AP Physics 2 : AP Physics 2

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Electric Potential Energy

There is an electric field of  between two parallel plates of \(\displaystyle 3.5\cdot 10^{-5}\frac{N}{C}\). The two plates are \(\displaystyle 3.5mm\) apart.

Find the electric potential energy of a particle of charge \(\displaystyle 2.75nC\) placed right at the surface of the positive plate.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.33\cdot10^{-16} J\)

\(\displaystyle 7\cdot10^{-16} J\)

\(\displaystyle 9.65\cdot 10^{-16} J\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 3.37\cdot 10^{-16}J\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.37\cdot 10^{-16}J\)

Explanation:

Use the equations for potential electric energy and electric potential:

\(\displaystyle PE_{electric} = Vq\)

\(\displaystyle V=Ed\) 

Substitute.

\(\displaystyle PE_{electric} = Edq\)

Plug in known values and solve.

\(\displaystyle PE_{electric}= (2.75\cdot 10^{-9}C)(35\cdot 10^{-6}\frac{N}{C})(3.5\cdot 10^{-3}m)\)

\(\displaystyle PE_{electric} = 337\cdot 10^{-18} Nm = 337\cdot10^{-18} J=3.37\cdot 10^{-16}J\)

Example Question #4 : Electric Potential Energy

A student is working on a laboratory exercise in which she measures the electric potential (voltage) at several points in an electric field. Before graphing the potential isolines, she measures the electric potential to be 3V at one point in the field and 7V at a point 3cm from the first point. What is the average electric field strength between the two points the student measured?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 133\frac{N}{C}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.33\frac{N}{C}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.33\frac{N}{C}\)

\(\displaystyle 100\frac{N}{C}\)

\(\displaystyle 233\frac{N}{C}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 133\frac{N}{C}\)

Explanation:

Electric field strength is the slope of the electric potential:

\(\displaystyle E=\frac{\Delta V}{\Delta x}\) 

Remember to convert into SI units (meters):

\(\displaystyle E=\frac {V_2-V_1}{\Delta x}\)

\(\displaystyle E=\frac{7V-3V}{0.03m}\)

\(\displaystyle E=133 \frac{V}{m} = 133 \frac{N}{C}\)

Example Question #4 : Electric Potential Energy

In a region of space, there is an electric field whose magnitude is \(\displaystyle E=20\frac{N}{C}\) pointing due North. An electron enters this field traveling due North with an initial velocity \(\displaystyle v=2.4\cdot10^{4}\frac{m}{s}\). It enters the field at point A, where the electric potential is 1.5V. As it travels 2cm in the field to point B, the potential changes to 0V. What will the electron's velocity be when it arrives at point B?

\(\displaystyle m=9.11\cdot10^{-31}kg\)

\(\displaystyle q=-1.6\cdot10^{-19}C\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.6\cdot 10^{4}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 4.8\cdot 10^{5}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 3.63\cdot 10^{5}\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.6\cdot 10^{5}\frac{m}{s}\)

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.63\cdot 10^{5}\frac{m}{s}\)

Explanation:

This problem is solved using the work-kinetic energy theory: \(\displaystyle \Sigma W=\Delta K\). In an electric field, work is equal to charge times change in potential: \(\displaystyle W=q\Delta V\)

Since an electron has a negative charge, decreasing potential increases its kinetic energy, the opposite of what would happen to a proton with its positive charge. Combine these equations:

\(\displaystyle q\Delta V=K_f-K_i\)

\(\displaystyle q\Delta V=\frac{1}{2}mv_f^{2}-\frac{1}{2}mv_i^{2}\) 

Plug in known values and solve

\(\displaystyle 1.6\times10^{-19}\cdot 1.5=\frac{1}{2}\cdot 9.11\cdot 10^{-31}v_f^{2}-\frac{1}{2}\cdot9.11\cdot10^{-31}\cdot(2.4\cdot10^{4})^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle v_f=3.63\cdot 10^{5}\frac{m}{s}\)

Example Question #2 : Electric Potential Energy

Suppose that a point charge of 1 Coulomb undergoes a change in which it is moved from point A to point B while in the presence of an external electric field. During this transposition, it undergoes a voltage change of \(\displaystyle +6\: Volts\). What change in electrical potential energy occurs in this scenario?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12 J\)

\(\displaystyle 0.083 J\)

\(\displaystyle 6J\)

\(\displaystyle 0.167 J\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6J\)

Explanation:

In order to solve for electrical potential energy, we'll need to remember the equation for it.

