Science Department

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12 grade (SL) Topic 5.1 – Electric Field 15/8/2022
Teacher: Anan Barghouthy Worksheet (1)

Name: ______________________

1. The electric field strength at a point may be defined as

A. the force exerted on unit positive charge placed at that point.
B. the force per unit positive charge on a small test charge placed at that point.
C. the work done on unit positive charge to move the charge to that point from infinity.
D. the work done per unit positive charge to move a small test charge to that point from
infinity.

2. The diagram below shows two stationary point charges +2Q and –Q.
At which point is the electric field strength greatest?

D C B A

+2 Q –Q

3. Two point charges of magnitude +2Q and −Q are fixed at the positions shown below. At which
point is the electric field due to the two charges most likely to be zero?

+2Q –Q

A. B. C. D.

4. A charged particle P is accelerated between two charged metal plates X and Y separated by a
distance d. The particle starts from rest at plate X.

P.

p late X p late Y

The kinetic energy of P, when it reaches plate Y, is K. The magnitude of the charge on P is e.
The magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates is

de d K Ke
. . . .
A. K B. Ke C. ed D. d

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5. Two charged plastic balls are separated by a distance d in a vertical insulating tube, as shown.

tu b e

b alls
d

The charge on each ball is doubled.

Coulomb’s law applies to the force between the balls and friction with the walls of the tube is
negligible. What is now the separation of the balls?

d
A. 2 B. d C.2d D.4d

6. Two identical spherical conductors X and Y are mounted on insulated stands. X carries a charge
of +8.0 nC and Y carries a charge of –2.0 nC.

+ 8 .0 n C – 2 .0 n C

co n d u cto r X in su lated stan d s co n d u cto r Y

The two conductors are brought into contact and are then separated. Which of the following
gives the charge on each conductor?

Charge on X Charge on Y

A. 0.0 nC 0.0 nC

B. +8.0 nC –2.0 nC

C. +5.0 nC +5.0 nC

D. +3.0 nC +3.0 nC

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7. An electrically neutral conducting sphere is suspended vertically from an insulating thread.

th read

Q sp h ere

A point charge of magnitude Q is brought near the sphere. The electric force between the point
charge and the sphere

A. depends on whether Q is positive or negative.

B.is always zero.
C.is always repulsive.
D.is always attractive.

8. X and Y are two identical conducting spheres separated by a distance d. X has a charge +6 μC
and Y has a charge –2 μC. The electric force between them is +F (ie attractive). The spheres are
touched together and are then returned to their original separation d. The force between them
now is
F F
.  .
A. +F B. –F C. 3 D. 3

9. Which diagram below best represents the electric field pattern between a positively charged
conducting sphere and an earthed metal plate?

A. B.

C. D.

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10. Which of the following statements is not true?

A. Electric charge is quantized.

B. Electric charge is conserved.
C. The force between two point charges is proportional to the sum of the charges.
D. The force between two point charges is proportional to the inverse square of the separation
of the charges.

11. Three equal point charges X, Y and Z are fixed in the positions shown.
Z q3

1 .0 m

X 90
1 .0 m Y
q1 q 2

The distance between q1 and q2 and the distance between q2 and q3 is 1.0 m. The electric force
between the charges at X and Y is F. The electric force between the charges at X and Z is

F F
. .
A. 2 B. 2 C.F. D.2F.

12. Two positive point charges P and Q are held a certain distance apart.

X P Y Q Z
+ +

At which point(s) could the electric field strength, due to the charges, be zero?

A.X only B.Y only C.Z only D.X and Z only

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13. This question is about the physics of a lightning strike.

In a simple model of a thundercloud, a negative charge is built up on the base of the cloud by the
process of charge separation. The resulting electric field between the cloud and the ground is
approximately the same as that between two infinite parallel charged plates. When the charge on
the base of the cloud reaches a certain value, a lightning strike occurs between the ground and
the base of the cloud.

th u n d erclo u d

500 m

g ro u n d

(a) Define electric field strength. (2)

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(b) On the above diagram, draw the electric field pattern between the ground and the base of
the cloud. (3)

The electric field strength E between two infinite, parallel charged plates is given by


0
E=

where σ is the charge on an area of 1 m2 of one plate.

