SPH4U-C

10
Lesson

Coulomb’s Law and Electric Fields

Revised September 27, 2016
Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Introduction
One of the greatest advances that science has brought to the criminal justice system is DNA
testing. When used properly, DNA evidence can determine who is guilty of a crime and
who is innocent. In Canada, the long struggle by David Milgaard to clear his record, after he
was convicted of murder, finally came to an end when DNA evidence clearly indicated that
someone else had committed the crime. Milgaard had spent 23 years in prison before he was
released and a new trial was ordered. Taking the DNA evidence into account, the government
chose not to hold a second trial. In other countries around the world, similar stories can be
found of DNA evidence being used to clear the innocent and convict the guilty.
A common method of DNA testing uses electric forces (or more accurately, electric fields) to
separate molecules of DNA for identification purposes. This process is called electrophoresis.
If a sample of DNA from a suspect matches the DNA at a crime scene, then you have strong
evidence placing the suspect at the scene of the crime.

Planning Your Study

You may find this time grid helpful in planning when and how you will work through this
lesson.
Suggested Timing for This Lesson (hours)
Coulomb’s Law 1
Electric Fields 1
Uniform Electric Fields 1
Applications of Electric Fields 1
Key Questions 1

What You Will Learn

After completing this lesson, you will be able to
• analyze and solve problems related to Coulomb’s law
• discuss the properties of electric fields and explain how they are related to the electric force
• compare and contrast electric and gravitational fields
• solve problems involving charges moving through uniform electric fields

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Coulomb’s Law
Recall that matter is made up of particles: electrons that are negatively charged, protons that are
positively charged, and neutrons that are neutral (with no charge). These electric charges can
either attract or repel each other, according to the law of electric charges.

Law of Electric Charges

Opposite electric charges attract each other. Similar electric charges repel each other. The
action-at-a-distance force that causes either attraction or repulsion between electric charges is
called the electric force. Early physicists noticed that the electric force was very similar to the
gravitational force, as both are action-at-a-distance forces that get weaker with distance. Many
even thought that the equation for the electric force might be very similar to the equation for
the gravitational force. In 1783, Charles Coulomb performed an experiment similar to the
one performed by Henry Cavendish in 1798. The results of Coulomb’s experiment are called
Coulomb’s law:
The electric force between two point charges (electric charges concentrated at a single
point, rather than being spread out over a larger object) is directly proportional to the
product of the magnitudes of the two charges, and inversely proportional to the distance
between the charges squared.
It is important to clarify that Coulomb’s law applies only to charges that are small, when
compared to the distance between the charges. The equation for the electric force between two
point charges is:
kq1q2 ,
FE =
r2
where FE is the magnitude of the electric force in newtons (N), q1 and q2 are the magnitudes
of the charges in coulombs (C), r is the distance from the centre of one charge to the centre
of the other charge, and k = 9.0 × 109 Nm2/C2, known as Coulomb’s constant. Since FE is the
magnitude of the electric force, it cannot be negative. When substituting for electric charges in
this equation, you use the magnitude of the negative charges. The direction of the electric force
is determined by the law of electric charges.
Note that the electric force still obeys Newton’s third law. This means that when charge 1
attracts or repels charge 2, charge 2 exerts an equal, but opposite force on charge 1. In addition,
Coulomb’s constant is much larger than the universal gravitation constant. This generally
makes gravity much weaker than the electric force, so gravity can often be ignored when
dealing with forces between charged objects. The following examples will help to clarify the
concepts involving electric force.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Example 1
Charge 1 (+2.0 × 10–5 C) is placed near charge 2 (+8.0 × 10–5 C) and charge 3 (–4.0 × 10–5 C), as
shown. Find the net electric force acting on charge 1, due to the other two charges.
2 1 3

0.36 m 0.22 m
+ + –

Solution
Charge 1 is repelled by charge 2 and attracted by charge 3, as shown below.
Let right be positive.
→
1 F E21

→
F E31

Fnet = FE 21 + FE31
kq q kq q
Fnet = 12 2 + 12 3
r12 r13

Fnet =
(9.0 × 10 Nm /C )( 2.0 × 10
9 2 2 −5
C )( 8.0 × 10−5 C )
+
(9.0 × 10 9
Nm 2 /C 2 )( 2.0 × 10−5 C )( 4.0 × 10−5 C )
( 0.36 m )2 ( 0.22 m )2
Fnet = 260 N

The net electric force on charge 1 is 260 N [right]. Notice that we only used the magnitudes of
the charges when calculating the forces. This is because we used the charges to create the FBD.