\(\displaystyle U=k\frac{q_{s}q_{t}}{r}\)

In the above expression, \(\displaystyle U\) represents electrical potential energy, \(\displaystyle q_{s}\) and \(\displaystyle q_{t}\) represent different point charges, and \(\displaystyle r\) represents the distance between their centers. In this example, one of these charges will be the source of the external electric field, while the other charge will be the one that is undergoing a transposition from point A to point B.

Furthermore, we can remember the equation for voltage:

\(\displaystyle V=k\frac{q_{s}}{r}\)

With both these equations in mind, we can combine the two:

\(\displaystyle U=Vq_{t}\)

This above expression tells us that the electrical potential energy of a system is directly proportional to the voltage change and to the charge of the test charge that is undergoing the voltage change.

Plug in the values and solve for electrical potential energy:

\(\displaystyle U=(6V)(1 C)=6J\)

Example Question #132 : Electricity And Magnetism

Save for another question

 

Suppose that a positively charged particle of \(\displaystyle 5\textup{ C}\) moves from position A to position B along a curved path that is \(\displaystyle 12 \textup{ cm}\) long, as shown in the figure. Within this region, there is an electric field of \(\displaystyle 20\ \frac{\textup{N}}{\textup{C}}\) oriented from right to left. If the particle undergoes a net displacement of \(\displaystyle 10\textup{ cm}\), how much work is required to move this particle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\textup{ J}\)

\(\displaystyle 1000\textup{ J}\)

There is not enough information to answer this question.

\(\displaystyle 1200\textup{ J}\)

\(\displaystyle 12\textup{ J}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\textup{ J}\)

Explanation:

For this question, we're presented with a situation in which a positively charged particle is traveling through an electric field along a defined path. We're then asked to determine the amount of energy we need to input in order to make this process occur.

We'll need to use an equation that relates charge, electric field, and energy, which we can derive as follows.

\(\displaystyle W=Fd\)

\(\displaystyle F=Eq\)

\(\displaystyle W=Eqd\)

Next, we need to make sure to use the correct value for distance. Since we know that the electric force is a conservative force, we know that the movement of the particle from A to B is independent of the path taken. In other words, for a conservative force, the only thing that matters is the initial state and the final state. Also, since the electric field is oriented horizontally from right to left, we only care about the movement of the particle along the horizontal direction. Thus, we do not use the \(\displaystyle 12\: cm\) value (distance of path taken), but instead we use the \(\displaystyle 10\: cm\) value (net distance traveled along the electric field). 

Plugging in the values we have, we can obtain our answer:

\(\displaystyle W=(20\: \frac{N}{C})(5\: C)(0.10\: m)\)

\(\displaystyle W=10\:J\)

Example Question #8 : Electric Potential Energy

Determine the electric potential energy of a \(\displaystyle 50\textup{ nC}\) charge in an electric potential of \(\displaystyle 60\textup{ V}\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4.5*10^{-6}\textup{ J}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.5*10^{-6}\textup{ J}\)

\(\displaystyle 3.0*10^{-6} \textup{ J}\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 6.0*10^{-6}\textup{ J}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.0*10^{-6} \textup{ J}\)

Explanation:

Converting units:

\(\displaystyle 50nC=50*10^{-9}C\)

\(\displaystyle 60V=60\frac{N*m}{C}\)

Use the equation for electric potential energy:

\(\displaystyle PE_{elec}=V*q\)

\(\displaystyle PE_{elec}=60*50*10^{-9}\)

\(\displaystyle PE_{elec}=3.0*10^{-6}\textup{ J}\)

