musallam (jm83485) 2.

Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

This print-out should have 14 questions.
Multiple-choice questions may continue on
the next column or page find all choices
before answering.
This homework is due Monday, September
8, at midnight Tucson time.
001 10.0 points
A charge of +1 Coulomb is place at the 0cm mark of a meter stick. A charge of 1
Coulomb is placed at the 100-cm mark of the
same meter stick.
Is it possible to place a proton somewhere
on the meter stick so that the net force on it
due to the two charges is 0?
1. Yes; to the left of the 50-cm mark

and due to the +4 C charge

F4 =

k (+4) (+1)
4k
=
.
r42
r42

In order for these forces to be equal,

k
4k
= 2
2
r1
r4
r42 = 4 r12 = (2 r1 )2
r4 = 2 r1
d r1 = 2 r1
1
1
r1 = d = (100 cm)
3
3
= 33.3333 cm .

2. No correct
3. Yes; to the right of the 50-cm mark
Explanation:
The proton is repelled from the +1
Coulomb charge and attracted to the 1
Coulomb charge. Both forces act in the same
direction so they cannot cancel out.
002 10.0 points
A charge of +1 Coulomb is place at the 0
cm mark of a meter stick. A charge of +4
Coulombs is placed at the 100 cm mark of the
same meter stick.
Where should a proton be placed on the
meter stick so that the net force on it due to
the two charges is 0?
Correct answer: 33.3333 cm.
Explanation:
Let :

q1 = +1 C ,
q2 = +4 C , and
r = 100 cm .

The forces are both repulsive and point in

opposite directions.
The force due to the +1 C charge is
F1 =

k (+1) (+1)
k
= 2
2
r1
r1

003 10.0 points

Two charges of 4 109 C and
2.1 109 C are separated by a distance
of 42 cm.
Find the equilibrium position for a third
charge of +1.9 108 C by identifying its
distance from the first charge q1 .
Correct answer: 24.3539 cm.
Explanation:

Let : q1 = 4 109 C ,
q2 = 2.1 109 C ,
r1,2 = 42 cm , and
q3 = 1.9 108 C .
Equilibrium is possible only if q3 is between
q1 q2
q1 and q2 , so r2,3 = r1,2 r1,3 . Fe = kC 2
r
and the net electric force on q3 is zero, so

kC

F1,3 = F2,3
q2 q3
q1 q3
= kC 2
2
r1,3
r2,3
q1
q2
= 2
2
r1,3
r2,3

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

q1
q2
=
2
r1,3
(r1,2 r1,3 )2

(r1,2 r1,3 )2
q2
=
2
q1
r1,3
r
r1,2 r1,3
q2
=
r1,3
q1
r
q2
r1,2 r1,3 = r1,3
q1

r 
q2
r1,3 1 +
= r1,2
q1
r1,3 =

r1,2
s

1+

42 cm

=
q2
q1

1+

2.1 109 C
4 109 C

= 24.3539 cm
from q1 .
004 10.0 points
An electron is released above the Earths surface. A second electron directly below it exerts just enough of an electric force on the
first electron to cancel the gravitational force
on it.
Find the distance between the two electrons. The value of the Coulomb constant is
8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 and the acceleration
of gravity is 9.81 m/s2 .
1. 0.507424 m
2. 50.7424 m
3. 5.07424 m correct

Fe = Fg
qe qe
ke 2 = me g
r

r = |qe |

Explanation:
Let :

qe
me
g
ke

= 1.60 1019 C ,
= 9.109 1031 kg ,
= 9.81 m/s2 , and
= 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .

so

ke
me g

= (1.6 1019 C)
s
(8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 )

(9.109 1031 kg) (9.81 m/s2 )

= 5.07424 m .
005 10.0 points
A charge of +2.0 nC and a charge of +4.0 nC
are separated by 90.0 cm.
Find the equilibrium position for a 4.0 nC
charge as a distance from the first charge. The
Coulomb charge is 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .
Correct answer: 37.2792 cm.
Explanation:
Let : q1 = 2.0 nC = 2 109 C ,
q2 = 4.0 nC = 4 109 C ,
r1,2 = 90.0 cm , and
q3 = 4.0 nC = 4 109 .
The equilibrium position for q3 is between
q1 and q2 , so if r1,3 = x, then r2,3 = r1,2 x.
q1 q2
Fe = kC
and the net electric force is
r2
zero, so

4. 5.07424 km
5. 5.07424 cm

kC

F1,3
q1 q3
2
r1,3
q1
2
r1,3
q1
x2

= F2,3
q2 q3
= kC 2
r2,3
q2
= 2
r2,3
q2
=
(r1,2 x)2

(r1,2 x)2
q2
=
2
x
q1

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

3
r
r1,2 x
q2
=
7. The two given charges must have the
x
q1
r
same
sign for the force on the third charge to
q2
r1,2 x = x
be zero.
q1


r
q2
8. The two given charges must have opposite
x 1+
= r1,2
q1
signs for the force on the third charge to be
zero.
r1,2
90 cm
Explanation:
s =
s
x=
y
9
q2
4 10 C
1+
1+
q1
2 109 C
y1
q1
= 37.2792 cm
from q1 .

