ELECTRIC POTENTIAL:

SOLUTIONS TO SAMPLE
PROBLEMS
MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN
GENERAL PHYSICS 2
STEM-SCIENCE UNIT
UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EP Sample Problem No. 1 (p.37 of textbook)

There is an electric potential of 120 V at a point

that is 0.25 m away from a charge. Find the
magnitude and sign of the charge.
GIVEN EQUATION SOLUTION
V = 120 V Vr (120 V)(0.25m)
Q= Q=
r = 0.25 m k 9×109 Nm2 /C2
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 DERIVATION
kQ ANSWER
V=
r Q = +3.33 × 10−9 C
REQUIRED
Q=?
Vr = kQ
kQ Vr
=
k k

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EP Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN
Q1 = +12 × 10−9 C
Q2 = −12 × 10−9 C
r1a = 0.06 m r2a = 0.04 m
r1b = 0.04 m r2b = 0.14 m
r1c = 0.13 m r2c = 0.13 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EP Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

REQUIRED EQUATIONS
Va =? kQ1 kQ2
Va = +
Vb =? r1a r2a
Vc =? kQ1 kQ2
Vb = +
r1b r2b
kQ1 kQ2
Vc = +
r1c r2c

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
 EP Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 1
Q1 = +12 × 10−9 C Va =
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +12×10−9 C
+
9×109 Nm2 /C2 −12×10−9 C
Q2 = −12 × 10−9 C 0.06 m 0.04 m
r1a = 0.06 m
r2a = 0.04 m ANSWER
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 Va = −900 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
 EP Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 2
Q1 = +12 × 10−9 C Vb =
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +12×10−9 C
+
9×109 Nm2 /C2 −12×10−9 C
Q2 = −12 × 10−9 C 0.04 m 0.14 m
r1b = 0.04 m
r2b = 0.14 m ANSWER
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 Vb = 1928.57 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
 EP Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 3
Q1 = +12 × 10−9 C Vc =
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +12×10−9 C
+
9×109 Nm2 /C2 −12×10−9 C
Q2 = −12 × 10−9 C 0.13 m 0.13 m
r1c = 0.13 m
r2c = 0.13 m ANSWER
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 Vc = 0 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN
m = 5 × 10−9 kg q0 = 2 × 10−9 C
v0 = 0 d = 0.01 m
Q1 = +3 × 10−9 C
Q2 = −3 × 10−9 C
r1a = 0.01 m r2a = 0.02 m
r1b = 0.02 m r2b = 0.01 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2
MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

REQUIRED OTHER EQN. NEEDED

v=? kQ1 kQ2
Va = +
r1a r2a
kQ1 kQ
EQUATION Vb = + 2
r1b r2b
2 ∆V q0
v= v0 + 2 ∆V = Va − Vb
m ∆V q0
a=
md

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
 EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 1
Q1 = +3 × 10−9 C Va =
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +3×10−9 C
+
9×109 Nm2 /C2 −3×10−9 C
Q2 = −3 × 10−9 C 0.01 m 0.02 m
r1a = 0.01 m
r2a = 0.02 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 ANSWER
Va = 1350 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
 EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 2
Q1 = +3 × 10−9 C Vb =
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +3×10−9 C
+
9×109 Nm2 /C2 −3×10−9 C
Q2 = −3 × 10−9 C 0.02 m 0.01 m
r1b = 0.02 m
r2b = 0.01 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2 ANSWER
Vb = −1350 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

SOLUTION 3
∆V = 1350 V − (−1350 V)

ANSWER
∆V = 2700 V

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 1 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN FINAL SOLUTION

m = 5 × 10−9 kg 2700 V 2×10−9 C
v= 0+2
q0 = 2 × 10−9 C 5×10−9 kg
v0 = 0
FINAL ANSWER
v = 46.48 m/s

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN REQUIRED EQUATION

m = 9.109 × 10−31 kg ∆Va =? m(v2 2 −v1 2 )
q0 = −1.602 × 10−19 C ∆Vb =?
∆Va =
2q0
v1 = 2.5 × 106 m/s m(v3 2 −v2 2 )
v2 = 8.5 × 106 m/s
∆Vb =
2q0
v3 = 0 m/s

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 1
m = 9.109 × 10−31 kg 2
9.109×10−31 kg ( 8.5×106 m/s − 2.5×106 m/s )
2

q0 = −1.602 × 10−19 C ∆Va =

2(−1.602×10−19 C)
v1 = 2.5 × 106 m/s
v2 = 8.5 × 106 m/s
v3 = 0 m/s ANSWER 1
∆Va = −187.64 V
MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPD Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN SOLUTION 2
m = 9.109 × 10−31 kg 9.109×10−31 kg (02 − 8.5×106 m/s )
2

q0 = −1.602 × 10−19 C ∆Vb =

2(−1.602×10−19 C)
v1 = 2.5 × 106 m/s
v2 = 8.5 × 106 m/s
v3 = 0 m/s ANSWER 2
∆Vb = 205.41 V
MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 1 (p.40 of textbook)

GIVEN
Q1 = +10 C
Q2 = −20 C
Q3 = −50 C
r12 = 0.1 m
r23 = 0.1 m
r13 = 0.1 m 2 + 0.1m 2 = 0.14 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 1 (p.40 of textbook)

REQUIRED
ΣEPE =?

EQUATION
kQ1 Q2 kQ1 Q3 kQ2 Q3
ΣEPE = + +
r12 r13 r23

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 1 (p.40 of textbook)

SOLUTION
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +10 C −20 C
ΣEPE = +
0.1 m
9 2 2
9×10 Nm /C +10 C −50 C 9×109 Nm2 /C2 −20 C −50 C
+
0.14 m 0.1 m

ANSWER
ΣEPE = 3.99 × 1013 J

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

GIVEN
Q1 = Q2 = Q3 + 1.4 × 10−6 C
r12 = 0.3 m
r23 = 0.3 m
r13 = 0.3 m
k = 9 × 109 Nm2 /C2

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

REQUIRED
ΣEPE =?

EQUATION
kQ1 Q2 kQ1 Q3 kQ2 Q3
ΣEPE = + +
r12 r13 r23

MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN
EPE Sample Problem No. 2 (University
Physics 16th Edition)

SOLUTION
9×109 Nm2 /C2 +1.4×10−6 C +1.4×10−6 C
ΣEPE = +
0.3 m
9×10 Nm /C +1.4×10 C +1.4×10−6 C
9 2 2 −6
+
0.3 m
9×10 Nm /C +1.4×10−6 C +1.4×10−6 C
9 2 2

0.3 m

ANSWER
ΣEPE = 0.18 J
MS. ALYSSA MARIE C. PAISAN | GENERAL PHYSICS 2 | STEM-SCIENCE UNIT | UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST - CALOOCAN