PHY 102 Homework Answers 6

Lecture 4
1.

Point A is at a potential of +250 V. Point B is at a potential of -150 V. An "-particle

is a helium nucleus that contains two protons and two neutrons; the neutrons are
electrically neutral. An "-particle particle starts from rest at A and accelerates
toward B. When the "-particle arrives at B, what kinetic energy does it have?

The change in potential is VB VA = -150 (+250) = -400 V

The "-particle has two plus charges each with the charge of an electron
The potential energy decreased by 2e(400) = 800 eV
Therefore, the kinetic energy increased by 800 eV = 1.28 x 10-16 J
2.

A +20 x 10-9 C charge in an E-field is moved by an applied force. 60.0 x 10-9 J of

work is done on the charge by the force. What is the change in potential
experienced by the charge?

W = )EPE = 60.0 x 10-9 J

V = )EPE/q = 60.0 x 10-9 / 20 x 10-9 C = 3.00 V
3.

What is the electric potential at a point 1.00 m from each of two +30.0 x 10-9 C
point-charges?

V =kq/r for a point charge

The potential from one charge is
V = (9 x 109)(30 x 10-9)/1 = 270 V
Potential of second identical charge also 270 V
Total potential is the simple sum of the voltages V = 270 + 270 = 540 V
4.

A particle has a charge of +1.5 X 10-6 C. It moves from point A to point B, a

distance of 0.20 m. The particle experiences a constant electric field. Its motion is
along the line of action of the force. The difference between the particles electric
potential energy at A and B is EPEA EPEB = +9.0 x 10-4 J
(a) Find the magnitude and direction of the electric force that acts on the particle.
(b) Find the magnitude and direction of the electric field that the particle
experiences.

(a)
The force is constant so we can use that WAB = Fd
WAB = Fd = EPEA EPEB
F(0.20 m) = +9.0 x 10-4 J
F = +9.0 x 10-4 / 0.20 = 4.5 x 10-3 N
Since the potential energy at A is greater than the potential energy at B, the force on the +
charge points from A to B

(b)
E = F/q = 4.5 x 10-3 / 1.5 x 10-6 = 3000 N/C
The direction is the same as the force
5.

A point-charge of +50.0 x 10-9 C is 0.50 m from a point-charge of -50.0 x 10-9 C.

What is the potential at a point equidistant from the two charges?

The point where the potential is to be determined is the same distance from two charges
of the same magnitude
The charges are of opposite signs
The potential for the + charge is greater than zero
The potential for the charge is less than zero.
To understand this, lets look at the + charge
We take a test charge +q0 at infinity (potential = 0) and move it towards the + charge
We must push it so the potential goes up above zero
Since the potentials of the + and charges are equal but of opposite signs, the total
potential is zero
6.

When a 20.0 x 10-6 F capacitor is placed across the terminals of a 12.0-V battery,
it becomes charged. How much energy is stored in the process?

E = CV2
E = (20.0 x 10-6 F)(12 V)2
E = 1.44 x 10-3 J
7.

After receiving a charge of 40.0 x 10-6 C, an 80.0 c 10-6 F capacitor is separated

from a battery. How much energy has been imparted to the capacitor?

The voltage is not known. We have to convert the energy formula to be based on q, and C
E = CV2
Use the definition of capacitance, q = CV
Convert this to V = q/C
Substitute into the energy equation to obtain:
E = C(q/C)2 = q2/C
E = (40.0 x 10-6 C)2 / 80.0 x 10-6 F
E = 1.00 x 10-5 J
8.

A 100 x 10-12 F capacitor is charged by putting it across a 1.5-V battery.

q = CV = 100 x 10-12 x 1.5

q = 150 x 10-12 C

9.

What is the capacitance of two parallel metal plates each with an area of 0.01 cm2
separated by 0.001 m of air?

C0 = (,0A/d)
C0 = 8.85 x 10-12 x (.01 m2)/(0.001 m)
C0 = 89 x 10-12 F
10.

What is the capacitance of two parallel metal plates each with an area of 0.01 m2
separated by .0.001 m if the gap is filled with glass having a dielectric constant of
= 10?

C = 6 C0 = 10 x 89 x 10-12 = 890 x 10-12 F