Chapter 23 3. In the figure, if Q = 30 µC, q = 5.

0
µC, and d = 30 cm, what is the

Electric Fields magnitude of the electrostatic

force on q?

Multiple Choice
1. Each of two small non-
a. 15 N
conducting spheres is charged
b. 23 N
positively, the combined charge
c. zero
being 40 µC. When the two
d. 7.5 N
spheres are 50 cm apart, each
e. 38 N
sphere is repelled from the other
by a force of magnitude 2.0 N. 4. A charge of +80 µC is placed on
Determine the magnitude of the the x axis at x = 0. A second
smaller of the two charges. charge of –50 µC is placed on the
a. 1.4 µC x axis at x = 50 cm. What is the
b. 1.1 µC magnitude of the electrostatic
c. 2.0 µC force on a third charge of 4.0 µC
d. 3.3 µC placed on the x axis at x = 30 cm?
e. 17 µC a. 13 N
b. 77 N
2. A particle (charge = +40 µC) is
c. 39 N
located on the x axis at the point
d. 25 N
x = –20 cm, and a second particle
e. 45 N
(charge = –50 µC) is placed on
the x axis at x = +30 cm. What is 5. Three point charges are
the magnitude of the total positioned on the x axis. If the
electrostatic force on a third charges and corresponding
particle (charge = –4.0 µC) placed positions are +32 µC at x = 0, +20
at the origin (x = 0)? µC at x = 40 cm, and –60 µC at
a. 41 N x = 60 cm, what is the magnitude
b. 16 N of the electrostatic force on the
c. 56 N +32-µC charge?
d. 35 N a. 84 N
e. 72 N b. 12 N
c. 36 N
d. 50 N
e. 48 N

1
2  CHAPTER 23

6. A particle (m = 50 g, q = 5.0 µC) is 9. A point charge Q is placed on

released from rest when it is 50 the x axis at the origin. An
cm from a second particle (Q = – identical point charge is placed
20 µC). Determine the on the x axis at x = –1.0 m and
magnitude of the initial another at x = +1.0 m. If Q = 40
acceleration of the 50-g particle. µC, what is the magnitude of the
2 electrostatic force on the charge
a. 54 m/s
2
at x = +1.0 m?
b. 90 m/s
2 a. 29 N
c. 72 m/s
2 b. 14 N
d. 65 m/s c. 11 N
2
e. 36 m/s d. 18 N
e. 7.0 N
7. A point charge Q is placed on
the x axis at x = 2.0 m. A second 10. If a = 3.0 mm, b = 4.0 mm, Q1 = 60
point charge, –Q, is placed at x = nC, Q2 = –80 nC, and q = 36 nC in
3.0 m. If Q = 40 µC, what is the
the figure, what is the magnitude
magnitude of the electrostatic
of the total electric force on q?
force on a 30-µC charge placed at
the origin?
a. 7.2 N
b. 3.9 N
a. 5.0 N
c. 1.5 N
b. 4.4 N
d. 14 N
c. 3.8 N
e. 8.1 N
d. 5.7 N
e. 0.60 N
8. A point charge Q is placed on
the x axis at x = –2.0 m. A second
11. If a = 3.0 mm, b = 4.0 mm, Q1 = –
point charge, –Q, is placed at x =
60 nC, Q2 = 80 nC, and q = 30 nC
1.0 m. If Q = 60 µC, what is the
magnitude of the electrostatic in the figure, what is the
force on a 40-µC charge placed at magnitude of the total electric
the origin? force on q?

a. 16 N
b. 27 N
c. 32 N
d. 11 N a. 1.4 N
e. 3.0 N b. 1.0 N
c. 1.7 N
d. 2.0 N
e. 0.50 N
 Electric Fields  3

12. If a = 3.0 mm, b = 4.0 mm, Q1 = 60 14. Three point charges, two
nC, Q2 = 80 nC, and q = 24 nC in positive and one negative, each
having a magnitude of 20 µC are
the figure, what is the magnitude
placed at the vertices of an
of the total electric force on q?
equilateral triangle (30 cm on a
side). What is the magnitude of
the electrostatic force on the
negative charge?
a. 80 N
b. 40 N
a. 2.7 N c. 69 N
b. 1.9 N d. 57 N
c. 2.3 N e. 75 N
d. 1.5 N
e. 0.52 N 15. Three point charges, two
positive and one negative, each
13. If a = 3.0 mm, b = 4.0 mm, Q1 = 60 having a magnitude of 20 µC are
nC, Q2 = 80 nC, and q = 32 nC in placed at the vertices of an
equilateral triangle (30 cm on a
the figure, what is the magnitude
side). What is the magnitude of
of the total electric force on q?
the electrostatic force on one of
the positive charges?
a. 69 N
b. 40 N
c. 80 N
d. 57 N
e. 20 N

