AP Physics 2 : Electric Force in an Electric Field

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Electric Force In An Electric Field

Calculate the force experienced by a particle with charge of  in the presence of an electric field 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The force  on a given charge  in the presence of an electric field  is given below as:

It is important to note that the force will be directed along the same direction as the electric field.  Therefore, for our problem, we are able to write

Example Question #12 : Electric Force In An Electric Field

A test charge of  is placed in an electric field of . Determine the force on the charge.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The definition of electric force on a charge in an electric field is:

 

Example Question #91 : Electricity And Magnetism

A test charge of  is placed in an electric field of . Determine the force on the charge.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The definition of electric force on a charge in an electric field is:

Example Question #41 : Electrostatics

A test charge of  is placed in an electric field of . Determine the force on the charge.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The definition of electric force on a charge in an electric field is:

Example Question #14 : Electric Force In An Electric Field

Determine the force on a point charge of in an electric field of

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the following form of the electric force equation:

Plug in values:

Example Question #11 : Electric Force In An Electric Field

An object deep in space of mass and charge  accelerates at . Determine the electric field at this location.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the following equation for electric force:

Plug in values:

Example Question #101 : Electricity And Magnetism

A  charge of mass  accelerates with . Determine the electric field.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using and

Combining equations:

Solving for

Converting to , to and plugging in values

Example Question #11 : Electric Force In An Electric Field

An observer is  away from a negatively charged sphere. How will the electric field change as they move closer to the sphere?

Possible Answers:

It will increase in magnitude and flip directions

It will flip directions constantly

It will increase in magnitude and have constant direction

It will decrease in magnitude and have constant direction

None of these

Correct answer:

It will increase in magnitude and have constant direction

Explanation:

E field negative

As one moves closer to a negative charge, the electric field increases in the direction of the negative charge.

Example Question #751 : Ap Physics 2

Suppose I have a uniform electric field within a parallel plate capacitor with field strength of  .

Suppose the capacitor's plates are  in length and the space between the plates is 

Determine the magnitude of force experienced by an individual electron placed in this field and the direction. Assume the charge of an electron is 

Possible Answers:

 towards the negative plate

 towards the positive plate

 towards the positive plate

 towards the positive plate

Correct answer:

 towards the positive plate

Explanation:

Recall that the formula for the magnitude of force  is given by:

Where  is the electric field strength and  is the charge. 

Since the electric field strength is constant,

To determine direction, remember that electrons will move towards the positively charged plates since electrons are negatively charged. 

Example Question #102 : Electricity And Magnetism

An electron is moved in a perfect circle, with a negative point charge in the center. Determine the work done by the negative point charge.

Possible Answers:

No work done

Impossible to determine

Positive work done

Infinite work done

Negative work done

Correct answer:

No work done

Explanation:

There will be no work done. The point charge at the center is emitting an electric field towards itself. If the electron is moved in a circle around it, it will have moved perpendicular to the force the entire time, and thus no work has been done.

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