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Exam 1
Spring 2002
q2
r12
q1 r13 q3
1
q
q q
k|qQ| 2kq 2
F~qN ET = − 2 ĵ + 2 sin(60◦ )ĵ = 0
x L
where x is the distance between q and Q. In terms of L,
(L/2) √
x= = L/ 3 (1)
cos(30◦ )
so that
√
3k|qQ| 3kq 2
=
L2 L2√
or Q = −q/ 3 (must have opposite sign for equilibrium)
2
3. An electron is placed in an electric field as shown. Find the direction
of the electrostatic force on the electron.
F = qE = −eE
3
y
x=2cm x=12cm
E(x) = Axî
~ · d~a = Q
I
E
S
Z0 Z
= ~ · d~a +
E ~ · d~a
E
right lef t
The differential area elements on these surfaces are d~aright = dydz î and
d~alef t = −dydz î.
2
×L2
Q = 0 × E(x) ×L − E(x)
x=12cm x=2cm
4
7. The electric field at the surface of a sphere of radius R is measured.
It is found to be radially outward and to have the same magnitude all
over the sphere. Call that magnitude E1 . A second sphere of radius
2R is found to have a radially inward electric field that is uniform also
but with magnitue 4E1 . What is the ratio of the charge in the second
sphere to the charge in the first sphere (Q2 /Q1 )?
If we place Gaussian surfaces on the surfaces of both spheres they would
tell us the magnitudes of the electric field are,
k|Q1 | k|Q2 |
E1 = 2
, E2 =
R1 R22
E1 R22 |Q1 | 1 4|Q1 |
−→ = 2
= =
E2 R1 |Q2 | 4 |Q2 |
Since the fields point in opposite directions, the signs of Q1 and Q2 are
opposite and we have
Q2
= −16
Q1
For r > D/2, ρ(r) = 0. Here r is the radial distance from the cylindrical
axis and ρ0 is a negative constant ρ0 < 0. Calculate the electric field
generated by rho for all r > D/2. That is, at any point outside of the
region containing the charge.
Again we use Gauss’s law, but this time for cylindrical symmetry,
I
~ · d~a = E(2πrL) = qin /0
E
S
Z Z 2π Z L Z D/2
qin = dV ρ(V ) = dφ dz dr rρ(r)
0 0 0
D/2 2r
Z
= 2πL|ρ0 | dr r 1 −
0 D
5
D2 D2
!
= 2πL|ρ0 | −
8 12
D2
= πL|ρ0 |
12
2
~ = |ρ 0 |D
−→ E inward
240 r
Now by the way of the 5 possible answers, only 2 had the electric field
directed inward, allowing you to eliminate 3 of the possible choices. Of
the remaining two, only the one derived above has the correct dimen-
sions of of an electric field. Therefore, one could have answered this
question without having to even know what an integral is!
9. The electric field in megaN/C at a point halfway between a point charge
of +2µC at the origin and a point charge of -3µC at x = +10 cm is:
Between the two charges, the electric field is pointed to the right and
the components add,
k|q1 | k|q2 |
E(x) = 2
+
x (0.1m − x)2
k(2E-6C+ 3E-6C)
E(0.05m) = = 1.8E7 N/C = 18 megaN/C
(0.05m)2
10. An electric dipole is composed of equal and opposite charges each of
magnitude 0.1µC, placed at y = −1 cm, respectively. The magnitude of
the electrostatic field due to this dipole (in N/C) at the point x = +3m
is:
The magnitude of the electric field along the z axis due to the two
charges along the y axis comes from adding the y components and
cancelling the z components to give,
2kq kqd
E(z) = 2 2
sin θ =
(d/2) + z ((d/2)2 + z 2 )3/2
d/2
where sin θ = √ , and d is the distance between the charges.
(d/2)2 +z 2
The dipole field comes from approximating the electric field for z d,
so we can neglect the d/2 in the denominator and we are left with,
kqd (1E-7C)(0.02m)
E(z) ≈ = k = 0.67 N/C
z3 (3m)2