16. A point charge Q is placed at the

a. 1.6 N origin. A second charge, 2Q, is
b. 1.3 N placed on the x axis at x = –3.0 m.
c. 1.9 N If Q = 50 µC, what is the
d. 2.2 N magnitude of the electrostatic
e. 0.040 N force on a third point charge, –Q,
placed on the y axis at y = +4.0
m?
a. 2.5 N
b. 3.0 N
c. 3.7 N
d. 4.4 N
e. 1.8 N
4  CHAPTER 23

17. Three identical point charges Q 20. If Q = 25 µC, q = 10 µC, and L =

are placed at the vertices of an 40 cm in the figure, what is the
equilateral triangle (length of magnitude of the electrostatic
each side = 2.0 m). If Q = 60 µC, force on q?
what is the magnitude of the
electrostatic force on any one of
the charges?
a. 25 N
b. 19 N
c. 14 N
d. 22 N a. 28 N
e. 16 N b. 22 N
c. 20 N
18. Identical point charges Q are
d. 14 N
placed at each of the four corners
e. 10 N
of a 3.0 m  4.0 m rectangle. If Q
= 40 µC, what is the magnitude 21. If Q = 20 µC and L = 60 cm, what
of the electrostatic force on any is the magnitude of the
one of the charges? electrostatic force on any one of
a. 3.0 N the charges shown?
b. 2.4 N
c. 1.8 N
d. 3.7 N
e. 2.0 N

19. A point charge (–5.0 µC) is

placed on the x axis at x = 4.0 cm,
and a second charge (+5.0 µC) is
placed on the x axis at x = –4.0 a. 25 N
cm. What is the magnitude of the b. 19 N
electric force on a third charge c. 15 N
(+2.5 µC) placed on the y axis at d. 9.1 N
y = 3.0 cm? e. 14 N
a. 90 N
b. 45 N
c. 54 N
d. 72 N
e. 36 N
 Electric Fields  5

22. If a = 60 cm, b = 80 cm, Q = –4.0 24. If a = 60 cm, b = 80 cm, Q = –6.0

nC, and q = 1.5 nC, what is the nC, and q = 6.0 nC, what is the
magnitude of the electric field at magnitude of the electric field at
point P? point P in the figure?

a. 68 N/C
b. 72 N/C a. 65 N/C
c. 77 N/C b. 55 N/C
d. 82 N/C c. 60 N/C
e. 120 N/C d. 52 N/C
e. 67 N/C
23. If a = 60 cm, b = 80 cm, Q = –6.0
nC, and q = 4.0 nC, what is the 25. If a = 60 cm, b = 80 cm, Q = –6.0
magnitude of the electric field at nC, and q = 3.0 nC in the figure,
point P? what is the magnitude of the
electric field at point P?

a. 35 N/C
b. 42 N/C
c. 52 N/C
d. 64 N/C
e. 104 N/C

a. 71 N/C
b. 56 N/C
c. 60 N/C
d. 53 N/C
e. 67 N/C
6  CHAPTER 23

26. If Q = 16 nC, a = 3.0 m, and b = 4.0 28. A +2.0-nC point charge is placed
m, what is the magnitude of the at one corner of a square (1.5 m
electric field at point P? on a side), and a –3.0-nC charge
is placed on a corner diagonally
away from the first charge. What
is the magnitude of the electric
field at either of the two
unoccupied corners?
a. 33 N/C a. 20 N/C
b. 31 N/C b. 14 N/C
c. 24 N/C c. 4.0 N/C
d. 19 N/C d. 12 N/C
e. 13 N/C e. 8.0 N/C

27. If Q = 80 nC, a = 3.0 m, and b = 4.0 29. A +15-nC point charge is placed
m in the figure, what is the on the x axis at x = 1.5 m, and a –
magnitude of the electric field at 20-nC charge is placed on the y
point P? axis at y = –2.0m. What is the
magnitude of the electric field at
the origin?
a. 105 N/C
b. 15 N/C
c. 75 N/C
d. 45 N/C
e. 60 N/C

