Sample questions - for practice purposes only EP 2A04

1. Given the equation in the lab notes preface relating the variance of a result to the
standard error in the individual experiments,

show that:

.
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

To a good approximation a uranium nucleus can be regarded as a sphere with a charge

density uniformly spread over its volume.
i.) What is the expression for the electric field outside the nucleus?

ii.) What is the expression for the electric field inside the nucleus?

iii.) Derive an expression for the total electric energy by considering the electric energy
inside and outside the nucleus.

iv.) The radius of the nucleus is 7.4x10-15m and the electric charge is 92e. What is the
electric energy of the nucleus?

8.

A spherical region of radius R has a total charge q which is uniformly distributed over the
volume of the region. Use Gauss’ law to determine (a) the electric field at points inside
the sphere, (b) the electric field at points outside the sphere. Plot the relationship between
electric field and radius for this sphere, labelling the strength of the field at radius R.

9.

a.) Show that by considering two large (essentially infinite) metallic plates of area A
separated by distance d, with charges Q+ and Q- on each plate respectively, the electric
energy density between the plates (u) may be given by:

u = ½ 0 E2,

where E is the magnitude of the electric field between the plates.

Provide a brief explanation as to why we may consider the electric energy to be held
within the electric field.

b.) Describe the origin of the dielectric constant.

c.) Show the effect of including a dielectric material of dielectric constant >1 between the
plates.

10.

A 15nF capacitor is connected across a 70V battery. How much work must be done in
order to double the plate separation in the case where:

a.) the battery is connected?

b.) the battery is unconnected?

11.
a.) Suppose that the instantaneous velocities of two positive point charges are parallel.
Compare the electric and magnetic forces. Show that the ratio of the magnetic force
(Fmag) to the electric force (Felec) is:

Fmag/Felec = v1 v2 / c2,

where v1 and v2 are the velocities of particle 1 and particle 2 respectively, and c is the
speed of light.

b.) If the motion of the two point charges is not parallel, the force exerted by the first
charge (q1) on the second charge (q2) is not equal and opposite to the force exerted by q2
on q1. Does this violate conservation of momentum? Explain your answer (in qualitative
terms) in a few sentences.

12.

R2

R1

I0

a.) State Ampere’s law for calculating the integral of the magnetic field around a closed
path.

b.) A very long, straight, cylindrical wire has a circular cross section similar to that of a
ring doughnut. The inner radius is of radius R1, the outer radius is R2. The wire carries a
current I0 uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area of the wire (see above).
Using Ampere’s law, determine an expression for the magnetic field inside the empty
core, inside the wire and outside the wire. Draw field lines to describe the direction and
strength of the field.

13.

a.) Using Ampere’s law, show that the magnetic field (B) within a long solenoid is given
by:

B = μ0 I0 n,
Where I0 is the current in the wire which forms the solenoid, and n is the number of loops
per unit length.

b.) Briefly describe the application of Helmholtz coils in forming a uniform magnetic
field.

14.

a.) Write down the equation describing Faraday’s law which relates the induced emf
around a closed mathematical path to the change in magnetic flux.

b.) A long solenoid has a circular cross section of radius R. The solenoid is connected to
a source of alternating current so that the magnetic field inside the solenoid (B) is given
by:

B = B0 sin t,

where B0 and  are constants. What is the induced emf around a concentric circular path
of radius r inside or outside the solenoid? Using Lenz’s law, describe how the direction
of the emf changes with time.

15.

a.) State Maxwell’s equations in integral form.

b.) Using the third and fourth of Maxwell’s equation, show that a plane polarized
electromagnetic waves propagates in accordance with the generalized wave equation.
Determine the velocity of light in terms of the permeability and permittivity constants.