PROBLEMS

University Physics 2
Homework 1 – Electric Field

1) Two metal spheres are hanging from nylon threads. When you bring the spheres close
to each other, they tend to attract. Based on this information alone, discuss all the
possible ways that the spheres could be charged. Is it possible that after the spheres
touch, they will cling together? Explain.

2) An uncharged metal sphere hangs from a nylon thread. When a positively charged
glass rod is brought close to the metal sphere, the sphere is drawn toward the rod. But if
the sphere touches the rod, it suddenly flies away from the rod. Explain why the sphere
is first attracted and the repelled.

3) Three charges with the same magnitudes are stacked vertically along the y-axis at y=0,
y=1, and y=2. Electric field lines go from the bottom charge to the middle charge.
Electric fields lines also go from the top charge to the middle charge. What are the signs
of the three charges?

4) When two point charges of equal mass and charge are released on a frictionless table,
each has an initial acceleration of magnitude a 0. If you keep one point charge fixed and
release the other point charge, what will be the magnitude of the released point charge’s
initial acceleration (a0/2, a0, 2a0)? Explain.

5) A point charge of mass m and charge Q and another point charge of mass m but charge
2Q are released on a frictionless table. If the charge Q has an initial acceleration of a 0,
what will be the acceleration of the charge 2Q ( a 0/4, a0/2, a0, 2a0, 4a0)? Explain.

6) A proton is placed in a uniform electric field and then released. Then an electron is
placed at the same point and released. Do the two particles
(a) experience the same force?
(b) experience the same acceleration?
(c) move in the same direction when released?

7) (a) What similarities do the electric forces have with gravitational forces?
(b) What differences do the electric forces have with gravitational forces?

8) Atomic nuclei are made of protons and neutrons. This shows that there must be another
kind of interaction in addition to gravitational and electric forces. Explain.

9) Excess electrons are placed on a small lead sphere with mass 8 g so that its net charge
is -3.2 X10-9 C. How many excess electrons are on the sphere?

10) An average human weighs about 650 N. If each of two average humans could carry 1 C
of excess charge, one positive and one negative, how far apart would they have to be for
the electric attraction between them to equal their 650 N weight?
11) Two small plastic spheres are given positive electric charges. When the spheres are
15 cm apart, the repulsive force between them has magnitude 0.22 N. What is the
charge on each sphere if:
(a) the two charges are equal?
(b) one charge is four times the other charge?

12) Three point charges are arranged on the x-axis. Charge Q 3=5 nC is located at the
origin. Charge Q2=-3 nC is located at x=4 cm. Charge Q1=1 nC is located at x=2 cm.
What is the net force (magnitude and direction) on Q 1?

13) Three point charges are arranged on the x-axis. Charge Q 3=5 nC is located at the
origin. Charge Q2=-3 nC is located at x=4 cm. Charge Q1 is located at x=2 cm. If the
net force on Q3 is zero, what is the charge of Q1?

14) Three point charges are arranged on the xy-plane. Charge Q 3=4 μC is located on the
x-axis at x=0.4 m. Charge Q2=2 μC is located on the y-axis at y=-0.3 m. Charge
Q1=2 μC is located on the y-axis at y=0.3 m. What is the net force (magnitude and
direction) on Q1?

15) A proton is placed in a uniform electric field of 2.75 X 10 3 N/C. What is

16) A particle has charge -5 nC.

17) (a) What must the charge (sign and magnitude) of a 1.45 g particle be for it to remain
stationary when placed in a downward-directed electric field of magnitude 650 N/C?
(b) What is the magnitude of an electric field in which the electric force on a proton is
equal in magnitude to its weight?

18) (a) Calculate the magnitude and direction (relative to the +x-axis) of the electric field at
(1.2 m, 1.6 m) due to a charge Q1=-8 nC located at the origin.
(b) What is the magnitude and direction (relative to the +x-axis) of the force on a
charge Q2=-3 nC placed at (1.2 m, 1.6 m) due to a charge Q 1.

19) Two positive point charges Q are placed on the x-axis, one at x=a and one at x=-a.
What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field at x=0?
20) A 2 nC point charge is located at the origin. A second -5 nC point charge is located on
the x-axis at x=0.8 m. What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field on the
x-axis at:
(a) x=0.2 m
(b) x=1.2 m
(c) x=-0.2 m
(d) What is the force on an electron placed at the locations in (a), (b), and (c)?

21) Three point charges (Q1=-5 μC, Q2=-2 μC, and Q3=-5 μC) are on the y-axis at y1= 8 cm,
y2=0 cm, and y3=-8 cm, respectively. What is the magnitude and direction of the electric
field from these charges at point P located on the x-axis at x=6 cm?

22) Two electrons are each located 1.5 X 10 -10 m from a proton located at the origin. One
electron is on the x-axis. The other electron is located such that the distance vector from
the proton to the electron is 65° from the +x-axis.
(a) What is the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the origin from the two
electrons?
(b) What is the magnitude and direction of the force on the proton from the two
electrons?