Solutions to Midterm Physics 201

1. We can consider this situation as a superposition of a uniformly charged sphere of

charge density and radius R, and a second uniformly charged sphere of charge
density and radius

R
2

at the position of the cavity. At the center of the big sphere,

Gauss law tells us that the field due to the large positively charged sphere will be
zero, and thus the only contribution to the field comes from the negatively charged
sphere. Calling up the +y direction, we thus get
Q
2 ey
40 R2
R 3
16

2
ey
= 3
40 R2
R
=
ey
60

E=

(1)
(2)
(3)

2. At the time the particles enter the magnetic field, they have energy
E = qV
and thus momentum
mv =

2mE =

(4)

2mqV

(5)

Once in the magnetic field, the particles travel in circular orbits of radius r =

d
.
2

Equating the magnetic force with the total centripetal force thus gives
mv 2
= qvB
r
mv
= qB
r
mv
r=
qB

2mqV
r=
qB

2 2mV
d=
B
q

(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)

3. We know that the potential Vb at the surface of the inner sphere is given (up to a
constant) by
Vb =

Q
40 b

(11)

2
and the potential Va at the surface of the outer sphere by
Va =

Q
40 a

(12)

From the definition of capacitance, we find

C=

Q
V

(13)

Q
Vb Va
1
= 40 1 1
a
b
ab
= 40
ab
=

The total energy stored in the capacitor is given by

0
E 2 d3 r
U=
2

40 a
Q2
r2 dr
=
2 r4
2
(4
)
0
b a
Q2
1
=
dr
80 b r2
Q2 a b
=
80 ab

(14)
(15)
(16)

(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)

But we also have

Q2
2C
Q2 a b
=
80 ab

U=

(21)
(22)

Thus we see explicitly that the two formulas for energy give the same result.
4. We can consider this wire as a superposition of an infinitely long straight wire with a
circular wire. At the center of the circle, Amperes law tells us that the magnetic field
B1 due to the infinite wire is directed out of the page and has magnitude
B1 =

0 I
2a

(23)

Similarly, the Biot-Savart law tells us that the field B2 from the circular wire is directed

3
out of the page, and has magnitude

0 I
dl
B2 =
4
r2
2
0 I
ad
=
4 0 a2
0 I
=
2a
The total field is given by the sum B = B1 + B2 , and therefore has magnitude

1
0 I
1+
B=
2a

(24)
(25)
(26)

(27)

and is directed out of the page.

5. The magnetic moment of the current loop has magnitude
= ILw

(28)

and is pointed downward. Thus, the torque on the loop due to the magnetic field is
directed towards point A and has magnitude
B = ILwB

(29)

In equilibrium, this must equal m = mgw, the magnitude of the torque due to gravity.
Equating and solving for B, we find
B=

mg
IL

(30)

6. Ampreres law tells us that at a horizontal distance x from the wire, the magnetic field
has magnitude
B(x) =

0 I
2x

(31)

and is directed into the page. The magnetic flux through the loop thus has magnitude
a+w L
B(x)dydx
(32)
=
a
0

0 IL a+w 1
=
dx
(33)
2 a
x
w
0 IL
ln 1 +
(34)
=
2
a

4
and is directed into the page.
If I(t) = I0 cos t, then the magnitude of the EMF E induced in the loop is given by

d
(35)
|E| =
dt
0 LI0
w
=
ln 1 +
|sin t|
(36)
2
a
which has a maximum value of
Emax =

w
0 LI0
ln 1 +
2
a

(37)

Finally, the mutual inductance M is given by

0 L
w

ln 1 +
M= =
I
2
a

(38)

7. Using the Biot-Savart law, we get that the field due to the two straight segments is
zero. For the segment of radius a, we find

dl
0 I
Ba =
4
r2

0 I
ad
=
4 0 a
0 I
=
4a

(39)
(40)
(41)

directed into the page. An identical integration gives

Bb =

0 I
4b

(42)

directed out of the page. Summing together these contributions, we find that the total
field is thus directed into the page and has magnitude
0 I(b a)
4ab

(43)

0 2A
= 3.14 107 T
8

(44)

B=
With the numbers given,
B=

5
8. The energy dissipated by the resistor is, by conservation of energy, equal to the difference between the energy Ei stored in the capacitors in the initial configuration and
the energy Ef stored in the final configuration. Initially, all charge is on the capacitor
C1 , and thus
1
Ei = C1 V02
2

(45)

To find Ef , we use the fact that current ceases to flow when the voltage across both
capacitors are equal. By conservation of charge, this occurs via a transfer of charge q
from capacitor C1 to capacitor C2 Since C2 is initially uncharged, it will have a final
charge of q, while C1 will have a final charge of
C1 V0 q

(46)

Equating the voltages, we find

C1 V0 q
q
=
C1
C2

1
1
V0 = q
+
C1 C2
V0 C1 C2
q=
C1 + C2

(47)
(48)
(49)

Thus, the final voltage across C2 is given by

q
C2
V0 C1
=
C1 + C2

V2f =

(50)
(51)

which, as we know, also equals the final voltage across C1 . Thus,

1
Ef = (C1 + C2 )V2f2
2

1
V02 C12
= (C1 + C2 )
2
(C1 + C2 )2
1
C12
= V02
2 C1 + C2

(52)
(53)
(54)

6
Thus, the resistor dissipates
C12
1
1
W = Ei Ef = C1 V02 V02
2
2 C1 + C2

2
1
C1
= V02 C1
2
C1 + C2
1
C1 C2
= V02
2 C1 + C2
V02 C1 C2
=
2(C1 + C2 )

(55)
(56)
(57)
(58)

as desired.
Note that we can find Ef an alternate way, by realizing that since the voltage on the
two capacitors is the same after they discharge, their equivalent capacitance is
Ceq = C1 + C2

(59)

and thus by charge conservation

Q2
2Ceq
V02 C12
=
2(C1 + C2 )

Ef =

(60)
(61)

9. When the switch has been closed for a long time, the current is no longer changing
and thus the inductor acts as a short circuit. Thus, no current flows through R2 and
the current leaving the battery is given by
Ibat =

V0
R1

(62)

which is also the current through the inductor.

If the switch is suddenly open, the only complete circuit is the loop containing only
the inductor and R2 . Since the sum of the voltage around this loop must be zero, we
find
L

dI
R2 I = 0
dt

(63)

Solving this equation, we find

R2

I(t) = I0 e L t

(64)

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Since the initial current is I0 =Ibat , we get
I(t) =

V0 R2 t
e L
R1

(65)

The initial voltage across the inductor is then

V (0) = L

R2
dI(0)
=
V0
dt
R1

(66)

For this to be less that 10V0 , we must have

R2
< 10
R1

(67)