AP Physics C Electricity : AP Physics C

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics C Electricity

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Ap Physics C

Two parallel wires a distance  apart each carry a current , and repel each other with a force  per unit length. If the current in each wire is doubled to , and the distance between them is halved to , by what factor does the force per unit length change?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Relevant equations:

Step 1: Find the original and new magnetic fields created by wire 1 at wire 2, using Ampere's law with an Amperian loop of radius  or , respectively.

Original

New

Since the wires are parallel to each other and wire 1's field is directed circularly around it, in each case wire 1's field is perpendicular to wire 2.

 

Step 2: Find the original and new magnetic forces per unit length on wire 2, due to the field created by wire 1.

Original

New

 

So, the new force per unit length is 8 times greater than the original.

Example Question #1 : Calculating Magnetic Fields And Forces

A region of uniform magnetic field, , is represented by the grey area of the box in the diagram. The magnetic field is oriented into the page.

Ps0_movingqinbfield

A stream of protons moving at velocity is directed into the region of the magnetic field, as shown. Identify the correct path of the stream of protons after they enter the region of magnetic field.

Possible Answers:

A semi-circular path oriented horizontally out of the page

A semi-circular path oriented vertically upward

A semi-circular path oriented horizontally into the page

A semi-circular path oriented vertically downward

Correct answer:

A semi-circular path oriented vertically upward

Explanation:

The magnetic force on a moving charged particle is given by the equation:

Isolating the directional component of this equation yields the understanding that the resulting force on a moving charged particle is perpendicular to the plane of the velocity vector and magnetic field vector. Using the right-hand-rule on this cross-product shows that the velocity vector right-crossed into the magnetic field vector into the page yields a magnetic force vector upward on a positive charge. This will result in a semi-circular path oriented vertically upward.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Electromagnetic Induction

A metal ring is placed in a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the ring. An emf of magnitude 15V is induced around the ring by increasing the field through it from zero to 5mT at a constant rate. If the area enclosed by the ring is , what is the time interval over which the field is increased?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Relevant equations:

Given:

Plug in (disregarding direction of emf):

Example Question #51 : Electricity And Magnetism Exam

A wire loop of area  is placed in a magnetic field whose magnitude varies with time according to the equation . The loop is held in place, perpendicular to the field. If the wire has resistance , what is the magnitude of the maximum instantaneous current induced in the loop?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Relevant equations:

Write the expression for the flux using the given expression for the magnetic field strength:

Take the derivative of this flux to find the induced emf:

Determine the maximum value of , and replace  with this value, to find the maximum induced emf:

Plug this maximum induced emf into , to find the maximum induced current:

Example Question #3 : Electromagnetism

A wire loop carrying no current is placed near another very long straight wire carrying current . The loop is then moved directly away from the straight wire at a constant speed.

Ps0_lenz

In which direction will the current induced in the small wire loop flow?

Possible Answers:

Not enough information is given to solve

No current will be induced in the wire loop

Clockwise

Counterclockwise

Correct answer:

Clockwise

Explanation:

The magnetic field due to the long straight wire points into the page (right-hand rule) in the region below it in the picture. The magnitude of this magnetic field is given by:

The magnetic field thus decreases in value with increasing distance, . As such, the amount of flux passing through the wire loop decreases steadily as it is moved away from the wire.

According to Lenz's Law, an induced current within the wire loop will counteract this loss of magnetic flux from the straight wire. The magnetic field from the induced current in the wire loop will consequently point in the same direction as that from the current in the straight wire. The right-hand rule for a magnetic field into the page yields an induced current direction in the clockwise direction.

Example Question #4 : Electromagnetism

A capacitor and an inductor mH are connected in series to complete a simple circuit. The capacitor is initially charged to 9.9 nC.

Ps0_lccircuit

What is the value of the maximum current that passes through the circuit?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since there are no dissipative circuit elements (such as a resistor) present in the circuit, the energy originally held by the electric field of the capacitor oscillates between electric energy and magnetic energy over time. As such, the maximum electric energy of the capacitor is equal in value to the maximum magnetic energy of the inductor.

Example Question #51 : Electricity And Magnetism Exam

A uniform magnetic field  is created in a region in space, as represented by the grey arrows in the diagram below. Four circular loops A, B, C, and D are placed in the magnetic field. The planes of loops A and B are oriented perpendicularly to the direction of the field; the planes of loops C and D are oriented parallel to the field.

Ps0_fluxcomparison

Loops A and C are the same size, with radius . Loops B and D are the same size, with radius . Note that .

Which of the statements below is true about the values of magnetic flux through the loops due to the magnetic field?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Magnetic flux is a measure of the amount of magnetic field passing through a given area and is given by the equation:

The magnetic field is constant for this problem, and the areas are all circular loops. As such, the vector product integral simplifies to:

The angle theta is the angle between a vector normal to the surface of the area  and the given magnetic field.

For loops C and D, theta is 90 degrees, so the magnetic flux for both of these loops is equal to zero.

For loops A and B, the angle theta is 0 degrees, so the magnetic flux for both of these loops is nonzero and proportional to the area of each loop. Therefore, the flux for loop B is larger than that for loop A because loop B has the larger radius.

Example Question #1 : Electric Circuits

A parallel plate capacitor has a capacitance of . If the plates are  apart, what is the area of the plates?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The relationship between capacitance, distance, and area is . We can rearrange this equation to solve for area.

Now, we can use the values given in teh question to solve.

Example Question #1 : Capacitors

Charge is distributed uniformly over the area of the two plates of a parallel plate capacitor, resulting in a surface area charge density of on the plates (the top plate is positive and the bottom is negative, as shown below). Each plate has area  and are separated by distance . A material of dielectric constant  has been placed between the two plates.

 

Ps0_capacitor

 

Which of the following would not result in an increase in the measure of electric potential difference between the two plates?

Possible Answers:

Increase the value of the surface charge density, , on each plate

Increase the area, , of the plates

Increase the distance, , between the plates

Replace the material between the two plates with one of a lower dielectric constant, 

Correct answer:

Increase the area, , of the plates

Explanation:

The electric potential difference created between the plates of a parallel plate capactor is given by the equation:

  

The charge can be calculated by using the equation:

The value of the capacitance is related to the dimensions of the capacitor with the equation:

Combining these equations yields:

The area becomes inconsequential, while the potential is directly proportional to the surface charge density and the distance between the plates, and inversely proportional to the dielectric of the material between the plates. Changing the area does not cause any change in the potential difference measured between the plates, and changing any of the other variables would cause a resultant change in the potential difference.

Example Question #1 : Capacitors

You are hired to make a capacitor out of two parallel metal sheets. If someone wanted you to make a thin capacitor of  out of those metal sheets, and the sheets needed to be  apart, what area do the two metal plates need to be?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For parallel plate capacitors, the equation is .

Solve for .

Now we can plug in our given values.

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