Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

This print-out should have 15 questions.

Multiple-choice questions may continue on
the next column or page find all choices
before answering.

F
?

1. The object has a net positive charge.

001 10.0 points
A dipole is located at the origin and is
composed of charged particles with charge
+2e and 2e, separated by a distance s =
2 1010 m along the y-axis. The +2e charge
is on the +y axis. Calculate the force on a
proton at a location A = h0, 0, 3 108 i m
due to the dipole. (e = 1.6 1019 C)

2. The object is a conductor.

3. Cannot be determined correct
4. The object has a net negative charge.
5. The object is an insulator.

1. h0, 0, 3.41 1015 i N

2. h0, 6.82 1015 , 0i N
3. h0, 6.82 10

15

, 0i N

4. h0, 0, 6.82 1015 i N

5. h0, 3.41 1015 , 0i N
6. h0, 0, 6.82 1015 i N
7. h0, 0, 3.41 10

15

iN

8. h0, 3.41 1015 , 0i N correct

Explanation:
The electric field of a dipole perpendicular
to its axis lies in the plane of the dipole and
points in direction opposite the dipole moment ~p; in this case, the
y direction. The
magnitude is given by

Explanation:
Repulsion would guarantee the object has
a net positive charge, but attraction occurs if
the object has a net negative charge, or no net
charge. Both insulators and conductors will
be attracted to a charged rod, as we saw in
class.
003 10.0 points
A charge of +1 Coulomb is place at the 0cm mark of a meter stick. A charge of 1
Coulomb is placed at the 100-cm mark of the
same meter stick.
Is it possible to place a proton somewhere
on the meter stick so that the net force on it
due to the two charges is 0?
1. Yes; to the right of the 50-cm mark
2. No correct

~ | =
|E

1 |~p|
40 r 3

since r s in this case. Plugging in the

~ | = 2.13 104 N/C. Mulnumbers yields |E
tiplying by e to obtain the force produces
3.41 1015 .
002 10.0 points
What can we conclude from observing an attractive force between a positively charged
rod and some object?

3. Yes; to the left of the 50-cm mark

Explanation:
The proton is repelled from the +1
Coulomb charge and attracted to the 1
Coulomb charge. Both forces act in the same
direction so they cannot cancel out.
004

10.0 points

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

A neutral copper block is polarized as

shown in the above figure, due to an electric
field made by external charges (not shown).
Consider the following statements:

Ia. The applied external field is pointing

upward.
Ib. The applied external field is pointing
downward.

IIa. The dipole field due to the surface

charges is pointing upward.
IIb. The dipole field due to the surface
charges is pointing downward.

IIIa. At equilibrium, the magnitude of the

net field at B is zero.
IIIb. The magnitude of the net field at B is
not zero even at equilibrium.

By inspection of the figure the correct answer is Ib, IIa, IIIa.

The applied field is responsible for having
the positive surface charge at the bottom. So
the applied field is downward (Ib).
The dipole field direction runs from positive
charge (the source) to the negative charge (the
sink). So the field goes up (IIa).
Within the conducting medium, there are
abundant free electrons. At equilibrium Enet
at B must be zero. Otherwise free electrons
will be moving. It will no longer in equilibrium.(IIIa)
005 10.0 points
Four point charges, each of magnitude
8.19 C, are placed at the corners of a square
44.5 cm on a side.
If three of the charges are positive
and one is negative, find the magnitude
of the force experienced by the negative
charge. The value of Coulombs constant is
8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .
1. 164.582
2. 5.82746
3. 1.5565
4. 0.196454
5. 19.5503
6. 41.3455
7. 1.59398
8. 0.652697
9. 8.13549
10. 2.66342

1. Ia, IIb, IIIa

Correct answer: 5.82746 N.
2. Ib, IIa, IIIb

Explanation:

3. Ia, IIb, IIIb

4. Ib, IIb, IIIa
5. Ia, IIa, IIIb
6. Ib, IIa, IIIa correct

Let : ke = 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 ,

d = 44.5 cm = 0.445 m , and
Q = 8.19 C = 8.19 106 C .
1
+

7. Ia, IIa, IIIa

8. Ib, IIb, IIIb
Explanation:

2
+
F14

+
3

F34

F24
4

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

The forces are

1. (c) only

Q2
d2


= 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2

2
8.19 106 C

(0.445 m)2
= 3.04431 N and

F34 = F24 = ke

2. (a) and (d)

3. (a) and (c)
4. (d) only

ke Q 2
1
1 ke Q 2
F14 =
2 =
= F34 .
2
2 d
2
2d

5. (b) and (d)

The vector sum of F24 and F34 is in the same

direction as F14 , so
q
F = F14 + F34 2 + F24 2


q
1
1
2
= F34 + 2 F34 =
+ 2 F34
2
2


1
+ 2 (3.04431 N)
=
2

10.0 points

A dipole (electrically neutral) is placed in

an external field.
(a)
(b)

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

7. (b) only
8. (b) and (c)
9. (a) and (b)
10. (a) only
Explanation:
The force on a charge in the electric field is
~ = qE
~ and the torque is defined as
given by F
~ = ~r F
~.
T

= 5.82746 N .
006

6. (c) and (d) correct

(c)
(d)
For which situation(s) shown above would
the net force on the dipole be equal to zero?

