PHYSICS 1302.

100 Sample Quiz 1

This is a closed book, closed notes quiz. Calculators are permitted. The ONLY formulas that may be used are
those given below. Only simple scientific calculators as described in the syllabus are allowed. MAKE
SURE YOUR NAME, ID #, and TAs NAME ARE ON EACH PAGE!! Define all symbols and
justify all mathematical expressions used. Make sure to state all of the assumptions used to solve a problem.
Credit will be given only for a logical and complete solution that is clearly communicated with correct units.
Partial credit will be given for a well communicated problem-solving strategy based on correct physics. Each
problem is worth 25 points: In the context of a unified solution, partial credit will be awarded as follows: a
useful picture, defining the question, and giving your approach (6 points); a complete physics diagram defining
the relevant quantities, identifying the target quantity, and specifying the relevant equations with reasons (6
points); planning the solution by constructing the mathematics leading to an algebraic answer and checking the
units of that answer (7 points); calculating a numerical value with correct units (3 points); and evaluating the
validity of the answer (3 points). Each of the 10 multiple choice questions (2.5 points).

Useful Mathematical Relationships:

#$± $& #'()
If Ax2 + Bx + C = 0, x = ; for small angles sin q ≈ q ≈ tan q
*(
, -. , 345 - , 591 - , <=> , B1 C 2 ,D - ,D - ,- ,D
= nz 1#2 , = − sin z, = cos z, = aeA- , = , = , dz = f
,- ,- ,- ,- ,- C ,E ,- ,E ,-

Fundamental Concepts, Principles, and Definitions:

m dv dr
F = ma ρ= τ = r×F a= v= p = mv
V dt dt
2
pERA15D<R = F dt pD − p9 = p91STE − p4TESTE KE = mv * EERA15D<R = F ∙ dr
*

d𝒰 dE E,<59R<, F
= −FY ED − E9 = E91STE − E4TESTE 𝒫= ε= P=
dx dt E91STE A
s dω dθ 1
θ= τ = Iα I = fmr * α = ω= τ = Iα f= L = r×p
r dt dt T

L = Iω LERA15D<R = τ dt LD − L9 = L91STE − L4TESTE q D − q 9 = q 91STE − q 4TESTE

q q q
E ⋅ dA = 4πkq <13B45<, dΦ< = E ⋅ dA ρ= 𝜎= 𝜆=
V A L

Under Certain Conditions:

m2 m* v* 1 *
F = mg F = −kx F = µo n F ≤ µ5 n F=G a= KE = Iω
r* r 2
q2 q * q
F=k E=k
r* r*

Useful Constants: 1 mile = 5280 ft, g = 9.8 m/s2 = 32 ft/s2, ke = 9.0x109 Nm2/C2, e = 1.60x10-19 C
Problems

1. In the R&D lab your team is attempting to build an oscillator for a nanomachine. The oscillator
consists of a molecule that has three carbons at the vertices of triangle. Two of the carbons form
the base of the triangle and each have an excess of one electron. The third carbon with a deficit
of 2 electrons is located along a line that is perpendicular to the line connecting the other two
carbons and is the equidistant from them. You need to find the acceleration of the positively
charged carbon atom as a function of the distance between the negatively charged carbons and
the distance of the positively charged carbon from the line connecting the two negatively charged
carbons as well as the other properties of the carbon ions.

2. Your development group has been tasked with designing a barrier for invasive species of fish.
You know that some fish locate prey by detecting their electric field and wonder if that is true of
the invasive species. If so you might be able to build an electrical barrier that would not impede
boats. To investigate which fish exhibit this electrolocation, you decide to design a fish tank that
fits through a charged conducting ring. Before you build your device, you calculate the electric
field caused by the ring along the ring’s axis as a function of the distance from the ring along the
axis and the properties of the ring. As a check, you use the result of your calculation to determine
where the electric field along the axis is zero.

