AP Physics 2 : Electrostatics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Electric Potential Energy

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Suppose that a positively charged particle of  moves from position A to position B along a curved path that is  long, as shown in the figure. Within this region, there is an electric field of  oriented from right to left. If the particle undergoes a net displacement of , how much work is required to move this particle?

Possible Answers:

There is not enough information to answer this question.

Correct answer:

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.

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  value (distance of path taken), but instead we use the  value (net distance traveled along the electric field). 

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

Example Question #4 : Electric Potential Energy

Determine the electric potential energy of a  charge in an electric potential of .

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Converting units:

Use the equation for electric potential energy:

Example Question #1 : Electric Potential Energy

An electron is placed in an electric potential of , determine the velocity of the electron after passing through the potential, assuming it was motionless at the beginning.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

Assuming no external work done

Electric potential energy:

Solving for velocity:

Plugging in values:

 

Example Question #2 : Electric Potential Energy

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

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

Assuming no external work done

Electric potential energy:

Solving for velocity:

Plugging in values:

 

Example Question #11 : Electric Potential Energy

A proton is placed into an electric potential of , determine the final velocity after it is released.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Conservation of energy:

Assuming no external work done

Electric potential energy:

Solving for velocity:

Plugging in values:

 

Example Question #781 : Ap Physics 2

 car is traveling at . It is carrying a  charge against an electric field of . Determine how far the car will travel before stopping. 

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Force in an electric field:

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

Definition of electric potential energy:

Definition of electric potential:

Combining equations:

Assuming final velocity is zero:

 is the distance traveled

Converting  to 

Plugging in values:

Solving for 

Example Question #81 : Electrostatics

A ball of mass   with   missing electrons is accelerated with a  electric field. Determine the final velocity.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Force in an electric field:

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

Definition of electric potential energy:

Combining equations:

Assuming initial velocity and final electric potential is zero:

The charge,  will be equal to the electron charge time the number of electrons missing, 

Converting  to  and plugging in values:

Example Question #11 : Electric Potential Energy

If a  charged particle moves a distance of  within a  electric field, what is the magnitude of change in this particle's electrical potential energy?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In this question, we're given the charge of a particle, the distance that it travels, and the electric field within which this movement occurs. We're asked to find the magnitude of the change in electrical potential energy that this particle undergoes.

We can begin this problem by writing an expression for the electric potential energy.

Since we have the particle's charge, but not its electric potential, we need to find a way to obtain this term. To do this, we can make use of the distance the particle travels, as well as the electric field.

Combining these expressions, we can obtain our answer.

Example Question #1 : Gauss's Law

An 8m by 8m square-base pyramid of height 4m is placed in a uniform vertical electric field of strength . What is the total electric flux that goes through the pyramid's four faces? (There is no charge inside the pyramid.)

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because there is no charge inside the pyramid, the total flux for the entire shape must be 0. Since the field is vertical, there must be an equal but opposite amount of flux from the base of the pyramid as the faces.

Gauss' Law is 

We have both the field strength and the area, so we just multiply them together. We don't have to worry about cross-products because the field is hitting the base at a 90o angle.

Example Question #1 : Gauss's Law

You have a cube with a  charge in the center. Each of the cube's sides is 12cm long. What is the flux through one of the faces of the cube?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There is nonzero electric flux going through the cube because it encloses charges, so there's more electric field lines going out than going in.

Gauss' Law:

Because we know the amount of charge enclosed and we know epsilon naught (the permittivity of free space), the area of the cube and the electric field strength is irrelevant; we can just calculate it with the charge.

That gives us the total electric flux. What we want is the flux from a single face. Since there are 6 faces, we can just divide that number by 6 to get our answer. Once we do that, we get .

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