30. A +20-nC point charge is placed

a. 45 N/C
on the x axis at x = 2.0 m, and a –
b. 70 N/C
25-nC point charge is placed on
c. 29 N/C
the y axis at y = –3.0 m. What is
d. 47 N/C
the direction of the electric field
e. 92 N/C
at the origin?
a. 209
b. 61
c. 29
d. 241
e. 151
 Electric Fields  7

31. A charge Q is placed on the x 34. A charge (uniform linear density

axis at x = +4.0 m. A second = 9.0 nC/m) is distributed along
charge q is located at the origin. the x axis from x = 0 to x = 3.0 m.
If Q = +75 nC and q = –8.0 nC, Determine the magnitude of the
what is the magnitude of the electric field at a point on the x
electric field on the y axis at y = axis with x = 4.0 m.
+3.0 m?
a. 81 N/C
a. 19 N/C b. 74 N/C
b. 23 N/C c. 61 N/C
c. 32 N/C d. 88 N/C
d. 35 N/C e. 20 N/C
e. 21 N/C
35. A charge of 25 nC is uniformly
32. A 40-µC charge is positioned on distributed along a circular arc
the x axis at x = 4.0 cm. Where (radius = 2.0 m) that is
should a –60-µC charge be subtended by a 90-degree angle.
placed to produce a net electric What is the magnitude of the
field of zero at the origin? electric field at the center of the
circle along which the arc lies?
a. –5.3 cm
b. 5.7 cm a. 81 N/C
c. 4.9 cm b. 61 N/C
d. –6.0 cm c. 71 N/C
e. +6.0 cm d. 51 N/C
e. 25 N/C
33. A charge of 80 nC is uniformly
distributed along the x axis from 36. Charge of uniform density 4.0
x = 0 to x = 2.0 m. Determine the nC/m is distributed along the x
magnitude of the electric field at axis from x  2.0 m to x =
a point on the x axis with x = 8.0 +3.0 m. What is the magnitude of
m. the electric field at the point
x = +5.0 m on the x axis?
a. 30 N/C
b. 15 N/C a. 16 N/C
c. 48 N/C b. 13 N/C
d. 90 N/C c. 19 N/C
e. 60 N/C d. 26 N/C
e. 5.0 N/C
8  CHAPTER 23

37. A uniformly charged rod (length 40. A uniform linear charge of 2.0
= 2.0 m, charge per unit length = nC/m is distributed along the x
5.0 nC/m) is bent to form one axis from x = 0 to x = 3 m. Which
quadrant of a circle. What is the of the following integrals is
magnitude of the electric field at correct for the y component of
the center of the circle? the electric field at y = 4 m on the
y axis?
a. 62 N/C
b. 56 N/C 3 72 dx
c. 50 N/C
a.  0 (16  x 2 )3/ 2
d. 44 N/C 3 18 dx
e. 25 N/C b.  0 (16  x 2 )3/ 2
72dx
3
38. A uniformly charged rod (length c. 0 16  x 2
= 2.0 m, charge per unit length = 0 18 dx
3.0 nC/m) is bent to form a d. 3 16  x 2
semicircle. What is the
e. none of these
magnitude of the electric field at
the center of the circle? 41. A 12-nC charge is distributed
a. 64 N/C uniformly along the y axis from
b. 133 N/C y = 0 to y = 4 m. Which of the
c. 48 N/C following integrals is correct for
d. 85 N/C the x component of the electric
e. 34 N/C field at x = 2 m on the x axis?
4 216 dy
39. A 16-nC charge is distributed a.  ( 4  y 2 ) 3/ 2
0
uniformly along the x axis from 4 54 dy
x = 0 to x = 4 m. Which of the b. 0 ( 4  y 2 ) 3/ 2
following integrals is correct for
4 108 dy
the magnitude (in N/C) of the c. 0 4  y 2
electric field at x = +10 m on the x
4 27 dy
axis? d. 0 4  y 2
4 36 dx
a.  0 (10  x ) 2
e. none of these

4 154 dx
b.  0 (10  x ) 2
36 dx
4
c.  0 x2
10 154 dx
d. 6 x2
e. none of these
 Electric Fields  9