Example 2
Three equal charges (+2.0 × 10–5 C) are placed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with
sides of 10 cm in length, as shown. Find the net electric force on charge 1, due to the other two
charges.
1
N +

10 cm 10 cm

+ +
3 10 cm 2

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Solution
First draw the FBD of charge 1. The electric forces from the other two charges will be equal in
magnitude, since all of the charges and distances are equal.

→ →
F21 F31

From the general FBD we create a component one.

F21cos30° F31cos30°

→ →
F21 30° 30° F31
F21sin30° F31sin30°
1 1
60°

3 2

Let up and right be positive. Since all charges are equal and spaced equally:
F31 = F21
(9.0 × 10 Nm 2 /C 2 )( 2.0 × 10–5 C )
9 2

=
( 0.10 m )2
= 360 N
In the x-direction:
Fnet = F31sin30° – F21sin30°
x
= 180 N – 180 N
=0
In the y-direction:
Fnet = F31cos30° + F21cos30°
y
= 311.8 N + 311.8 N
= 623.54 N = 624 N

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Since there is no horizontal net force, the net force is all in the vertical direction and equal to
624 N. In this case we can use a logical shortcut.
Notice that the two x-components of the electric force are equal in magnitude, but opposite in
direction, so they will cancel each other out. The two y-components of the electric force are
both equal in magnitude, but both act in the same direction. This means that if you double one
of the y-components, you will get the magnitude of the net force. The two angles used to derive
the components are equal, and both are 30°, or half of the angle inside the triangle. The net
electric force on charge 1 is calculated as:
Fnet = 2FE12 cos30°
⎛ kq 2 ⎞
Fnet = 2 ⎜ 2 ⎟ cos30°
⎝ r ⎠
⎛ ( 9.0 × 109 Nm 2 /C 2 )( 2.0 × 10−5 C )2 ⎞
Fnet = 2⎜ ⎟ cos30°
⎜⎝ ( 0.10 N )2 ⎟⎠
Fnet = 624 N
The net electric force on charge 1 is 624 N [N].

Support Questions

Be sure to try the Support Questions on your own before looking at

the suggested answers provided. Click on each “Suggested answer” button to check your work.

14. Two equally charged small spheres repel each other with a force of 36 N, when they are
12.0 cm apart.
a) What is the charge on each sphere?
b) Find the magnitude of the electric force on each sphere if the charges are doubled.
c) Find the magnitude of the electric force on each sphere if the distance between the
spheres is doubled. Suggested answer

15. One sphere hangs from a light insulating thread, as shown. The other sphere is held in
place by an insulating rod. The two spheres have identical positive charges. Find the
charge on each sphere, and the tension in the thread, if the mass of each sphere is 0.10 kg.

30°

1.2 m

Suggested answer


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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

16. For each of the following charge distributions, find the net electric force on charge 1, due
to the other charges.
a)
q1 = +2.0 × 10–5 C q2 = +4.0 × 10–5 C q3 = –6.0 × 10–5 C

0.24 m 0.14 m

b) q3 = –4.0 × 10–5 C
N

24 cm

24 cm
q1 = +2.0 × 10–5 C q2 = –4.0 × 10–5 C

 Suggested answer

17. The two small charged spheres shown are 2.0 m apart. Where could you place a third
charge, if it was to experience no net force?
q1 = +4.0 × 10–5 C q2 = –1.0 × 10–5 C

2.0 m
 Suggested answer

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Electric Fields
Just like the gravitational force, the electric force is also an action-at-a-distance force. Since
a gravitational field was used to explain how one mass can pull on another without making
contact, it seems reasonable to think that a field might also cause the electric force. The
difference is that the gravitational field only causes attraction, while the electric field causes
both attraction and repulsion.
For the gravitational field, the appropriate particle used to detect or test for the field, was
anything with mass. To detect or test for an electric field, you can use a small charge. By
convention, a small positive test charge, rather than a negative charge, is used to detect electric
fields. Either type of charge would work, but historically, the positive charge was chosen. The
direction of an electric field at a given position is provided by the direction of the electric force
acting on a positive test charge, when placed at that position.
If a small positive test charge is placed near a positive charge, it will always be repelled away
from the positive charge. This means that the electric field lines around a positive charge are
always pointing away from the positive charge, as shown in the diagram that follows. If a small
positive test charge is placed near a negative charge, it will be attracted towards the negative
charge. This means that the electric field lines around a negative charge are always pointing
towards the negative charge, as shown below.
Field lines

