AP Physics 2 : Electricity and Magnetism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Point Charges

Charge moving through e field

Suppose there is a frame containing an electric field that lies flat on a table, as is shown. A positively charged particle with charge  and mass  is shot with an initial velocity  at an angle  to the horizontal. If this particle begins its journey at the negative terminal of a constant electric field , which of the following gives an expression that signifies the horizontal distance this particle travels while within the electric field?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are given a situation in which we have a frame containing an electric field lying flat on its side. In this frame, a positively charged particle is traveling through an electric field that is oriented such that the positively charged terminal is on the opposite side of where the particle starts from. We are being asked to find the horizontal distance that this particle will travel while in the electric field. Since this frame is lying on its side, the orientation of the electric field is perpendicular to gravity. Therefore, the only force we need concern ourselves with in this situation is the electric force - we can neglect gravity. However, it's useful if we consider the positive y-direction as going towards the positive terminal, and the negative y-direction as going towards the negative terminal. It's also important to realize that any acceleration that is occurring only happens in the y-direction. That is to say, there is no acceleration in the x-direction. We'll start by using the following equation:

We'll need to find the x-component of velocity.

Our next challenge is to find an expression for the time variable. To do this, we'll need to consider the motion of the particle in the y-direction. Also, since the acceleration in the y-direction is constant (due to a constant electric field), we can utilize the kinematic equations.

And since the displacement in the y-direction won't change, we can set it equal to zero.

Just as we did for the x-direction, we'll need to consider the y-component velocity.

We also need to find an alternative expression for the acceleration term. We can do this by noting that the electric force is providing the acceleration.

Also, it's important to remember our sign conventions. Since the electric field is pointing from the positive terminal (positive y-direction) to the negative terminal (which we defined as the negative y-direction) the electric field is negative.

Now, plug this expression into the above kinematic equation.

Rearrange and solve for time.

Now that we've found an expression for time, we can at last plug this value into our expression for horizontal distance.

And lastly, use the trigonometric identity:

Example Question #702 : Ap Physics 2

Charge moving through e field

Suppose there is a frame containing an electric field that lies flat on a table, as shown. A positively charged particle with charge  and mass  is shot with an initial velocity  at an angle  to the horizontal. If this particle begins its journey at the negative terminal of a constant electric field , which of the following gives an expression that denotes the amount of time this particle will remain in the electric field before it curves back and reaches the negative terminal?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are given a situation in which we have a frame containing an electric field lying flat on its side. In this frame, a positively charged particle is traveling through an electric field that is oriented such that the positively charged terminal is on the opposite side of where the particle starts from. We are being asked to find an expression for the amount of time that the particle remains in this field. Since this frame is lying on its side, the orientation of the electric field is perpendicular to gravity. Therefore, the only force we need concern ourselves with in this situation is the electric force - we can neglect gravity. However, it's useful if we consider the positive y-direction as going towards the positive terminal, and the negative y-direction as going towards the negative terminal. To begin with, we'll need an expression for the y-component of the particle's velocity.

Next, we'll need to make use of one of the kinematic equations (we can do this because acceleration is constant).

Since the particle will not experience a change in its y-position, we can set the displacement in the y-direction equal to zero.

At this point, we need to find an expression for the acceleration term in the above equation. The only force on the particle during its journey is the electric force.

It's also important for us to remember sign conventions, as was mentioned above. Since the electric field is pointing towards the negative terminal (negative y-direction) is will be assigned a negative value.

Now, plug this expression for acceleration into the previous expression we derived from the kinematic equation, we find:

Cancel negatives and expand the expression for the y-component of velocity, so we are left with:

Rearrange to solve for time.

Example Question #1 : Point Charges

An object of mass accelerates at  in an electric field of . Determine the charge of the object.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Combine Newton's second law with the equation for electric force due to an electric field:

Plug in values:

Example Question #1 : Point Charges

At  away from a point charge, the electric field is , pointing towards the charge. Determine the value of the point charge.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the electric field is pointing towards the charge, it is known that the charge has a negative value.

Using electric field formula:

Solving for

Plugging in values:

Since the charge must have a negative value:

Example Question #9 : Point Charges

Imagine two point charges separated by 5 meters. One has a charge of  and the other has a charge of . What is the magnitude of the force between them? Is it attractive or repulsive?

Possible Answers:

Repulsive

There is no force felt by the two charges.

Attractive

Attractive

Repulsive

Correct answer:

Attractive

Explanation:

The equation for the force experienced by two point charges is known as Coulomb's Law, and is as follows.

The value 'k' is known as Coulomb's constant, and has a value of approximately .

We have all of the numbers necessary to use this equation, so we can just plug them in.

Since we're given a negative number (and through our intuition: "opposites attract"), we can determine that the force is attractive. Because we're asked for the magnitude of the force, we take the absolute value, so our answer is 

, attractive force.

Example Question #2 : Point Charges

What is the value of the electric field 3 meters away from a point charge with a strength of ?

Possible Answers:

None of the answers are correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the strength of an electric field generated from a point charge, you apply the following equation.

We know the value of Q and r (the charge and distance, respectively), so we can simply plug in the numbers we have to find the answer.

While this might seem like a very large number coming from such a small charge, remember that the typical charges interacting with it will be in the same magnitude of strength, roughly. This yields a force much smaller than 10,000 Newtons.

Example Question #1 : Electric Fields

Physics2set1q8

What is the value of the electric field at point C?

Points A and B are point charges.

Possible Answers:

 in the  direction

 in the  direction

 in the  direction

 in the  direction

 in the  direction

Correct answer:

 in the  direction

Explanation:

First, let's calculate the electric field at C due to point A.

We can tell that the net electric field will be in the  direction.

 in the  direction.

Example Question #2 : Electric Fields

What is the electric field  away from a particle with a charge of ?

Possible Answers:

 away from the charged particle

 towards the charged particle

 towards the charged particle

 away from the charged particle

 away from the charged particle

Correct answer:

 away from the charged particle

Explanation:

Use the equation to find the magnitude of an electric field at a point.

 

Solve.

Since it is a positive charge, the electric field lines will be pointing away from the charged particle.

Example Question #3 : Electric Fields

You are at point (0,5). A charge of  is placed at the origin. What charge would you need to place at (0,-3) to cause there to be no net electric field at your location.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We will need to use the electric field equation, twice. Because we are given coordinates, we will need to use vector notation.

Combine the two equations.

Plug in known values. 

 

Note that the charge is positive. This is because the electric field lines point towards the negative charge at the origin, and in order to balance this at your location, the electric field lines of the charge at (0,-3) must be pointing away from the charge.

Example Question #2 : Electric Fields

Potential problem

 

In the diagram above where along the line connecting the two charges is the electric potential  due to the two charges zero?

Possible Answers:

 to the right of 

There is no point on the line where the electric potential is zero

 to the left from 

 to the right of 

 to the left of 

Correct answer:

 to the right of 

Explanation:

Potential is not a vector, so we just add up the two potentials and set them to each other. The equation for electric potential is:

 

If the point we are looking for is distance  from , it's  from . Cancel all the common terms, then cross-multiply:

 

Since we had  associated with , it's from that charge toward the weaker charge.

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