42. A uniform linear charge of 3.0 44. A rod (length = 2.0 m) is

nC/m is distributed along the y uniformly charged and has a
axis from y = –3 m to y = 2m. total charge of 40 nC. What is the
Which of the following integrals magnitude of the electric field at
is correct for the magnitude of a point which lies along the axis
the electric field at y = 4 m on the of the rod and is 3.0 m from the
y axis? center of the rod?
2 27 dy a. 40 N/C
a.  3 ( 4  y )2 b. 45 N/C
2 27 dy c. 24 N/C
b.  3 16  y 2 d. 90 N/C
2 135dy e. 36 N/C
c.  3 ( 4  y )2
2 135dy 45. A charge of 50 nC is uniformly
d.  3 16  y 2 distributed along the y axis from
y = 3.0 m to y = 5.0 m. What is the
e. none of these
magnitude of the electric field at
43. A uniform linear charge of 2.0 the origin?
nC/m is distributed along the x a. 18 N/C
axis from x = 0 to x = 3 m. Which b. 50 N/C
of the following integrals is c. 30 N/C
correct for the x component of d. 15 N/C
the electric field at y = 2 m on the e. 90 N/C
y axis?
3 18 xdx 46. A 24-nC charge is distributed
a.  0 ( 4  x 2 ) 3/ 2
uniformly along the x axis from
x = 2 m to x = 6 m. Which of the
3 18 dx
b.  0 (2  x )2
following integrals is correct for
the magnitude (in N/C) of the
3 18 dx
c.  0 4  x2
electric field at x = +8 m on the x
axis?
3 18 xdx
d.  (2  x)3 6 54 dx

0
a.
e. none of these
2 (8  x ) 2
6 216 dx
b.  2 (8  x ) 2
54 dx
6
c.  2 x2
6 216 dx
d.  2 x2
e. none of these
10  CHAPTER 23

47. A uniform linear charge density
of 7.0 nC/m is distributed along
the y axis from y = 2 m to y = 5 m.
Which of the following integrals
is correct for the magnitude (in
N/C) of the electric field at y = 0
on the y axis?
5 63 dy
a.  2 y2
50. A particle (mass = 5.0 g, charge =
40 mC) moves in a region of
space where the electric field is
uniform and is given by Ex = 2.5
N/C, Ey = Ez = 0. If the velocity of
the particle at t = 0 is given by vy
= 50 m/s, vx = vz = 0, what is the
speed of the particle at t = 2.0 s?

5 21dy a. 81 m/s
b.  2 y2 b. 72 m/s
5 63dy c. 64 m/s
c.  2 (5  y )2 d. 89 m/s
5 21dy e. 25 m/s
d.  2 (5  y )2
51. A particle (mass = 5.0 g, charge =
e. none of these 40 mC) moves in a region of
space where the electric field is
48. A uniform linear charge of 2.0
uniform and is given by Ex = –5.5
nC/m is distributed along the x
axis from x = 0 to x = 3 m. What N/C, Ey = Ez = 0. If the position
is the x component of the electric and velocity of the particle at t =
field at y = 2 m on the y axis? 0 are given by x = y = z = 0 and vx

a. –5.0 N/C = 50 m/s, vy = vz = 0, what is the

b. –4.0 N/C distance from the origin to the
c. –5.7 N/C particle at t = 2.0 s?
d. –6.2 N/C a. 60 m
e. –9.0 N/C b. 28 m
c. 44 m
49. A particle (mass = 4.0 g, charge =
d. 12 m
80 mC) moves in a region of
e. 88 m
space where the electric field is
uniform and is given by Ex = –2.5
N/C, Ey = Ez = 0. If the velocity of
the particle at t = 0 is given by vx
= 80 m/s, vy = vz = 0, what is the
speed of the particle at t = 2.0 s?
a. 40 m/s
b. 20 m/s
c. 60 m/s
d. 80 m/s
e. 180 m/s
 Electric Fields  11