+ –

The electric field from an The electric field from an

isolated positive charge isolated negative charge

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Some simple rules that you can use to help you imagine and draw electric fields are as follows:
1. Electric field lines start on a positive charge and end on a negative charge. When no
negative charge is nearby, the field lines will continue until they end on a negative charge.
2. Field lines never cross. The field line represents the direction of the net electric force on a
small positive test charge. The positive test charge cannot have two net forces.
3. When the field lines are closer together, this indicates a stronger field. If you examine the
electric field around a single small charge, you can see that the field lines get farther apart,
as the distance from the charge increases. This implies that the electric field gets weaker as
the distance increases.
4. Field lines enter and exit charge surfaces at 90 degrees.
When a positive charge is placed near a negative charge, the field lines that are directed away
from the positive charge will bend towards the negative charge, as shown in the diagram that
follows. As you can see, the field lines start on a positive charge and end on a negative charge.

–q +q

If two similar charges are placed near each other, the field lines will bend away from the other
charge, rather than towards it, as shown in the diagram below.

+ +

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

The electric field that exists around a larger charge causes the electric force that acts on the test
charge. In other words, the electric field should be independent of the test charge. If you review
how the gravitational field is related to the mass and gravitational force, then you have:
→ →
Fg = m g
or
→
→ Fg
g=
m

Then, the electric field should be related to the electric force and the magnitude of the test
charge, in a similar manner.
→ →
FE = q ε
or
→
→ F
ε= E
q

To determine the magnitude of the electric field at a distance from a spherical (point) charge,
you can use Coulomb’s law:
FE
ε=
q
kq1 q
ε= r2
q
kq1
ε= ,
r2

where q1 is the charge on the sphere. The units for the electric field are N/C. Keep in mind that
the electric field at any point is a vector, which means that it still has direction. For a single
charge, the electric field is directed away from a positive charge, and towards a negative charge.
In this equation the charge designated as q1 is the stationary charge in a problem creating the
electric field. The charge that was cancelled was the charge that experienced the force created on
it by charge 1. The following example will help to clarify the concepts involving electric fields.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Example
Charge 1 (4.0 × 10–5 C) is 2.0 m from charge 2 (–4.0 × 10–5 C), as shown in the following
diagram.

• B

1.0 m

q1 = +4.0 × 10–5 C q2 = –4.0 × 10–5 C

•
2.0 m
A

a) Find the net electric field at point A, the midpoint between the two charges.
b) Find the net electric field at point B, a point 1.0 m above the midpoint of the two charges.

Solution
a) Notice how each charge has an infinite number of electric field lines associated with it.
However, we are only looking at one specific position in space, and will only consider one
electric field line from each charge.
The electric field at point A due to charge 1 will point away from charge 1 (right), since
charge 1 is positive. The electric field at point A due to charge 2 will point towards charge 2
(right), since charge 2 is negative.
q1 = +4.0 × 10–5 C q2 = –4.0 × 10–5 C

A
+ • –

Point →
A ε1
•
→
ε2

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Let right be positive.

The total electric field at point A is:
ε net = +ε1 + (+ε 2 )
ε net = kq21 + kq22
r1 r2

ε net =
(9.0 × 10 9
Nm 2 /C 2 )( 4.0 × 10−5 C )
+
(9.0 × 10 9
Nm 2 /C 2 )( 4.0 × 10−5 C )
(1.0 m )2 (1.0 m )2
ε net = 7.2 × 105 N/C
The total electric field at point A is 7.2 × 105 N/C [right].
Notice how we calculated the electric fields using only magnitudes. That is because we
used the sign on the charges to fix the directions of the electric field lines.
b)
→
ε1

B
• →
ε2 →
ε1sin45°
→
ε1

• •
→
B 45° B ε1cos45°
→
45° ε2cos45°
45° ε →
2

1.0 m
→
ε2sin45°

q1 = +4.0 × 10–5 C q2 = –4.0 × 10–5 C

45°
•
2.0 m
A

The field from charge 1 at point B is directed away from charge 1 because it is positive.
At point B, the field from charge 2 is directed towards charge 2 because it is negative. The
magnitudes of the two fields at point B are equal, and both make a 45° angle to the vertical.
Notice ε2 is going into charge 2 because the charge is negative, and ε1 is coming out of
charge 1 because that charge is positive. We used geometric methods to show that the
angles for each ε line is 45 degrees.
Using the Pythagorean theorem, the distance from each charge to point B is 1.41 m.
Let up and right be positive.

