SP025

1.0 Electrostatics

1.1 Coulomb’s Law

1.2 Electric Field
1.3 Electric Potential
1.4 Charge in a uniform electric field

TUTORIAL 1
(ELECTROSTATICS)

SECTION A

1 The position of two particles X and Y of charges +q and +2q respectively are fixed. Which of the
following figures correctly shows the direction and magnitude of the forces on the particles?
A B
+q +2q +q +2q

C D
+q +2q +q +2q

2. Four points charge are fixed at the corners of a square as shown in the FIGURE 1. The
direction of the electric field at the central O is

+ -
A
D B
C
+ -
FIGURE 1

3. At twice the distance from a point charge, the strength of the electric field

A is four times its original value

B is twice its original value
C is one-half its original value
D is one-fourth its original value
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4.
X P Y

FIGURE 2
Point charges of +2 C and -3 C are fixed at the points X and Y as shown in
FIGURE 2. The point P is midway between X and Y.
Electric Field Electric Potential
A Towards X Negative
B Towards Y Positive
C Towards Y Negative
D Towards X Positive

5. Which figure correctly shows the equipotential lines around a positive point charges if the
potential difference between successive line are equal?

A B C D

6. Which of the following statement is NOT correct?

A There are two types of charges differing in magnitude and signs
B The charges are conserved and they have discrete values
C The smallest value of a charge is that of an electron or a proton.
D Electric charge can be created by rubbing or friction.
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SECTION B

1. (a)
Q1=-10µC Q2=-10µC
0.10 m

0.10 m 0.10 m

0.10 m
Q3=+5.0 µC Q4=+5.0 µC

FIGURE 3

Four point charges are placed at the corners of a square as shown in FIGURE 3.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the forces exerted on
(i) charge Q2 and
(ii) charge Q4.
Ans: 95.87 N, -39.720, 61.58 N, 84.180

(b) Two point charges attract each other with a force F . What happens to the force
between them if one charge is doubled, the other charge is tripled, and the separation
distance between their central is reduced to one-fourth its original value? The force (in
terms of F) now equal to

Ans: 96 F

2. (a)
A

2 cm Q1 5 cm Q2
1 2

FIGURE 4
Two charges Q1 = 1 C and Q2 = -4 C are separated by 5 cm. Point A is 2 cm from q1 as
shown in FIGURE 4.
(i) Calculate the electric field at point A and determine its direction.
(ii) A charge -4 C is placed at point A, determine the force
exerted on the charge.
Ans: -1.515×1013 N C-1 to the left, 6.06×1013 N to the right
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2. (b)
P
+q
1m 1m
S
Q R
+q 1m +q

FIGURE 5

FIGURE 5 above shows three positive charges, each of magnitude  q , which are
placed at the vertices P, Q and R of an equilateral triangle in free space. The length of
each of the three sides is 1 m, and S is the middle point of the side QR. What is the
electric field strength at point S in terms of q?
Ans: 4kq

3

3. (a)

FIGURE 6

Two point charges Q1=+2.40 nC and Q2=- 6.50 nC are 0.100 m apart. Point A is
midway between them, point B is 0.080 m from Q1 and 0.060 m from Q2 as shown
in FIGURE 6. Determine

(i) the electric potential at point A,

(ii) the electric potential at point B,
(iii) the potential difference between point A and B
(iv) the potential energy of the system if charge of -4.5 nC is placed at point B

Ans: -738 V,-705 V,33V, 1.77×10-6 J

(b) Two point charges, each of 2 µC are located at coordinates (0.1,0) m and (-0.1, 0) m,
respectively. Calculate the
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(i) electric potential at coordinate (0, 0.5) m.

(ii) change in the electric potential energy of the system if a third charge of magnitude
-3 µC is brought from infinity to coordinate (0, 0.5) m.

Ans: 7.06 104 V, -0.21 J

4.
L M P Q
3 cm 10 cm
FIGURE 7 +q
-q

FIGURE 7 shows two point charges, - q and + q fixed at point L and Q separated by a distance
of 15 cm. Given q = 5 μC , calculate

a. the electric potential at M and P.

b. the work done to bring a charge of 1 μC from M to P.
c. the electric potential energy of the system when 1 μC charge is
fixed at P.
Ans:-1.125 ×10-6 V - 4.5×105 V, - 0.675 J, - 1.95 J

5.
150
V

Point 100 V
charges
50 V

FIGURE 8

FIGURE 8 shows the equipotential surfaces round a point charges.

(i) What is the type of point charge?

(ii) What is the direction of the electric field?
(iii) Although the difference of the electric potential between the equipotential surface is
constant, the surfaces area not uniformly spaced. Explain your Answer.
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6. (a)

Electron
beam E

FIGURE 9
A beam of electrons enters the uniform electric field between two parallel plates as
shown in the FIGURE 9.

(i) Sketch the path of the electron beam in the electric field and after emerging from
the electric field.
(ii) Explain the shape of the path.
Ans: DIY

(b) Calculate the acceleration of a proton in an uniform electric field of intensity 500 N C-1
. How many times is this acceleration greater than that due to gravity?
Ans: 4.78 1010 m s-2 , 4.87 109