52. A particle (mass = 5.0 g, charge = 54. A particle (q = 4.0 mC, m = 50 g)

40 mC) moves in a region of has a velocity of 25 m/s in the
space where the electric field is positive x direction when it first
uniform and is given by Ex = –2.3 enters a region where the electric
N/C, Ey = Ez = 0. If the position field is uniform (60 N/C in the
positive y direction). What is the
and velocity of the particle at t =
speed of the particle 5.0 s after it
0 are given by x = y = z = 0 and vz
enters this region?
= 20 m/s, vx = vy = 0, what is the
distance from the origin to the a. 49 m/s
particle at t = 2.0 s? b. 35 m/s
c. 32 m/s
a. 60 m d. 44 m/s
b. 54 m e. 24 m/s
c. 69 m
d. 78 m 55. A charge of 50 µC is placed on
e. 3.2 m the y axis at y = 3.0 cm and a 77-
µC charge is placed on the x axis
53. A particle (q = 3.0 mC, m = 20 g) at x = 4.0 cm. If both charges are
has a speed of 20 m/s when it held fixed, what is the
enters a region where the electric magnitude of the initial
field has a constant magnitude of acceleration of an electron
80 N/C and a direction which is released from rest at the origin?
the same as the velocity of the
20 2
particle. What is the speed of the a. 1.2  10 m/s
20 2
particle 3.0 s after it enters this b. 1.5  10 m/s
20 2
region? c. 1.0  10 m/s
20 2
a. 68 m/s d. 1.8  10 m/s
20 2
b. 44 m/s e. 2.0  10 m/s
c. 56 m/s
d. 80 m/s 56. The velocity of a particle (m = 10
e. 36 m/s mg, q = –4.0 C) at t = 0 is 20 m/s
in the positive x direction. If the
particle moves in a uniform
electric field of 20 N/C in the
positive x direction, what is the
particle's speed at t = 5.0 s?
a. 60 m/s
b. 20 m/s
c. 45 m/s
d. 40 m/s
e. 70 m/s
12  CHAPTER 23

57. A particle (m = 20 mg, q = –5.0 59. Charge Q is distributed

C) moves in a uniform electric uniformly along a semicircle of
field of 60 N/C in the positive x radius a. Which formula below
direction. At t = 0, the particle is gives the correct magnitude of
moving 25 m/s in the positive x the electric field at the center of
direction and is passing through the circle?
the origin. How far is the particle 1 Q
from the origin at t = 2.0 s? a. E .
4 0 a
a. 80 m 1 Q
b. E .
b. 20 m 4 0 a 2
c. 58 m 1 2Q
c. E .
d. 10 m 4 0 a
e. 30 m 1 2Q
d. E .
4 0 a 2
58. A particle (m = 20 mg, q = –5.0
1 2Q
C) moves in a uniform electric e. E .
4 0 a 2
field of 60 N/C in the positive x
direction. At t = 0, the particle is
60. Charge Q is distributed
moving 30 m/s in the positive x
uniformly along a semicircle of
direction and is passing through
radius a. Which formula below
the origin. Determine the
gives the correct magnitude of
maximum distance beyond x = 0
the force on a particle of charge q
the particle travels in the positive
located at the center of the circle?
x direction.
1 qQ
a. 25 m a. F .
4 0 a
b. 20 m
1 qQ
c. 15 m b. F .
4 0 a 2
d. 30 m
1 2qQ
e. 60 m c. F .
4 0 a
1 2qQ
d. F .
4 0 a 2
1 2qQ
e. F .
4 0 a 2
 Electric Fields  13

61. Charge Q is uniformly 62. When gravitational, magnetic

distributed over a line segment and any forces other than static
of length 2L, as shown below. electric forces are not present,
When the x-coordinate of point P electric field lines in the space
is x, the magnitude of the y- surrounding a charge
component of the electric field at distribution show
point P is
a. the directions of the forces
that exist in space at all
times.
b. only the directions in which
static charges would
accelerate when at points on
those lines
c. only the directions in which
a. 0.
moving charges would
1 Q
b. accelerate when at points on
4 0 2 L2  x 2 .
those lines.
1 Q
c. d. tangents to the directions in
4 0 L  x 2 .
2
which either static or
1 Q
d. moving charges would
4 0 x L2  x 2 . accelerate when passing
1 Q through points on those
e. 4 0 2 x L2  x 2 . lines.
e. the paths static or moving
charges would take.
14  CHAPTER 23
63. When a positive charge q is
placed in the field created by two
other charges Q1 and Q2, each a
distance r away from q, the
acceleration of q is
a. in the direction of the
charge Q1 or Q2 of smaller
magnitude.
b. in the direction of the
charge Q1 or Q2 of greater
magnitude.
c. in the direction of the
negative charge if Q1 and Q2
are of opposite sign.
d. in the direction of the
positive charge if Q1 and Q2
are of opposite sign.
e. in a direction determined
by the vector sum of the
electric fields of Q1 and Q2.
64. Two charged particles, Q1 and
Q2, are a distance r apart with Q2
= 5Q1. Compare the forces they
exert on one another when F1 is
the force Q2 exerts on Q1 and F2
is the force Q1 exerts on Q2.
a. F2 = 5F1.
b. F2 = –5F1.
c. F2 = F1.
d. F2 = –F1.
e. 5F2 = F1.
65. Rubber rods charged by rubbing
with cat fur repel each other.
Glass rods charged by rubbing
with silk repel each other. A
rubber rod and a glass rod
charged respectively as above
attract each other. A possible
explanation is that
a. Any two rubber rods
charged this way have
opposite charges on them.
b. Any two glass rods charged
this way have opposite
charges on them.
c. A rubber rod and a glass
rod charged this way have
opposite charges on them.
d. All rubber rods always have
an excess of positive charge
on them.
e. All glass rods always have
an excess of negative charge
on them.
66. Which one of the diagrams
below is not a possible electric
field configuration for a region of
space which does not contain
any charges?
 Electric Fields  15