ε1 = ε2 = (
k 4.0 × 10–5 C )

(1.41 m )2
= 1.81 × 105 N/C
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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

In the x-direction:
εnetx = ε1cos45° + ε2cos45°
= 1.28 × 105 N/C + 1.28 ×105 N/C
= 2.56 × 105 N/C
In the y-direction:
εnety = ε1sin45° + ε2sin45°
= 1.28 × 105 N/C – 1.28 × 105 N/C
=0
Since the vertical component is zero, the answer is 2.6 × 105 N/C right.
Because of symmetry, we can also do this problem quicker.
The y-components cancel each other out because they are equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction. The net electric field at point B is just the sum of the x-components
of the electric fields. The x-components are both equal, so you can just double one of them
to get the total. The distance is:
r = 12 + 12 = 2 m
ε net = 2ε1 cos45°
ε net = 2 kq21 cos45°
r1

ε net = 2
(9.0 × 10 9
Nm 2 /C 2 )( 4.0 × 10−5 C )
cos45°
( 2 m)
2

ε net = 2.5 × 105 N/C

The net electric field at point B is 2.5 × 105 N/C [right].

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Support Questions

18. Calculate the net electric field at point A for each of the following charge distributions.
a) q1 = –6.0 × 10–5 C q2 = +4.0 × 10–5 C

•
A
2.0 m 2.0 m

b) q1 = –6.0 × 10–5 C
N

3.0 m

A • 3.0 m
q2 = –3.0 × 10–5 C

 Suggested answer

–5
19. a) For each part in Support Question 18, find the net force on a –1.2 × 10 C charge
placed at point A.
b) How would your answer change if the sign of the charge at point A was changed?
 Suggested answer

20. a) Explain why the concept of a field was used to describe the force of gravity between
two masses.
b) Give two reasons why the concept of a field was used again to describe the force
between two charged objects. Suggested answer

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Uniform Electric Fields

One of the problems with studying electric fields near small spherical charges is that the electric
fields are not uniform. This means that if the charges move, then the electric forces acting on
the charges are also not uniform. As a result, the acceleration is not uniform, so you cannot
use any of your kinematics equations (which were derived using uniform acceleration). To help
avoid these problems, you can place two parallel plates of metal very close to each other with
opposite charges. This will cause the electric field between the plates to start from the positive
plate and go straight across to the negative plate, making a uniform electric field, as shown in
the diagram that follows.

–
If a charge is placed within this uniform electric field, it will experience a uniform electric force
and if it moves, it will experience a uniform acceleration. Now, the motion of the charge at any
point is easier to predict and control. The properties of the electric field between two oppositely
charged parallel plates are as follows:
• The electric field outside the plates is zero. (There is a slight bulging at the edge of the
plates, but these will be ignored, in this course.)
• The electric field is constant between the plates. The field lines are equally spaced,
perpendicular to the plates, starting from the positive plate and ending on the negative
plate.
• The magnitude of the electric field between a set of plates depends on the magnitude of the
charge on the plates.
Later in the course we will derive a simple formula for obtaining a value for the electric field
between the plates. The following examples will help to clarify the concepts involving parallel
plates.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Example 1
An electron is released from the bottom plate shown. The electron then accelerates straight
across to the top plate and strikes it. The mass of all of the electrons is 9.11 × 10–31 kg and the
charge on all of the electrons is –1.6 × 10–19 C. The separation of the plates is 2.0 cm.

e–

a) Label the plates + and – and explain how you knew the polarities.
b) Find the acceleration of the electron between the plates if the electric field between the
plates is 2.0 × 104 N/C [down].
c) Find the speed of the electron as it strikes the opposite plate.

Solution
a) The electric force is so large, compared to the force of gravity, that you can ignore the
force of gravity in all problems involving a proton or electron in between parallel plates.
The electric force on the electron will be [up]—opposite to the electric field—because the
charge on an electron is negative.
→
FE

e–

→
Fg

Let up be positive.
Fnet = FE − Fg
ma = qε − 0 because Fg is negligible
qε
a=
m

a=
(1.6 × 10−19 C )( 2.0 × 104 ) N/C
9.11 × 10−31 kg
a = 3.5 × 1015 m/s 2
The acceleration of the electron is 3.5 × 1015 m/s2 [up].

