Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

A for a uniform field magnitude of the electric field strength is E = (a)

V
hence
d

at X, E is stronger; electric field lines points from higher to lower potential

C
1. Diagram shows both charges must be positive as E field lines point away
from the charges.

Qp

2. At null pt,

Hence

rq 2
rp

4 rp

Qq
Qp

Qq
4 rq 2

, therefore Qq > Qp

3. Electric potential due to a point charge is given by V =

Q
4 0 r

. Resultant

potential at X is > 0.
(b)

Note: Equipotential lines always perpendicular to E-field lines

3

C Use F

D work done by an external agent is equal to the increase in electrical potential

energy
Wext = U = V= q( Vf Vi ) W ext = -q(V2 -V1) = q(V1 V2 )
B note electric field strength is a vector while electric potential is a scalar

5
6

Qq
Qq
and U
2
4 r
4 r

(a)

D work done by an external agent W ext= V = q( Vf Vi ) = (-1.6x10-19)(100 400)

(b)
Note: 1. strength of field is stronger at the
sharp point and field lines should be
radial there
2. Equipotential lines are
perpendicular to E field lines

JC1 2014

Page 1 of 8

Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

Since charge is positive, positive work is done when change in potential is

positive. Direction of field lines is from higher to lower potential.
C Decrease in potential hence ve work done on positive charge.
A and C equipotential line hence no work done.
the electric field strength at a point in an electric field is the electric force per unit
charge on a stationary positive test point charge placed at that point.
It acts in the direction that the positive test charge would then move.
Since electric field strength E = F/q,
the force acting on the charge +q is F = +q E in the direction of the field since it
is
positive charge.
Work done W = Fd = + qEd
the potential difference V between two points is the work done per unit charge
when a small positive test point charge is moved between the two points.
V
=W/q = + qEd/q
= Ed
B between two parallel oppositely charge plates the numerically value to the
electric

(a)

(b)

(c)

potential gradient is constant i.e.

V
d

= constant

V VXY
=
VXY =
40 20

20
V
40
10

11

B for Y to be suspended stationary the electric force on Y must be upwards to

balance its weight. This can only be possible if the top plate X and the sphere Y
are of opposite polarity while the lower plate Z and the sphere Y are of the same
polarity.
Q
E
(Note this the formula for point charges, not valid for parallel
4 o r 2
plates, which is as given above)
-19
Ex=1.6 x 10 x 9 x 109 / (4.1 x -10) 2 = 8.57 x 109 NC-1

(a)

EY=17.14 x 109 NC-1

(b)

(i)

Deducing that triangle is a right angle triangle (do not assume unless checked)
It can shown easily that angle ZXY = XYZ = 45o
Hence the resultant field E can be deduced using
E2 = Ex2 + Ey2
E =1.92 x 1010 NC-1
Magnitude of Force = 4.8 x 10-19 x 1.92 x 1010 = 9.22 x 10-9 N

(ii)

Sketch giving direction or by calculation, Angle = 63.4 0 to Ex

63.4o

Ex

EY

Direction of force is opposite to the direction of E-field since negative charge

(c)

JC1 2014

1 coulomb is a very large charge (and it would totally alter the electric field which
is being created) (See Tutorial Q1)

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Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

(d)

+1

+2

-3

Equipotential line of zero

potential (ans to (f))

(e)

Note that an obvious pt where the resultant potential is zero is when they are
equidistant apart which is the tip of the equipotential line given (This point is the
mid-pt of the line joining the two positive charges.)
Hence the full equipotential line can be drawn using the fact that equipotential
lines must be drawn perpendicular to the field lines using this point as a
reference.

12

The electric potential, V at a point is defined as the work done per unit
charge by an external agent in bringing a small positive point test charge
from infinity to that point, without producing any acceleration of the charge.