Just before a lightning strike, a particular thundercloud carries a charge of 20 C spread over its
base. The area of the base of the cloud is 7 × 106 m2.

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(c) (i)Show that the magnitude of the electric field between the base of the cloud and the ground is
approximately 3 × 105 Vm-1. (3)

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(ii)State two assumptions made when applying this formula. (2)

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14. This question is about aspects of electric fields and electric charge.

(a) A proton may be considered to be a point charge. For such a proton

(i) Sketch the electric field pattern. (2)

(ii) Calculate the magnitude of the electric field strength at a distance of 5.0×10 –11 m from the
proton. (2)

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15. The diagram below shows an isolated, metal sphere in a vacuum that carries a negative electric
charge of 9.0 nC.

(a) On the diagram draw arrows to represent the electric field pattern due to the charged sphere.
(3)

(b) The electric field strength at the surface of the sphere and at points outside the sphere can be
determined by assuming that the sphere acts as though a point charge of magnitude 9.0 nC is
situated at its centre. The radius of the sphere is 4.5 × 10 -2 m. Deduce that the magnitude of the
field strength at the surface of the sphere is 4.0 × 104NC-1. (1)

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An electron is initially at rest on the surface of the sphere.

(c)(i) Describe the path followed by the electron as it leaves the surface of the sphere. (1)

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(ii) Calculate the initial acceleration of the electron. (3)

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 (iii) State and explain whether the acceleration of the electron remains constant, increases or
decreases as it moves away from the sphere. (2)

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16. Four point charges of equal magnitude, are held at the corners of a square as shown below.
2a
+Q +Q

P 2a

–Q –Q

The length of each side of the square is 2a and the sign of the charges is as shown. The point P is
at the centre of the square.

(a)(i)Deduce that the magnitude of the electric field strength at point P due to one of the point
kQ
charges is equal to 2 . (2)
2a

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(ii) On the diagram above, draw an arrow to represent the direction of the resultant electric field
at point P. (1)

(iii) Determine, in terms of Q, a and k, the magnitude of the electric field strength at point P.

(3)
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Good Luck

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1. B
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. C
6. D
7. D
8. D
9. C
10. C
11. A
12. B

13. (a)electric field strength is the force per unit charge;

felt by a positive test charge placed in the field / OWTTE; 2 max

(b)straight lines from Earth to negative;

equally spaced;
edge effect shown;

th u n d erclo u d

500 m

g ro u n d

3 max

(c)
–6 –2
(d) correct substitution to calculate σ (= 2.86 × 10 C m );
–12 6 –1
E = 20 / (8.85 × 10 × 7 × 10 ) V m ;
5 –1
= 3.2 × 10 V m ;
5 –1
= 3 × 10 V m ; 3 max

(ii) [1] for each appropriate and sensible assumption eg

edge of cloud parallel to ground;
cloud and ground effectively infinite length;
permittivity of air the same as vacuum;
ground and cloud surface both flat, etc; 2 max

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14. (a) (i)

at least 6 symmetric radial lines as shown touching the proton;

correct direction; 2

q
Ek
(ii) use of r2
9 −19
9.0× 10 ×1.6 ×10
E= −11 2
(5.0 ×10 )

11 –1
= 5.8 × 10 N C ; 2

15. (a)

sufficient arrows to show decreasing radial field;

direction;
no field in the centre; 3

q
2 4 –1
(b) (i) use E = k r to show E = 4.0 × 10 V m ; 1

(c) (i) along a field line; 1

(ii) F = ma = qE;
q
a = m E;
11 4 15 –2
= 1.8 × 10 × 4.0 × 10 = 7.2 × 10 m s ; 3

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 (iii) decreasing;
electric field strength is decreasing so force on electron is decreasing; 2
Do not penalize the candidate if they state “field is decreasing”.
Award the right answer, with the wrong reason [0].

16. (a)the force exerted per unit charge;

on a small positive (test) charge; 2
Accept either “small” or “test” or both.

kQ kQ
2 2
(b) (i) substitute for r = a 2 ; into E = r to get E = 2a ; 2

(ii) ; 1

kQ kQ
2
(iii)
2
E for each component = 2a ; add vectorially; to get Etot = a2 ; 3
[8]

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