~ =
E

k q
r and
r2

~ =
E

~i.
E

Symmetry of the configuration will cause

some component of the electric field to be
zero.
Gauss law states
I
~ dA
~ = Q.
S = E
0
The electric dipole consists of two equal and
opposite charges separated by a distance. In
either situation (c) or (d), the electric field
is uniform everywhere between the parallel
infinite plates. Thus, the electric force on
one charge is equal but opposite to that on
another so that the net force on the whole
dipole is zero. By contrast, electric fields are
nonuniform for situations both (a) and (b).
007 10.0 points
Three charges are arranged in the (x, y)
plane as shown.

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

Applying Coulombs Law to qo and qb ,

y (m)
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

qo qa
2
roa
= (8.98755 109 N C2 /m2 )
(6 109 C) (3 109 C)

(3 m)2
= 1.79751 108 N .

Foby = ke

3 nC
6 nC

9 nC

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

x
(m)

What angle does the resultant force on the

6 nC charge at the origin make with the positive x axis? Quadrant I lies between 0 and
90 , quadrant II between between 90 and
180 , etc.
1. 321.34
2. 135.451
3. 235.763
4. 55.3416
5. 305.754
6. 61.1443
7. 218.313
8. 57.3808
9. 140.763
10. 314.644

The angle measured counter-clockwise from

the positive x axis is

Fy
= arctan
Fx


1.79751 108 N
= arctan
9.90465 109 N


= 61.1443 .

Correct answer: 61.1443.

Explanation:
Let : qo
qa
ra
qb
rb

= 6 109 C ,
= 9 109 C ,
= 7 m,
= 3 109 C ,
= 3 m.

008
and

Applying Coulombs Law to qo and qa ,

qo qa
2
roa
= (8.98755 109 N C2 /m2 )
(6 109 C) (9 109 C)

(7 m)2
= 9.90465 109 N .

Foax = ke

10.0 points

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

A very thin plastic plate of area A = 1.1 m2

carries a uniformly distributed positive charge
of Q = 8 C. An uncharged solid metal block
is placed a distance d = 160 m away. The
block is w = 8 mm thick.
Calculate the magnitude of the electric field
at the exact center of the conductor due only
to the polarized charges on the conductor.
Use 0 = 8.85 1012 C2 /(N m2 ).
1. 267618.0
2. 410889.0
3. 166168.0
4. 329567.0
5. 621469.0
6. 299103.0
7. 201776.0
8. 247175.0
9. 338983.0
10. 156937.0
5

Correct answer: 4.10889 10 N/C.

Explanation:
The key to this problem is noting that the
net electric field inside the conductor is 0
the charges in the conductor arrange themselves so that this is the case. Therefore,
according to the superposition principle, at
the center of the conductor we must have
~Q + E
~ pol. charges = 0
Enet = E
so
~ pol. charges | = |E
~ Q| .
|E
Since we are told that d is small, the actual distances do not matter since the field
of a charged insulating plate is equal to
(Q/A)/20. Therefore,

Einduced =

(Q/A)
= 4.10889 105 N/C .
20

009

10.0 points

A water molecule is a permanent dipole

with a known dipole moment p = qs. There
is a water molecule in the air a very short distance x from the midpoint of a long glass
rod of length L carrying a uniformly distributed positive charge Q. The axis of the
dipole is perpendicular to the rod. Note that
s << x << L. You may neglect the small
change in the dipole moment of the water
molecule induced by the rod.
Choose the answer that correctly expresses
the magnitude and direction (along the xaxis) of the electric force on the water
molecule. Your f inal result must be expressed only in terms of k, Q, p, L, s and
x and any constant numerical factors.
Qp
Lx2
2Qp
2. k 2
Ls
Qp
3. k 2
Ls
2Qp
4. k 2
Lx
2Qp
5. k 2
xL

1. k

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

Qp
Lx2
2Qp
7. k 2
xL
2Qp
8. k 2 correct
Lx
Qp
9. k 2
Ls
2Qp
10. k 2
Ls
6. k

2. The charged atom can emit x-rays to

induce ionization of the neutral atom.
3. An ion polarizes a nearby neutral atom,
so that the part of the atom nearer to the ion
acquires a charge opposite to the charge of the
ion, and the part of the atom farther from the
ion acquires a charge of the same sign as the
ion. correct