67. A positively charged particle is 1

69.
moving in the +y-direction when
it enters a region with a uniform
electric field pointing in the +x-
direction. Which of the diagrams
below shows its path while it is
in the region where the electric
field exists. The region with the
field is the region between the
plates bounding each figure. The
field lines always point to the
right. The x-direction is to the 70.
right; the y-direction is up.
68. A negatively charged particle is
moving in the +x-direction when
it enters a region with a uniform
electric field pointing in the +x-
direction. Which graph gives its
position as a function of time
correctly? (Its initial position is x
= 0 at t = 0.) 71.
The symbol appears in
4 0
Coulomb’s law because we use
independently defined units for
a. force and distance.
b. charge and distance.
c. distance and force.
d. force, distance and electric
charge.
e. charge.
Three pith balls supported by
insulating threads hang from a
support. We know that ball X is
positively charged. When ball X
is brought near balls Y and Z
without touching them, it
attracts Y and repels Z. We can
conclude that
a. Y has a negative charge.
b. Z has a negative charge.
c. Y has a positive charge.
d. Z has a positive charge.
e. Z is neutral (has no net
charge.)
Three pith balls supported by
insulating threads hang from a
support. We know that ball X is
positively charged. When ball X
is brought near balls Y and Z
without touching them, it
attracts Y and repels Z. We can
conclude that
a. Y has a negative charge.
b. Z has a negative charge.
c. Y has a positive charge.
d. Z is neutral (has no net
charge.)
e. Y is negatively charged or
neutral (has no net charge.)
16  CHAPTER 23

72. Two identical pith balls 73. Two imaginary spherical

supported by insulating threads surfaces of radius R and 2R
hang side by side and close respectively surround a positive
together, as shown below. point charge Q located at the
center of the concentric spheres.
When compared to the number
of field lines N 1 going through
the sphere of radius R, the
number of electric field lines N 2
One is positively charged; the
other is neutral. We can conclude going through the sphere of
that radius 2R is
1
a. all field lines leaving the a. N2  N1 .
4
positively charged pith ball
1
end on the neutral pith ball. b. N2  N1 .
2
b. some of the field lines
c. N2  N1 .
leaving the positively
d. N2  2N 1 .
charged pith ball end on the
e. N2  4N 1 .
neutral pith ball.
c. none of the field lines
leaving the positively Open-Ended Problems
charged pith ball end on the
neutral pith ball. 74. The electron gun in a television
d. positive charge is tube accelerates electrons (mass
–31 –
transferred along the field = 9.1  10 kg, charge = 1.6  10
19 7
lines until both balls have C) from rest to 3.0  10 m/s
equal charges. within a distance of 2.0 cm. What
e. positive charge is electric field is required?
transferred along the field
lines until both balls hang 75. An alpha particle (charge = +2e)
along vertical lines. is sent at high speed toward a
gold nucleus (charge +79e). What
is the electrical force acting on
the alpha particle when it is at a
–14
distance of 2  10 m away from
–19
the gold nucleus? (e = 1.6  10
C)
 Electric Fields  17

4
76. A proton moving at 3  10 m/s
is projected at an angle of 30
above a horizontal plane. If an
electric field of 400 N/C is
directed downwards, how long
does it take the proton to return
to the horizontal plane? (HINT:
Ignore gravity)
–27
[mPROTON = 1.67  10  kg, qPROTON
–19
= +1.6  10 C.]

77. Imagine for a minute that the

moon is held in its orbit about
the Earth by electrical forces
rather than by gravitation. What
electrical charges –Q on the
Earth and +Q on the moon are
necessary to hold the moon in a
circular orbit with a period of
27.3 days? The Earth-moon
distance is 384,000 km and the
22
mass of the moon is 7.35  10
kg.