer you must indicate whether each component is positive or negative.)


Ans. Ex = _________________

Ey = ____________________

c) If a negative point charge q3 = -3.0 × 10-9 C is placed at point P, what are the x- and y-components of the net force that q1 and q2 exert on q3? (In your answer you must indicate whether each component is positive or negative.)

Ans. Fx = ______________________

Fy = _________________________


(22 pts) 3. Point charges q1 = -4.0 × 10-9 C and q2 = +5.0 × 10-9 C are held fixed at the positions shown in the sketch. Point a is 0.10 m to the right of q1. Point b is 0.10 m to the left of q2 and hence 0.4 m to the right of q1.

a) What is the total electric potential V at point a due to q1 and q2?

Ans. ___________________

b) What is the total electric potential V at point b due to q1 and q2?

Ans. ______________________

c) An electron (q = -1.6 × 10-19 C and m = 9.11 × 10-31 kg) is released from rest at point a. The electron moves along the line connecting the two charges. What is its kinetic energy as it passes through point b?

Ans. _____________________


(21 pts) 4. Three capacitors are connected to a potential difference of 120 V, as shown in the sketch. The capacitors have capacitances
C1 = 6.0 × 10-6 F,
C2 = 3.0 × 10-6 F,
C3 = 5.0 × 10-6 F.
Calculate the magnitude of the charge Q on each capacitor and the potential V across each capacitor.


Ans. Q1 = _________________

V1 = ____________________

Q2 = ____________________

V2 = ___________________

Q3 = ___________________

V3 = __________________




(18 pts) 5. A parallel-plate capacitor has capacitance C = 8.0 × 10-6 F when there is a vacuum between its plates. The plates are separated by 0.40 mm.

a) The capacitor, with vacuum between its plates, is connected to a potential difference of 40 V. While the capacitor remains connected to the source of potential difference, a dielectric with dielectric constant K = 5 is inserted between the plates. The dielectric completely fills the volume between the plates. After the dielectric has been inserted, what is the electric field between the plates and what is the energy stored in the capacitor?

Ans. E = ______________

U = _________________

b) The capacitor, with vacuum between its plates, is connected to a potential difference of 40 V. The capacitor is then disconnected from the source of potential difference and is not allowed to discharge. With the charge on the capacitor kept constant, the dielectric with K = 5 is inserted between the plates, again completely filling the volume between the plates. After the dielectric has been inserted, what is the electric field between the plates and what is the energy stored in the capacitor?

Ans. E = _______________

U = ________________