PHYSICS 8B Fall 2015

MT1 practice problems

Problem 1 Electric field
a) Each field contribution at point O is such that it points away from the point charge for a positive
source charge and toward the point charge for a negative source charge.

B
(-q)

b)

(qualitative drawing,
not at scale)

EC
(+q)
EA

D
A
EB
ED
(-q)
C (+2q)

E (O ) can be obtained by superposition of 4 point charge contributions:

E (O) E A (O) E B (O) EC (O) E D (O) .

E A (O) EB (O) 0 because A and B are symmetric about O and carry the same electric charge.
EC (O ) E D (O ) E D (O ) because EC (O) 2 E D (O) .
q
Then we get : E (O)
j if d is the unit length and j the unit vector of the vertical axis.
40 d 2
c)

E (O ) could also be obtained by calculating the electric potential V(x,y) at any point M(x,y),

followed by the application of

E gradV , taken at point (0,0).

Problem 2 Electric potential

a)

b)

c)

d)

Problem 3 Current and resistance

a)

b)

Problem 4 Capacitor

Problem 5 DC circuit