Explanation:
Since we are given the condition that x <<
L, we may use the approximate equation for
the E-field of a long rod
E

1 2(Q/L)
40
r

Calculate the force by considering each charge

independently:
F =

1 2Qq
40 L

F =

1
x

s
2

1 2Qq

40 L
F =

1 2Qq
40 L

1
x+

1 2Qq
40 L

s
2

s
x2

1
x

1
x+

s
2

Explanation:
An ion polarizes a nearby neutral atom, so
that the part of the atom nearer to the ion
acquires a charge opposite to the charge of
the ion, and the part of the atom farther from
the ion acquires a charge of the same sign as
the ion.
011

2Qp
Lx2

where the approximation is justified since

s << x.
010 10.0 points
How can a charged atom (an ion) attract a
neutral atom?
1. The charged atom can hit the neutral
atom and make it positively charged or negatively charged.

10.0 points

A charged particle with a negative charge

q1 is at a distance r from a neutral atom, as
shown in the following figure.
q1

s2
4

1 2Qqs
F
40 Lx2
F k

4. The charged atom can produce secondary

electrons to interact with the neutral atom
and make it positively charged or negatively
charged.

Charge

Neutral atom

Determine the following two directions.

I. The direction of field which generates the
induced dipole is:
a. to the right
b. 0
c. to the left
II. The direction of the induced dipole is:
a. to the right
b. 0
c. to the left
1. Ib, IIa
2. Ic, IIc correct

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

3. Ib, IIb
4. Ia, IIa
5. Ia, IIb
6. Ic, IIa

Explanation:
Following the usual procedure, we first establish a charge distribution, which in this
case is = Q/2R since the ring is a kind of
line charge. A small piece of the ring is given
by the arc length R, where is the angle subtending a small portion of the ring. To
get Q we must multiply the length of our
piece by the charge density:

7. Ic, IIb
Q =
8. Ia, IIc
9. Ib, IIc
Explanation:
Since q1 < 0, at the neutral atom the
field and the induced dipole moment are both
pointing to the left. This is due to the fact
that the negative source charge plays the role
of a sink for the electric field lines so the field
~ and
line is pointing to the left. Since ~p = E
is positive, it follows that the direction of
~ At the neutral
~p is the same as that of E.
~
atom, E is pointing to the left and hence the
induced dipole moment ~p will be pointing to
the left as well.
Ans: Ic, IIc
012 10.0 points
Consider the algebraic analysis for the electric
field of a uniformly charged ring, at a location
on the axis of the ring. The ring has radius
R and total charge Q. We need to divide the
ring into pieces Q. Which of the following
is the correct expression for Q?
Q

R2
Q
2.
correct
2
Q
3.
R
2

1.

4. none of these
Q

2R
Q
6.
R
2R
5.

Q
Q
R =
.
2R
2

013 10.0 points

1) Two uncharged metal balls, X and Y,
stand on glass rods and are touching.
Y

2) A third ball, carrying a positive charge, is

brought near the first two.
+

3) Then the first two balls are separated from

each other,
+

4) and the third ball is finally removed.

Y

What are the resulting charges?

1. Ball X is positive and ball Y is negative.
correct
2. Ball X is negative and ball Y is positive.

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

3. Balls X and Y are still uncharged.
4. Balls X and Y are both negative.

5.

5. Balls X and Y are both positive.

Explanation:
When a positive ball is moved near a metallic object (X and Y), the positive charge will
attract negative charges, causing X to have
excess positive charge and Y to have excess
negative charge (X and Y are in contact, so
the total net charge on X and Y should be
zero).

6.

c
+

correct
7.
+

8.

9.
Later, X and Y are separated, retaining
their charges, so when the third ball is finally
removed, X will have net positive charge and
Y will have net negative charge.
014 10.0 points
Two small spheres carry electric charges of
equal magnitudes. There are equally spaced
points (a , b , and c) which lie along the same
line.
+
+
a
c
b
What is the direction of the net electric field
at each point due to these charges?
1.
a

2.
a

10.
+

Explanation:
Since the field originates from positive
charges and terminates on the negative
charges,
+

015 10.0 points

Two charges q1 and q2 are separated by a
distance d and exert a force F on each other.
What is the new force F , if charge 1 is
increased to q1 = 5 q1 , charge 2 is decreased
q2
to q2 = , and the distance is decreased to
2
d

d = ?
2
1. F = 50 F

3.

4.

2. F = 5 F
3. F =

5
F
2

Version 046 midterm1-fall15 v2 li (55120)

5
F
4
25
F
5. F =
4

4. F =

6. F = 100 F
7. F =

25
F
2

8. F = 10 F correct
9. F = 20 F
10. F = 25 F
Explanation:

k q1 q2
F =
=
r 2

= 10

k (5 q1 )
 2
d
2

k q1 q2
= 10 F .
d2

q2
2