3. You are working with the telephone company investigating the vulnerability of underground
telephone lines in natural disasters. Your team is writing a computer program that will be used
determine the possible harm to a telephone communications from electric fields that continue
long after a lightning strike. In a simple model, an underground telephone wire runs parallel to
a straight steel reinforcing bar embedded in concrete. When lightening hits the concrete, it could
eventually charge the steel bar. You need to provide an equation that gives the electric field at
the wire as a function of the properties of the bar, the charge density of the bar, and the distance
from the bar to the wire.
Conceptual questions:

1. An electron orbits a stationary proton. Neglecting the gravitational force, in addition to the
electric force, which of the following are forces on the electron:

(a) the normal force.

(b) the centripetal force.
(c) the centrifugal force.
(d) the motion force.
(e) there are no additional forces.

2. An electron of charge e is accelerated by a charged flat plate

with charge Q as shown. The magnitude of the force on the
electron e

(a) is greater than the force on the plate caused by the

electron by the ratio of Q/e. a
(b) is less than the force on the plate caused by the
electron by the ratio of e/Q. +Q
(c) is equal to the force on the plate caused by the
electron.
(d) is greater, less or equal to the force on the plate
caused by the electron depending on how close the
electron is to the plate.
(e) is greater, less or equal to the force on the plate
caused by the electron depending on the electron’s
acceleration.

3. Two small spheres each having the same weight W and

a positive charge are suspended from a common point by q1 q2 L
strings of length L. One sphere has twice the charge of L
the other sphere as shown on the right. At equilibrium,
q
the angles the strings make with the vertical are q1 and q2. 2q

(a) q1 < q2.

(b) q1 > q2.
(c) q1 = q2.
(d) They will never be in equilibrium.
(e) Which angle is larger depends on the value of W.
4. A dipole is located midway between two large charged flat plates,
as shown. The dipole experiences
+ -
+
(a) a force toward the +Q plate. + -
-
(b) a force toward the -Q plate. + -
+ -
(c) a torque into the paper (clockwise rotation).
(d) a torque out of the paper (counter clockwise rotation).
(e) neither a net force nor a net torque.

5. A particle of mass m and charge q is located at a point in space P near an irregular charge
distribution of total charge Q. The force on q caused by the charge distribution is
measured to be F. Which quantities are sufficient to completely determine the electric
field at P produced by the charge distribution Q.
(a) F and q
(b) F and Q
(c) Q and q
(d) The average distance between P and the distribution.
(e) q, Q, and the distance from P to the geometric center of the distribution.

6. An electron passes through the gap between two parallel plates that have equal but opposite
charges. The force on the electron when it is in the gap is,

(a) greatest when it is closest to the positive plate.

(b) greatest when it is closest to the negative plate.
(c) greatest when it is halfway between the plates.
(d) least when it is halfway between the plates.
(e) not affected by where it is.

7. In which of the following is Gauss' Law not useful for finding the electric field?

(a) Outside a sphere of charge.

(b) Inside a sphere of charge.
(c) Between two concentric charged cylinders.
(d) Some distance away from a charged wire.
(e) At the center of a charged ring.

8. A square is formed by two dipoles as shown. The +q +q

force on a positive particle at the center of the square is
-q -q
(a) up.
(b) down.
(c) left.
(d) right.
(e) zero.
9. A positively charged rod is brought near two
uncharged metal spheres that are in contact. After the
spheres are separated, the charged rod is removed. Then
the ball on the right will have

(a) no net charge.

(b) a positive charge equal to the negative charge
of the other ball.
(c) a negative charge equal to the positive charge
of the other ball.
(d) a positive charge equal to the positive charge
of the other ball.
(e) a negative charge equal to the negative charge
of the other ball.

10. An electron is shot to the right perpendicular to an infinite plane of positive charge and finally
comes back to the positively charged plane. Disregarding any effects of gravity, the force(s) acting on
the electron until it returns to the positively charged plane is (are):

(a) the electric force to the left and a steadily decreasing force to the right.
(b) a steadily decreasing force to the right from the moment it leaves until it reaches its
farthest point beyond which there is a steadily increasing electric force to the left as the
object gets closer to the plane.
(c) a constant electrical force to the left and a force to the right that steadily decreases until the
electron reaches its farthest point after which there is only a constant electric force to the
left.
(d) a constant electric force to the left.
(e) there is no net force on the electron.