TUTORIAL 2

MFT 00804

1. If a +6 μC charged particle moves a distance of 8 mm within a 3 V/m electric field,

calculate the magnitude of change in this particle's electrical potential energy?

2. A negative charge moves through an electric field such that it slows down, losing
120 𝐽 of kinetic energy. The change in electric potential experienced by the charge is
−12 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠.
a) Calculate the magnitude of the negative charge?
b) If a positive charge of the double the magnitude of the first charge moved between
the same two points in the field, determine the change in electric potential and the
change in electric potential energy.
c) Would the positive charge in part b speed up or slow down?

3. A 9 V battery is connected to two parallel plates with separated by a distance 0.40 cm.
This creates a uniform electric field between the two plates. Find the magnitude of the
electric field.

4. A proton is released from rest in a uniform electric field of magnitude 8.0 𝑥 104 𝑉/𝑚,
directed along the positive x-axis. The proton undergoes a displacement of 0.30 meters
in the direction of the field.
a) Find the change in electric potential of the proton as a result of this displacement.
b) Find the change in electric potential energy of the proton for this displacement and
explain the physical meaning of the sign of the change.

5. A 4.0 𝜇𝐶 point charge is at the origin (0,0) on a coordinate system. A point charge 𝑞2 =
−3.0 𝜇𝐶 is on the x-axis at (3.0, 0) meters.
a) If the electric potential is taken to be zero at infinity, find the total electric potential
due to these charges at point P, with coordinates (0,4.0) m.
b) How much work is required to bring a third point charge of 4.0 𝜇𝐶 from infinity to
P.

6. Two charges are located on corners of a rectangle with a height of 0.05 m and a width
of 0.15 m. The first charge (𝑞1 = −5 𝑥 10−6 𝐶) is located at the upper left hand corner,
while the second charge (𝑞2 = 2 𝑥 10−6 𝐶) is at the lower right hand corner. Determine
the electric potential at the upper right hand corner of rectangle.
7. Calculate the potential difference for a point at the right hand corner (call it point A) of
the rectangle in question No. 6 relative to the lower left hand corner (call it point B).
8. Two charged particles are placed on the x axis of a coordinate system. The first (𝑞1 =
2 𝑥 10−6 𝐶) is at the origin. The second (𝑞2 = −5 𝑥 10−6 𝐶) is at x=1.0 m. determine
a point in between these two charges where the electric potential is zero.

9. Suppose that three point charges, 𝑞𝑎 , 𝑞𝑏 and 𝑞𝑐 are arranged at the vertices of a left-
angled triangle, as shown in the diagram. What is the absolute electric potential of the
third charge if 𝑞𝑎 = −6.0 𝜇𝐶 , 𝑞𝑏 = +4.0 𝜇𝐶, 𝑞𝑐 = +2.0 𝜇𝐶, 𝑎 = 6.0 𝑚 and 𝑏 =
8.0 𝑚? Suppose that the third charge, which is initially at rest, is repelled to infinity by
the combined electric field of the other two charges, which are held fixed. What is the
final kinetic energy of the third charge?