006 (part 1 of 3) 10.0 points

Two point charges lie on the y axis. A third
charge q is placed somewhere in space such
that the resultant force on it is zero.
y
1.6 m

3 C
q,

q3
q2

(y3 = 0.702585 m)

~ net = 0
Equilibrium F
By Coulombs law, the force on q2 at ~r2 due
to q1 at ~r1 is

|q| = 9 C
x

1.2 m

y3
y2

0.14 C

Where must the third charge lie?

1. The third charge must lie on the y axis.
correct
2. The third charge must lie on the x axis.
3. The third charge must lie on the z axis
(perpendicular to the xy plane).
4. The third charge must be equi-distant
from the two given charges.
5. The third charge must be zero; q = 0.
6. There must be an additional charge
(fourth charge) to balance the unresolved
force on the third charge.

~ 21 = k q1 q2 r ,
F
r2
where ~r = ~r2 ~r1 .
The third charge must lie on the y axis;
otherwise there will be an unresolved force in
the xy plane.
007 (part 2 of 3) 10.0 points
What is the sign of the third charge q?
1. q = |q|, the charge must be negative.
2. q = +|q|, the charge must be positive.
3. q = |q|, the charge can be positive or
negative. correct
4. Since q must be zero, the sign is undefined.
Explanation:
The charge q3 , of either sign, must lie between the charge q1 and q2 ; otherwise the
electric forces on q3 cannot balance.

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

008 (part 3 of 3) 10.0 points
What distance from the origin must this third
charge be placed such that the resultant force
on it is zero?
Correct answer: 0.702585 m.
Explanation:
Let :

y1
q1
y2
q2
q3

= 1.6 m ,
= 3 C ,
= 1.2 m ,
= 0.14 C , and
= q = 9 C .

Let the distance from the origin to this

location y3 . The electrostatic forces on q3 are
~ =F
~ 13 + F
~ 23 ,
F
~ 13 and F
~ 23 are in opposite directions
where F
~ 13
if the signs of q1 and q2 are the same, and F
~
and F23 are in the same direction if the signs
of q1 and q2 are different.
~ = 0 gives kF
~ 13 k = kF
~ 23 k, so
F

 


 

q
q
q
q
1
3
2
3
k
 

 (y1 y3 )2  = k (y3 y2 )2  , and
s 
 q1  y1 y3
  =
q2
y3 y2

1.6 m (0.702585 m)
0.702585 m (1.2 m)
= 4.6291 .
=

s 
 q1 
y1   y2
q2
s 
y3 =
 q1 
1  
q2
=

1.6 m + (4.6291) (1.2 m)

1 + (4.6291)

= 0.702585 m .
Note: Neither the sign nor the magnitude
of the charge q3 enters into this equation. Actually, the resultant force is zero means that

the resultant electric field is zero. Because the

electric field is independent of the test charge,
the answer is also independent of the sign or
magnitude of charge q3 .
009 10.0 points
Three point charges are on the x axis: 2 C
at 3 m, 9 C at the origin, and 5 C at
3 m.
Find the force on the first charge.
The value of the Coulomb constant is
8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .
Correct answer: 0.0154786 N.
Explanation:
Let :

k
q1
q2
q3
x1
x2
x3

= 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 ,

= 2 C = 2 106 C ,
= 9 C = 9 106 C ,
= 5 C = 5 106 C ,
= 3 m ,
= 0 m , and
= 3 m.

The force that q2 exerts on q1 is

q2 q1
~ 2,1 = k q2 q1 r2,1 = k
F
r2,1
2
(x2 x1 )2
r2,1

= (8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 )

(9 106 C) (2 106 C)

()
[0 m (3 m)]2
= (0.0179751 N)

and the force that q3 exerts on q1 is

q2 q1
~ 3,1 = ke q3 q1 r3,1 = ke
r3,1
F
2
(x3 x1 )2
r3,1

= (8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 )

(5 106 C) (2 106 C)
()

[3 m (3 m)]2
= (0.00249654 N) ,

so the net force acting on q1 is

~ =F
~ 2,1 + F
~ 3,1
F
= (0.0179751 N) + (0.00249654 N)
= 0.0154786 N .

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

010 10.0 points
Charge Q is on the y axis a distance a from
the origin and charge q is on the x axis a
distance d from the origin.
What is the value of d for which the x
component of the force on q is the greatest?