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

b) v 22 = v12 + 2aΔd
v 2 = 02 + 2(3.5 × 1015 m/s 2 )(0.020 m)
v 2 = 1.2 × 107 m/s
The speed of the electron as it strikes the positive plate is 1.2 × 107 m/s. In real life, you
would need to consider relativistic effects. (You’ll learn more about relativity later in this
course.)

Example 2
An electron is fired horizontally at 3.0 × 106 m/s near the surface of the negative plate, starting
from one side of a set of parallel plates. The magnitude of the electric field between the plates is
120 N/C. The plates are 9.0 cm across. The electron moves across this distance along a parabolic
path, just missing the positive parallel plate. This problem is similar to the projectile problems
you solved earlier in the course.

–
e–

+
a) Find the acceleration of the electron.
b) Find the time for the electron to move across the plates.
c) Find the vertical deflection of the electron, when crossing the plates.

Solution
Let right and down be positive.
a) Vertical direction

e–

→
εF

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Fnet = FE In this case, Fg is negligible.

y

ma = qε
qε
a=
m

a=
(1.6 × 10−19 C )(120 N/C )
9.11 × 10−31 kg
a = 2.1 × 1013 m/s 2
The acceleration of the electron is 2.1 × 1013 m/s2 [down].
b) Horizontal direction
ax = 0
1
Δdx = v1x + aΔt2 but a = 0
2
Δdx = v1x Δt
Δdx
Δt =
v1x
0.09 m
Δt =
3 × 106 m/s
Δt = 3.0 × 10−8 s
The time for the electron to move across the plates is 3.0 × 108 s.
1
c) Δdy = v1y Δt + ay Δt 2
2
1
Δdy = 0( 3.0 × 10−8 s ) + ( 2.1 × 1013 m/s 2 )( 3.0 × 10−8 s )
2

2
Δdy = 0.0095 m
The electron will deflect 9.5 mm [down].
You could also calculate the angle at which the electron leaves by using the inverse tangent
vy
function of .
vx

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Support Questions

21. An electron is released from a rest position at the negative plate between two parallel
plates. The electron travels 1.2 cm across to the positive plate, striking it at a speed of
4.0 × 106 m/s.
a) Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the electron.
b) Find the magnitude of the electric field between the plates. Suggested answer

22. A proton is fired horizontally between the two parallel plates shown in the following
diagram. The mass of any proton is 1.67 × 10–27 kg and the charge on any proton is
1.6 × 10–19 C. The plates are 10.0 cm across and the proton is initially moving at 5.0 × 105 m/s
horizontally. The magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 3.0 × 104 N/C.
–

+
+
a) Find the time it takes for the proton to pass through the plates.
b) Find the acceleration of the proton.
c) Find the vertical deflection of the proton after passing through the plates.
 Suggested answer
–4
23. A ball with a mass of 3.0 × 10 kg hangs from a 15 cm long thread between two parallel
plates. The thread is deflected to the side, as shown in the following diagram. The charge
on the ball is +5.0 × 10–5 C. Note: In this case, you need to consider the force of gravity.

35°

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

a) Find the tension in the thread.

b) Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field between the plates.
Suggested answer


Applications of Electric Fields

There are many applications involving electric fields and the electric force in technology,
industry, medicine, and even nature. In this part of the lesson, just a few of these applications
will be mentioned.

Continuous Ink-jet Printers

Continuous ink-jet printers fire a constant stream of charged ink droplets towards the paper. A
charging tunnel is used to charge the droplets. Then, a set of parallel plates deflects the droplets
towards a gutter, where they can be recycled if they are not required to hit the paper. Otherwise,
the droplets hit the paper and form the letters and pictures on the paper, as seen in the diagram
below, which shows the print head of an ink-jet printer.
Paper
motion

From
character
generator
Ink nozzle Deflection
(piezoelectric plates
crystal)
Droplets

Charging tunnel

From Constant
generator charge Gutter
control unit

Ink reservoir Ink

Pump return
line

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Particle Accelerators
In particle accelerators, charged particles such as electrons and protons are accelerated to high
velocities and are then crashed into other particles to break them open. The purpose of these
experiments is to discover new types of particles, learn more about the nature of matter and
energy, and learn more about the nature of forces.
An early type of accelerator uses only two parallel plates, as shown in the diagram that follows.
Electrons that are accelerated using this method are allowed to escape through a small hole in
the positive plate. The electrons are not attracted back to the positive plate because the electric
field outside the plates is zero.

