ELECTRIC FIELDS

4 Two point charges A and B each have a charge of + 6.4 × 10–19 C. They are separated in a For
vacuum by a distance of 12.0 m, as shown in Fig. 4.1. Examiner’s
Use

12.0 μm

A P Q B
+6.4 × 10–19 C +6.4 × 10–19 C

3.0 μm 3.0 μm

Fig. 4.1

Points P and Q are situated on the line AB. Point P is 3.0 m from charge A and point Q is
3.0 m from charge B.

(a) Calculate the force of repulsion between the charges A and B.

force = .......................................... N [3]

(b) Explain why, without any calculation, when a small test charge is moved from point P to
point Q, the net work done is zero.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Calculate the work done by an electron in moving from the midpoint of line AB to
point P.

work done = ........................................... J [4]

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2.
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5 An -particle is travelling in a vacuum towards the centre of a gold nucleus, as illustrated in

Fig. 5.1.

gold nucleus -particle

charge 79e energy 7.7 10–13 J

Fig. 5.1

The gold nucleus has charge 79e.

The gold nucleus and the -particle may be assumed to behave as point charges.
At a large distance from the gold nucleus, the -particle has energy 7.7 × 10–13 J.

(a) The -particle does not collide with the gold nucleus. Show that the radius of the gold nucleus
must be less than 4.7 × 10–14 m.

[3]

(b) Determine the acceleration of the -particle for a separation of 4.7 × 10–14 m between the
centres of the gold nucleus and of the -particle.

acceleration = ................................................. m s–2 [3]

(c) In an -particle scattering experiment, the beam of -particles is incident on a very thin gold
foil.
Suggest why the gold foil must be very thin.

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 7]
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 11

5 Two deuterium (21 H) nuclei are travelling directly towards one another. When their separation For
is large compared with their diameters, they each have speed v as illustrated in Fig. 5.1. Examiner’s
Use

v v

deuterium deuterium
nucleus nucleus

Fig. 5.1

The diameter of a deuterium nucleus is 1.1 × 10–14 m.

(a) Use energy considerations to show that the initial speed v of the deuterium nuclei must
be approximately 2.5 × 106 m s–1 in order that they may come into contact.
Explain your working.

[3]

(b) For a fusion reaction to occur, the deuterium nuclei must come into contact.
Assuming that deuterium behaves as an ideal gas, deduce a value for the temperature
of the deuterium such that the nuclei have an r.m.s. speed equal to the speed calculated
in (a).

temperature = .............................................. K [4]

(c) Comment on your answer to (b).

..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

© UCLES 2008 9702/04/O/N/08 [Turn over

 8

4 (a) Explain what is meant by the potential energy of a body. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

..........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]
2
(b) Two deuterium ( 1 H) nuclei each have initial kinetic energy EK and are initially separated
by a large distance.
The nuclei may be considered to be spheres of diameter 3.8 × 10–15 m with their masses
and charges concentrated at their centres.
The nuclei move from their initial positions to their final position of just touching, as
illustrated in Fig. 4.1.

2 2
initially 1H 1H

kinetic energy EK kinetic energy EK

3.8 × 10–15 m

2 2
finally 1H 1H

at rest

Fig. 4.1

(i) For the two nuclei approaching each other, calculate the total change in

1. gravitational potential energy,

energy = ............................................ J [3]

2. electric potential energy.

energy = ............................................ J [3]

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(ii) Use your answers in (i) to show that the initial kinetic energy EK of each nucleus For
is 0.19 MeV. Examiner’s
Use

[2]

(iii) The two nuclei may rebound from each other. Suggest one other effect that could
happen to the two nuclei if the initial kinetic energy of each nucleus is greater than
that calculated in (ii).

..................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]

© UCLES 2010 9702/41/M/J/10 [Turn over

 12

5 Two small solid metal spheres A and B have equal radii and are in a vacuum. Their centres are
15 cm apart.
Sphere A has charge +3.0 pC and sphere B has charge +12 pC. The arrangement is illustrated in
Fig. 5.1.

sphere A P sphere B
charge + 3.0 pC charge + 12 pC

5.0 cm

15 cm

Fig. 5.1

Point P lies on the line joining the centres of the spheres and is a distance of 5.0 cm from the
centre of sphere A.

(a) Suggest why the electric field strength in both spheres is zero.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Show that the electric field strength is zero at point P. Explain your working.

[3]

(c) Calculate the electric potential at point P.

electric potential = ..................................................... V [2]

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(d) Ag) has speed v when it is a long distance from point P.

Use your answer in (c) to calculate the minimum value of speed v such that the nucleus can
reach point P.

speed = ............................................... m s [3]

[Total: 10]

© UCLES 2016 9702/41/O/N/16 [Turn over

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6 A solid metal sphere of radius R is isolated in space. The sphere is positively charged so that the
electric potential at its surface is VS. The electric field strength at the surface is ES.

(a) On the axes of Fig. 6.1, show the variation of the electric potential with distance x from the
centre of the sphere for values of x from x = 0 to x = 3R.

