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BRIDGING PROBLEM
Problems
. , .. , ... : Problems of increasing difculty. CP: Cumulative problems incorporating material from earlier chapters. CALC: Problems
requiring calculus. BIO: Biosciences problems.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Q23.1 A student asked, Since electrical potential is always proportional to potential energy, why bother with the concept of
potential at all? How would you respond?
Q23.2 The potential (relative to a point at innity) midway
between two charges of equal magnitude and opposite sign is
zero. Is it possible to bring a test charge from innity to this midpoint in such a way that no work is done in any part of the displacement? If so, describe how it can be done. If it is not possible,
explain why.
Q23.3 Is it possible to have an arrangement of two point charges
separated by a nite distance such that the electric potential energy
of the arrangement is the same as if the two charges were innitely
far apart? Why or why not? What if there are three charges?
Explain your reasoning.
Q23.4 Since potential can have any value you want depending on
the choice of the reference level of zero potential, how does a voltmeter know
what to read when you connect it between two points?
S
Q23.5 If E is zero everywhere along a certain path that leads from
point A to point B, what is the potential difference between those
S
two points? Does this mean that E is zero everywhere along any
path fromSA to B? Explain.
Q23.6 If E is zero throughout a cer- Figure Q23.7
tain region of space, is the potential
S
necessarily also zero in this region?
dl
Why or why not? If not, what can be
said about the potential?
S
Q23.7 If you carry Sout the
integral of
E
S
#
the electric eld 1 E d l for a closed
path like that shown in Fig. Q23.7,
the integral will always be equal to
zero, independent of the shape of the