TUTORIALS ON ELECTRIC FIELD NKENG ELAD

1) Three equal charges, QP, QS and QR of the same sign and magnitude are placed at points P,
S and R respectively as shown in the figure below, such that PS = x and SR = 3x.

If the force exerted by QS by QP is 9  105 N , what is the net force experienced by QS.
2) The diagram below show two particles Q 1 and Q2 carrying charges of 4.0 μC and –3.0 μC
respectively placed 5.0 × 10–2 m.

Calculate the point on the line passing through the centres of the two spheres where the
resultant force on a unit positive charge is zero.
3) Three charged objects Q1, Q2 and Q3 carrying charges of +2.0μC, –3.0μC and +1.0μC
respectively are placed on the apex of an equilateral triangle of side 4cm. Calculate the
force experienced by Q3.
4) The graph below shows how the force, F, varies with the inverse square of the distance
between two points charges of the same magnitude.

a) Use the give to obtain a value the permittivity of the medium, if each has a charge of 4.4 × 10 –4C.
b) Hence, obtain a value for the dielectric constant.
5) Point charges are located in air at point A and B as shown below.

Given the charges at A and B respectively are 3.6 × 10 –9C and –3.2× 10–9C. Calculate the resultant force
experienced by a 1.0 × 10–9C placed at P. Permittivity of free space is 8.9×10–12 F m–1.
6) Two light spheres suspended on nylon threads of the same length as shown in the figure below.
The charge on A is +0.3μC. Each sphere has a mass of 0.20g and has a conducting surface.
a) State with reason the charge on sphere B
b) Copy sphere A and indicate the forces acting on it.
c) Calculate the force on sphere A
d) Hence the charge of sphere B. Permittivity of vacuum 8.9 × 10 –12 C2 N–1 m–2
7) A small negative charged oil drop of mass 9.1 × 10–12 kg is stationary in the space between
two horizontal plates, which are 20 mm apart, maintained at potential of 2.0 kV.
a) Draw diagram to show
i) the forces acting on the drop
ii) the electric field between the plates with the drop in place
b) i) How may electrons are attached to the drop?
ii) State the assumptions you have made.
8) A charge water drop of weight 6.0 × 10 –14N falls at terminal speed in air. It then enters an electric
field between two parallel plates which are 120mm long and placed 8.0mm apart.
The potential difference between the plates is 15V. The drop then moves uniformly along the straight
line shown in the diagram beside.

i) Draw a diagram to show the forces acting on the drop between the plates. State the
origin of each of the forces.
ii) Calculate the electric force on the drop.
iii) Calculate the charge on the drop.
9) Calculate the electrostatic force on a metal ion carrying a charge 3.2× 10 –19C which is in an ionic
solution between two parallel plates separated by a distance of 2mm when the
potential difference between the plates is 5V.