ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

J. Cadondon
2016

Second semester, 2015-

1. Calculate the electric potential energy of the adenine thymine bond, using the
same combinations of molecules (O-H-N and N-H-N).
The equation for the electric potential energy:
'

kq q
U=
r

Since the O has a negative ion, hydrogen has a positive ion and nitrogen has a
negative ion for the bond:
For O-H-N,

+ :
H
O

U=

( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 1.60 x 1019 ) ( 1.60 x 1019 )

9

0.170 x 10

U=1.35 x 1018 J

N
O

U=

( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 1.60 x 1019 ) (1.60 x 1019 )

0.280 x 109
19

U=8.22 x 10

For N-H-N,

+ :
H
N

U=

( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 1.60 x 1019 ) ( 1.60 x 1019 )

9

0.190 x 10

U=1.21 x 1018 J
:
N
N

U=

( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 1.60 x 1019 ) (1.60 x 1019 )

0.280 x 10

U=7.67 x 1019 J

To compute for the total potential energy,

U tot =U OH +U ON + U NH +U NN
18

U tot =1.35 x 10

19

J + 8.22 x 10

18

J 1.21 x 10

19

J +7.67 x 10

U tot =9.71 X 1019 J

2. Three equal 1.20-C point charges are placed at the corners of an equilateral
triangle whose sides are 0.500-m long. What is the potential energy of the
system? (Take as zero the potential energy of the three charges when they
are infinitely far apart.)
Ua

Ub

Uc

U tot =U ab +U ac +U bc
Since all the charges are equal and each pair has the same separation distance of
0.500m.

U tot =U ab=U ac =U bc
The equation for the electric potential energy:
'

U=

kq q
r

The final electric potential energy:

U=

3 k q2
r
9

6 2

3 ( 8.99 x 10 ) ( 1.2 x 10 )

0.500
U=0.078 J

3. Two protons are released from rest when they are 0.750nm apart. (a) What is
the maximum speed they will reach? When does this speed occur? ( b) What
is the maximum aceleration they will achieve? When does tis acceleration
occur?
Protons will repel each other. As an effect, their kinetic enrgy increases but
the acceleration decreases. Applying the conservation of enrgy and Netons
laws,

Eb =Ea
K b +U b =K a +U a
The Potential energy before the interaction is the same with the kinetic
energy after. Since at rest, Kb = 0 and Ub = ke 2/r. After the interaction, Ua
= 0 and Ka = mv2 + mv2 = mv2(one for each proton).

0+

ke
=m v2 +0
r

Solving for v,

v=

k e2
mr

( 8.99 x 109 ) ( 1.60 x 1019 )

( 1.67 x 1027) ( 0.750 x 109 )

v =1.36 x 104 m/s

As they go farther, the acceleration decreases. Therefore, the maximum
accelration was achieved at r = 0.750nm. Using Coulombs law, the
magnitude of the force is

F=

k e2
r2

( 8.99 x 109 ) ( 1.60 x 1019 )

2
( 0.750 x 109 )
10

F=4.09 x 10

To solve for the accelration, F = ma.

F ( 4.09 x 10 )
a= =
=2.45 x 1017 m/s 2
27
m 1.67 x 10
10

4. A thin spherical shell with radius R1 = 3.00cm is concentric with a larger thin
spherical shell with radius R2 = 5.00cm. Both shells are made of insulating
material. The smaller shell has charge q1 = +6.00nC distributed uniformly
over its surface, and the larger shell has a charge q2 = -9.00nC distributed
uniformly over its surface. Take the electric potential to be zerto at an infinite
distance from both shells. (a) What is the electric potential due to the two
shells at the following distance from the common center: (i) r = 0; (ii) r

=4.00cm; (ii) r = 6.0cm? (b) What is the magnitude of the potential differenc
between the surfaces of the shells? Which shell is at higher potential; the
inner or the outer shell?
R2
R1

The equations needed for each distance is given by the equation,

V = kq/R for r R
shell.

and

V = kq/r for r > R

where r varies within the

For r = 0, the point is found at inside both shells therfore following their radius as
distance.

V=
V=

kq kq
+
R1 R2

( 8.99 x 10 9) ( 6.00 x 109 ) ( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 9.00 x 109 )

0.0300
3

V=

V=

0.0500
3

1.798 x 10 J 1.618 x 10 J
+
C
C

180 J
180V
C

For r =4.00cm, the point is found outside the smaller shell and inside the larger
shell. The radius now of the smaller shell is 4.00cm and the larger shell is 5.00cm.

V=

kq kq
+
r R2

V=
V=

V=

( 8.99 x 10 9) ( 6.00 x 109 ) ( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 9.00 x 109 )

+

0.0400

0.0500

1.348 x 103 J 1.618 x 103 J

+
C
C

270 J
270 V
C

For r =6.00cm, the point is found outside the two spherical shells. Therofre, the
radius for both shell is r = 6.00cm.

V=
V=
V=

V=

kq kq
+
r r

( 8.99 x 10 9) ( 6.00 x 109 ) ( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 9.00 x 109 )

+

0.0600
899 J 1348.5 J
+
C
C

0.0600

449.5 J
449.5 V
c

At the surface of the smaller shell, the radius is R1. At this point, it is also found
inside the larger shell.

V=
V=

kq kq
+
R1 R2

( 8.99 x 10 9) ( 6.00 x 109 ) ( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 9.00 x 109 )

0.0300
3

V=

V=

0.0500
3

1.798 x 10 J 1.618 x 10 J
+
C
C

270 J
270 V
C

At the surface of the larger shell, the radius is R 2. It is also found outside the
smaller shell therefore, its radius is also r = R2 = 5.00cm.

V=
V=

kq kq
+
r R2

( 8.99 x 10 9) ( 6.00 x 109 ) ( 8.99 x 10 9 )( 9.00 x 109 )

0.0500
3

V=

V=

0.0500
3

1.079 x 10 J 1.618 x 10 J
+
C
C

539 J
539 V
C

To solve for the potential difference, V12 = V1 V2. In this case, V1 is at

the surface of the smaller shell and V2 is at the surface of the larger shell.

V 12=V 1V 2
V 12=180 V (539 V )=719V .
The potential difference starts at higher potential going to the lower potential. In
this case, the smaller shell is at higher potential. The potential difference is due to
the charge present in the smaller shell.