1.0 Vs

0.8 Vs
potential
0.6 Vs

0.4 Vs

0.2 Vs

0
0 R 2R 3R
distance x

Fig. 6.1
[3]

(b) On the axes of Fig. 6.2, show the variation of the electric field strength with distance x from
the centre of the sphere for values of x from x = 0 to x = 3R.

1.0 Es

0.8 Es
field
strength 0.6 Es

0.4 Es

0.2 Es

0
0 R 2R 3R
distance x

Fig. 6.2
[3]

[Total: 6]

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 14

6 (a) State an expression for the electric field strength E at a distance r from a point charge Q in a
vacuum.
State the name of any other symbol used.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Two point charges A and B are situated a distance 10.0 cm apart in a vacuum, as illustrated in
Fig. 6.1.

charge A charge B

10.0 cm

Fig. 6.1

A point P lies on the line joining the charges A and B. Point P is a distance x from A.

The variation with distance x of the electric field strength E at point P is shown in Fig. 6.2.

2.5

E / 10–2 N C–1

2.0

1.5

1.0
0 2 4 6 8 10
x / cm

Fig. 6.2

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State and explain whether the charges A and B:

(i) have the same, or opposite, signs

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) have the same, or different, magnitudes.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) An electron is situated at point P.

Without calculation, state and explain the variation in the magnitude of the acceleration of the
electron as it moves from the position where x = 3 cm to the position where x = 7 cm.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 10]

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 STATIC ELECTRICITY
1. Two parallel metal plates P and Q are situated 8.0 cm apart in air, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1
Plate Q is earthed and plate P is maintained at a potential of +160 V.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.1, draw lines to represent the electric field in the region between the plates. [2]
(ii) Show that the magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 2.0x103 Vm 1.

[1]
(b) A dust particle is suspended in the air between the plates. The particle has charges of +1.2 x 10 15C and
1.2 x 10 15 C near its ends. The charges may be considered to be point charges separated by a distance of
2.5 mm, as shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2
The particle makes an angle of 35° with the direction of the electric field.
(i) On Fig. 1.2, draw arrows to show the direction of the force on each charge due to the electric field. [1]
(ii) Calculate the magnitude of the force on each charge due to the electric field.

force = ............................................. N [2]

(iii) Determine the magnitude of the couple acting on the particle.

couple = .......................................... Nm [2]

(iv) Suggest the subsequent motion of the particle in the electric field.

....................................................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................................................. [2]
2. Two horizontal metal plates X and Y are at a distance 0.75 cm apart. A positively charged particle of mass 9.6 x 10-15
kg is situated in a vacuum between the plates, as illustrated in Fig. 2.1

plate X

0.75 cm +

plate Y

Fig. 2.1
The potential difference between the plates is adjusted until the particle remains stationary.
(a) State, with a reason, which plate, X or Y, is positively charged.

(b) The potential difference required for the particle to be stationary between the plates is found to be 630 V.
Calculate
(i) the electric field strength between the plates,

-1
[2]
(ii) the charge on the particle.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. An electron is situated in a uniform electric field, as B
shown in the diagram.

What is the direction of the electric force acting on

the electron?
A downwards B to the left C
C to the right D upwards

2. Two parallel, conducting plates with air between

them are placed close to one another. The top
plate is given a negative charge and the bottom one is
earthed. Which diagram best represents the D
distribution of charges and the field in this situation?
A
3. An electron travelling horizontally in a vacuum enters the region between two horizontal
metal plates, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1

The lower plate is earthed and the upper plate is at a potential of + 400V. The separation of the plates is 0.80 cm.
The electric field between the plates may be assumed to be uniform and outside the plates to be zero.
(a) On Fig. 3.1,
(i) draw an arrow at P to show the direction of the force on the electron due to the electric field between the plates,
(ii) sketch the path of the electron as it passes between the plates and beyond them.
[3]
(b) Determine the electric field strength E between the plates.

E [2]
(c) Calculate, for the electron between the plates, the magnitude of (i) the force on the electron,

(ii) its acceleration.

[4]
(d) State and explain the effect, if any, of this electric field on the horizontal component of the motion of the
electron.

...........................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................................[2]
4. Two large flat metal plates A and B are placed 9.0 cm apart in a vacuum, as illustrated
in Fig.4.1 plate A plate B

9.0 cm

450 V

Fig. 4.1
A potential difference of 450 V is maintained between the plates by means of a battery.
(a) (i) On Fig. 4.1, draw an arrow to indicate the direction of the electric field between plates A and B.
(ii) Calculate the electric field strength between A and B.

-1

[3]
(b) An electron is released from rest at the surface of plate A.
(i) Show that the change in electric potential energy in moving from plate A to plate B is 7.2 x 10-17 J.

(ii) Determine the speed of the electron on reaching plate B.

-1

[4]
(c) On the axes of Fig. 4.2, sketch a graph to show the variation with distance d from plate A of the speed V of the
electron. [1]

d/cm
0 2 4 6 8 10
Fig. 4.2