Example Question #9 : Electric Potential Energy

An electron is placed in an electric potential of \(\displaystyle 1 nV\), determine the velocity of the electron after passing through the potential, assuming it was motionless at the beginning.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 37.5\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 21.1\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 18.8\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 12.5\frac{m}{s}\)

None of these

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18.8\frac{m}{s}\)

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

\(\displaystyle E_i+W=E_f\)

Assuming no external work done

\(\displaystyle EPE_i=KE_f\)

Electric potential energy:

\(\displaystyle EPE=Vq\)

\(\displaystyle Vq=.5mv^2\)

Solving for velocity:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{Vq}{.5m}}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{1*10^{-9}*1.6*10^{-19}}{.5*9.1*10^{-31}}}\)

 \(\displaystyle v=18.8\frac{m}{s}\)

Example Question #81 : Electrostatics

A helium nucleus is placed in an electric potential of \(\displaystyle 1 nV\), determine the velocity of the helium nucleus after passing through the potential, assuming it was motionless at the beginning.

Possible Answers:

None of these

\(\displaystyle .31\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 1.67\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 4.27\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 31\frac{m}{s}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle .31\frac{m}{s}\)

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

\(\displaystyle E_i+W=E_f\)

Assuming no external work done

\(\displaystyle EPE_i=KE_f\)

Electric potential energy:

\(\displaystyle EPE=Vq\)

\(\displaystyle Vq=.5mv^2\)

Solving for velocity:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{Vq}{.5m}}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{1*10^{-9}*2*1.6*10^{-19}}{.5*6.6*10^{-27}}}\)

 \(\displaystyle v=.31\frac{m}{s}\)

Example Question #141 : Electricity And Magnetism

A proton is placed into an electric potential of \(\displaystyle 1nV\), determine the final velocity after it is released.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle .756\frac{m}{s}\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 1.51\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle .438\frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.54\frac{m}{s}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle .438\frac{m}{s}\)

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

\(\displaystyle E_i+W=E_f\)

Assuming no external work done

\(\displaystyle EPE_i=KE_f\)

Electric potential energy:

\(\displaystyle EPE=Vq\)

\(\displaystyle Vq=.5mv^2\)

Solving for velocity:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{Vq}{.5m}}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle v=\sqrt{\frac{1*10^{-9}*1.6*10^{-19}}{.5*1.67*10^{-27}}}\)

 \(\displaystyle v=.438\frac{m}{s}\)

Example Question #81 : Electrostatics

\(\displaystyle 1625kg\) car is traveling at \(\displaystyle 300\frac{km}{hr}\). It is carrying a \(\displaystyle 1nC\) charge against an electric field of \(\displaystyle 50\frac{N}{C}\). Determine how far the car will travel before stopping. 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.31*10^{6}m\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 2.11*10^{14}m\)

\(\displaystyle 4.88*10^{14}m\)

\(\displaystyle 1.127*10^{14}m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.127*10^{14}m\)

Explanation:

Force in an electric field:

\(\displaystyle F_{Electric Field}=Eq\)

Using conservation of energy, assuming no external work on system:

\(\displaystyle Energy_i=Energy_f\)

\(\displaystyle KE_i+EPE_i=KE_f+EPE_f\)

Definition of electric potential energy:

\(\displaystyle V*q=EPE\)

Definition of electric potential:

\(\displaystyle V=E*d\)

Combining equations:

\(\displaystyle .5mv^2_i+E*d_i*q=.5mv^2_f+E*q*d_f\)

Assuming final velocity is zero:

\(\displaystyle .5mv^2_i=E*q*(d_f-d_i)\)

\(\displaystyle (d_f-d_i)\) is the distance traveled

Converting \(\displaystyle \frac{km}{hr}\) to \(\displaystyle \frac{m}{s}\)

\(\displaystyle 300\frac{km}{hr}*\frac{1 hr}{3600s}*\frac{1000m}{1 km}=83.3\frac{m}{s}\)

Plugging in values:

\(\displaystyle .5*1625*83.3^2_i=50*1*10^{-9}*(d_f-d_i)\)

Solving for \(\displaystyle (d_f-d_i)\)

\(\displaystyle (d_f-d_i)=1.127*10^{14}m\)

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