(a)

The electric potential energy, U of a system of charges is defined as the work

done by an external agent to bring the point charges from infinity to their
respective positions in the system, without producing any acceleration of the
charges.
(b)

(i)

V f Vi
200 9000
8800 V

Hence gain in electrical potential is 8800 V

(ii)

q V

1.6 10 8800
19

1.411015 J
Hence the loss in electrical potential energy is 1.4110-15 J.
JC1 2014

Page 3 of 8

Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

12

(iii)

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

Assuming no energy losses,

Applying the principle of conservation of energy,

Eki U i

Ekf U f

Ekf Eki

U f U i

Ek U
1.411015 J
Hence the gain in kinetic energy is 1.41 10-15 J

Ekf Eki

(iv)

Ek

1 2
mv 0 1.411015
2
v 5.56 106 m s-1
(c)

When negatively charged particles move from a point of lower electric potential to a point
of higher electric potential, they gain kinetic energy but loses electric potential energy.

13
14

D
(a)

(i)

=
=

V
d

(3000 0)
(5.0 x10 3 )

= 6.0x105 Vm-1 or NC-1

14

(a)

(ii)

(b)

(i)1

To determine time consider the horizontal motion

Horizontal displacement, Sx=uxt
40x10-3 =(3.9x106) t
t
= 1.026 x 10-8 s
= 1.0 x 10-8 s
F = qE and F = ma
a=

14

(b)

(i)
2

Consider the vertical motion of the charged particle

vy = uy + ayt
vy

JC1 2014

q
q
E 6.0 x10 5
m
m

q
q
E 6.0 x10 5
m
m
q
=6.153 x10-3
m
q
=6.2 x10-3
m
=0+

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Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

14

(ii)

vy
vx

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

tan 4.30 = 0.07519

6.153 x10-3

q
/(3.9 x106 ) 0.07519
m

q
4.766 x 10 7
m
= 4.8x107 C kg-1
15

(a)
x/cm

JC1 2014

-1

-1

EA/ 10 N C

EB/ 10 N C

1.63

112

0.55

0.624

13.7

0.96

0.468

6.09

1.70

0.427

3.43

3.82

0.39

0.306

0.525

2.19

15.3

13.1

1.020

1.21

1.69

170

168

VA/10 V

VB /10 V

1.4

1.57

0.058

4.0

0.548

0.076

6.0

0.366

0.102

8.0

0.274

0.153

10.0

0.219

11.4

0.192

VR /10 V

-1

ER/10 NC

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Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

15

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

(b)

x/cm

VA/106 V

1.4
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
11.4

1.57
0.548
0.366
0.274
0.219
0.192

d/cm
(distance
from B)
10.6
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.6

VB /106 V
0.058
0.076
0.102
0.153
0.306
1.020

VR/106 V
1.63
0.624
0.468
0.427
0.525
1.21

Note: The point where the resultant potential is minimum is not at the point
where the two individual potentials intersect.

JC1 2014

Page 6 of 8

Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

15

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

(c)

x/cm

EA/ 106 N
C-1

1.4
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
11.4

112
13.7
6.09
3.43
2.19
1.69

d/cm
(distance
from B)
10.6
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.6

EB/ 106 N C-1

0.55
0.96
1.70
3.82
15.3
170

ER/106 NC-1

4.39
0.39
13.1
168

Note: The point where the resultant E = 0 N C-1 and when V is minimum is at the
same point. Can you explain why?
Additional Questions
Try sketching the resultant E- r and V- r graph for
(a)
For both charges are ve
(b)

JC1 2014

One +ve and one ve charge

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Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Topic : Electric Field

16

(a)

(i)
(ii)

(b)

Assignment Solutions
H2 (9646)

A gravitational field of force is a region in space where a mass will experience a

gravitational force.
An electric field of force is a region in space where an electric charge will
experience an electric force.
Gravitational force acting on a mass is always in the same direction as that of
the gravitational field.
The electric force acting on a electric charge is in the same direction as that of
the electric field if the charge is positive but in the opposite direction if the charge
is negative.

(c)
The electric force between 2 electrons at a distance r apart is FE =

e2
4 0 r 2

G me
The gravitational force between 2 electrons at a distance r apart is FG =
r2
F
e2 1
42
42
Hence E

= 4.158 x 10 = 4.16 x 10
FG
4 0 G m e 2

JC1 2014

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