Revision Chapter 12: Electrostatics

Section A : Objective (10 marks)

1. The electric field strength at point P at distance 20 cm from a point charge is 0.40 V m–1. The
electric potential at point P is

A 0.02 V
B 0.08 V
C 0.20 V
D 0.80 V

2. The diagram below shows charges +q, +q and– q which are fixed at points X, Y and Z of a circle
respectively.

The resultant electric field at centre O of the circle is in the direction of

A OY
B OZ
C YO
D ZO

3. Two bodies each of mass 3 105 kg are 200 km apart. The same amount of charge is
placed on each body. What is the magnitude of the charge on each body so that the
gravitational attractive force is balanced by the electric force?
A 6.7 x10–10 C
B 1.0 x 10–9 C
C 4.7 x10–8 C
D 2.6 x10–5 C

4. The figure shows three point charges +q, +q and –q at the vertices X, Y and Z respectively
of an equilateral triangle.

The electric field strength at the centroid O of the triangle is in the direction of
A OS
B OT
C OY
D OZ

5. The work done to bring two point charges +q and –q from infinity to separation r is
6. The figure shows the electric field lines for a positive point charge and a nearby negative point
charge that are equal in magnitude.

The electric field strengths at P, Q and R are EP, EQ and ER respectively. Which arrangement
shows the correct relative electric field strengths?

7. The figure shows a spherical Gaussian surface of radius 20.0 cm enclosing a charge +2 C.
The electric flux through the Gaussian surface is

8. A spherical surface of radius & containing charges +20.-30 and +50 is shown in the diagram below.
What is the total electric flux which passes through the spherical surface?

9. The work done to bring a positive charge of 1.6 x 10-19 C from infinity to a point P in an electric field
is 8.0 x 10-16 J. What is the electric potential at P?

A -5.0 × 10³ V
B -2.5 x 10³ V
C 2.5 x 10³ V
D 5.0 x 10³ V
 10 Spherical conductor Y is larger than spherical conductor X. Conductor X is initially uncharged whereas
. conductor Y is charged. A wire is connected from conductor Y to X. Which statement is true when
equilibrium is attained?

A Conductors X and Y have the same electric potentials.

B Conductors X and Y have the same quantity of charges.

C Conductors X and Y have the same surface charge densities.

D Conductors X and Y have the same electric field strengths at the surface.

Section B

1. Two point charges q1 = –5.0 µC and q2 = –5.0 µC are placed at the vertices of an equilateral
triangle ABC as shown in the diagram below. [4 marks]

20 cm 20 cm

A 2.0 cm B
q
q1 = –5.0 µC 2 = –5.0 µC

Find the resultant electric field strength due to q1 and q2 at the point C of the triangle.
1
( =8.99 x 10 9 NC–2 m2 )
4 π ε0

2. A small plastic ball of mass 6.50 × 10–3 kg and charge +1.50 µC is suspended from an
insulating thread. When a horizontal electric field is applied to the region, the plastic ball is
observed to settle in an equilibrium position such that the thread makes an angle of 15° to the
vertical.
(a) Draw a diagram to indicate the direction of the electric field and all the forces acting on the
plastic ball. [2 marks]
(b) Determine the magnitude of the electric field. [3 marks]

3. The diagram below shows two point charges –1.2µC and +1.0µC separated at a distance of 0.6
m. Point O is the midpoint of the two charges. Calculate the electric potential at point P which
is1.2 m vertically above O. [5 marks]
4. The diagram below shows an electron which enters a region of uniform electric field
between two charged plates in a horizontal direction with velocity vo. Its position is 0.5 cm from
the negative plate. The electron traces a path and comes out of the field region at the end of one
of the plates. The two plates are each 5.0 cm long and separated by a distance of 2.0 cm. The
uniform field has magnitude 500 V m–1.

(a) (i) Sketch the electric field lines and trajectory of the electron in the field region. [2 marks]
(ii) Derive an equation to represent the motion of the electron while it is in the field
region (ignore gravity). [5 marks]
(iii) What path does the equation describe? [1 mark]
(iv) Determine the initial velocity of the electron. [2 marks]

(b) Consider a proton being accelerated from rest through a region of electric potential V1 to
V2. The final speed of the proton is 2.0 × 106 m s–1.
(i) Describe the energy change in the proton. [2 marks]
(ii) Determine the potential difference between V1 and V2. [3 marks]