Negative plate Positive plate

Electrons

In more advanced particle accelerators, a version of this earlier type is still used to start
the charges moving. These simple particle accelerators are also used at the back of cathode
ray tubes (the tubes that were used as television screens for decades) to produce accelerated
electrons that hit the inner surface of the screen, in order to create the picture.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Electrostatic Precipitators
Electrostatic precipitators (shown below) are devices that remove tiny particles from the flue
gas that is produced when fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity.

Negatively charged wires

Positively charged
plates

flow
Air

Collection hopper

The flue gas is directed between a set of positively charged plates and negatively charged wires.
The wires are smaller than the plates—having a higher concentration of charge—and produce
a large electric field that ionizes the air particles, making free electrons. These electrons shoot
across to the positively charged plates, attaching themselves to the small particles in the flue
gas, on the way. These negatively charged particles get stuck on the positive plates, instead of
escaping into the atmosphere. The plates are shaken periodically to allow the particles to be
collected in a hopper.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Hammerhead Sharks
Some kinds of fish have a sixth sense that allows them to use electric fields for hunting.
Hammerhead sharks, as well as some other kinds of sharks, have specialized cells that can
actually detect weak electric fields. When the prey detects the shark’s presence, it will quickly
burrow into the sand to hide. Small muscle movements within the prey, due to heart function
and breathing, create tiny electric fields. The hammerhead swims closely over the bottom of the
ocean until it detects an electric field. Once it does, it will swim back and forth over the area
until it narrows down the prey’s location. Then, it will start to dig within that region, to find
the prey.

Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis is the process of using electric fields to separate large charged molecules. Many
large molecules will often have charges. When suspended in a gel and placed in an electric
field, these charges will travel through the gel medium. The displacement of the molecules will
depend on the amount of charge and the mass of each molecule. Eventually, the different types
of molecules will separate into different bands within the medium.
If people’s tissue or blood samples are used, then the DNA in these samples can be used as
the source of the large molecules. Electrophoresis can then be used to separate the different
molecules that result when the DNA is broken down. The pattern that forms from different
DNA samples is shown below. These bands act like a fingerprint that is unique to each person.
Even an untrained person who is unfamiliar with electrophoresis can see that the DNA from
the crime scene shown below matches up with suspect #2.

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Support Questions

24. The device shown can be used to accelerate electrons released from the negative plate and
then fire them out into a particle accelerator.
Negative plate Positive plate

Electrons

a) Explain why the electron is not pulled back into the hole.
b) How can the device be modified to accelerate protons?
c) How would the exit velocity of the proton compare to the exit velocity of an electron,
if the electric field were the same? Explain your reasoning. Suggested answer

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

Key Questions
Now work on your Key Questions in the online submission tool. You may continue to work
at this task over several sessions, but be sure to save your work each time. When you
have answered all the unit’s Key Questions, submit your work to the ILC.

(23 marks)
33. Examine the charge distribution shown.
q3 = –3.0 × 10–5 C
N

2.0 m

q1 = +2.0 × 10–5 C 2.0 m

q2 = –3.0 × 10–5 C

a) Find the net force on charge 1. (5 marks)

b) What is the net electric field acting on charge 1? (2 marks)
34. Charge 1 (0.15 kg) in the following diagram is hanging from a light insulating thread, as
shown. Charge 2 is brought close and pulls charge 1, deflecting the string away from the
vertical axis. The charges have the same magnitude, but charge 1 is negative.
a) Find the tension in the thread. (2 marks)
b) Find the charge on 2. Is it positive or negative? Explain your reasoning. (4 marks)

40°

1 2
0.40 m

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Lesson 10 Physics SPH4U-C

35. An electron is fired at 4.0 × 106 m/s horizontally between the parallel plates, as shown,
starting at the negative plate. The electron deflects downwards and strikes the bottom
plate. The magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 4.0 × 102 N/C. The
separation of the plates is 2.0 cm.
a) Find the acceleration of the electron between the plates. (2 marks)
b) Find the horizontal distance travelled by the electron when it hits the plate. (4 marks)
c) Find the velocity of the electron as it strikes the plate. (4 marks)

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Save your answers to the Key Questions in the online submission tool. You’ll
be able to submit them when you’ve finished all of the Key Questions for this
unit. Now go on to Lesson 11!

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