1. d = 2 a
a
2
q a

3. d =
Q 2
a
4. d = correct
2
q
5. d = a
Q

2. d =

a 2 2 d2 = 0

a
d= .
2

011 10.0 points

A particle of mass 28 g and charge 62 C is
released from rest when it is 27 cm from a
second particle of charge 13 C.
Determine the magnitude of the initial acceleration of the 28 g particle.
Correct answer: 3548.86 m/s2 .
Explanation:

6. d = 0
7. d =

q
2a
Q

8. d = a
9. d =

q a
Q2

Explanation:
We have the force on charge q on the x axis
due to charge Q on the y axis:
~ =
F

1 qQ
r ,
4 0 r 2

p
where r = a2 + d2 , so the x component of
the force on q is
1
4 0
1
=
4 0
1
=
4 0

Fx =

qQ
cos
r2
qQ
d

a 2 + d2 a 2 + d2
qQd
.
(a2 + d2 )3/2

For maximum x component of the force,

Fx
= 0 is required, so
d
Fx
qQ
a 2 2 d2
=0
=
d
4 0 (a2 + d2 )5/2

Let : m = 28 g ,
q = 62 C = 6.2 105 C ,
d = 27 cm = 0.27 m ,
Q = 13 C = 1.3 105 C ,
ke = 8.9875 109 N m2 /C2 .

and

The force exerted on the particle is

|q| |Q|
= ma
d2
|q| |Q|
a = ke
m d2
= (8.9875 109 N m2 /C2 )



6.2 105 C 1.3 105 C

(0.028 kg) (0.27 m2 )

F = ke

= 3548.86 m/s2 .

012 (part 1 of 2) 10.0 points

A set of eight point charges, each of magnitude 5 108 C , is located on the corners of
a cube with sides of length 9 m as shown in
the figure.

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

6

2 s away (the face diagonals), and 3 terms

x
are s away (the cube edges).
q

q
q
q

q
q

Find the x-component of the resultant force

exerted on the charge located at point A
by the other charges. Coulombs constant
is 8.988 109 N m2 /C2 .
Correct answer: 5.26951 107 N.
Explanation:
Let :

= (5.26951 107 N) .

q
q

013 (part 2 of 2) 10.0 points

What is the magnitude of this force?

A
Correct answer: 9.12706 107 N.

q
q
q

q
y

Adding and collecting terms of common

unit vectors, we have

2 
k
q
2
1
.
~ =
F
1 + + ( + + k)
s2
2 2 3 3
The x component is


1
k q2
1
~
Fx = 2 1 + +

s
2 3 3


8.988 109 N m2 /C2 (5 108 C)2
=
(9 m)2
(1.89956)

s = 9 m,
q = 5 108 C , and
k = 8.988 109 N m2 /C2 .

X 1
~i
3r
r
i
i
1 1

( + + k)
= k q2
(body diag.)
3s2 3

1 1
+ 2 ( + )

2s
2

1 1

+ 2 ( + k)
(face diag.)
2s

1 1

+ 2 ( + k)
2s
2

1
1
1
+ 2 + 2 + 2 k (along sides)
s
s
s

~ = k q2
F

Thereare seven terms which contribute: 1

term is 3 s away (the body diagonal, which
is the vector from the originto A, determined
by k~r k = s + s + s k = 3 s) , 3 terms are

Explanation:
By symmetry, Fx = Fy = Fz , so the magnitude is
q
q
2
2
2
~
kF k = Fx + Fy + Fz = 3 Fx2
q
= 3 (5.26951 107 N)2
= 9.12706 107 N .
014

10.0 points

musallam (jm83485) 2. Coulomb 2 meyers (11360)

A vector that points in the negative ydirection will have a negative answer.
A charge of 2 C is on the y axis at 4 cm,
and a second charge of 2 C is on the y axis
at 4 cm.
y
5
4 2 C
3
2
1
2 C
x
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1
2
3
4 2 C
5
Find the force on a charge of 2 C on the x
axis at x = 5 cm. The value of the Coulomb
constant is 8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 .
Correct answer: 10.9551 N.

Let :

q1 = 2 C = 2 106 C ,
q2 = 2 C = 2 106 C ,
q3 = 2 C = 2 106 C ,
(x1 , y1 ) = (0 m, 0.04 m) ,
(x2 , y2 ) = (0 m, 0.04 m) , and
(x3 , y3 ) = (0.05 m, 0 m) .

1 2 3 423 5 F61 7 8 9
3
F
F3
q2

The force that q1 exerts on q3 is

~ 1,3 = (F cos ) (F sin )
F

Since
F = ke

q3 q1
r2

q3 q1
(x1 x3 + (y1 y3 )2
= (8.98755 109 N m2 /C2 )
(2 106 C) (2 106 C)

(0.04 m)2 + (0.05 m)2

= 8.76834 N and
= ke

)2




y1
1 0.04 m
= tan
= tan
x3
0.05 m

= 38.6598 , then
1

= 10.9551 N .

q1

q3

~ 2,3 = (F cos ) (F sin ) .

F

~3 = F
~ 1,3 + F
~ 2,3
F
= (F cos ) (F sin ) (F cos )
(F sin )
= 2 (F sin )
= 2 (8.76834 N) (sin 38.6598 )

Explanation:

y
5
4
3
2
1
0
1
2
3
4
5

and the force that q2 exerts on q3 is