PHYS 102 General Physics II

Summer 2015 16, Midterm Exam 1 Solutions

11 June 2016, 13:30
1. Two point charges are placed on axis as shown in
the figure. The first one has a charge +2 and
coordinate ( , 0). The second one has a charge
and coordinate (, 0). Please use vector notation to
answer the following questions, that is, if you have a
vector it should be written as = + + .
(a) (8 Pts.) What is the force on the first particle due to

the second particle (

12 ) and vice versa (21 )?
Solution:

F12

(2Q)(Q)
Q2
i

i.
4 0 (2a) 2
8 0 a 2

F21 F12

Q 2
i.
8 0 a 2

y
(b) (9 Pts.) What is the total electric field along the line
connecting the two point charges (as a function of )?

2Q

Solution:

2Q
Q
i , E
i .
E1
2
2
2
4 0 (a x)
4 0 (a x)

E E1 E2

Q 3a 2 3x 2 2ax
i.
4 0 a 2 x 2 2

y
(c) (9 Pts.) What is the total electric field along the
axis (as a function of )?
Solution:

y
2
2Q

2Q
E1
cos i sin j ,
4 0 (a 2 y 2 )

E2

-Q

2 + 2
-Q

Q
a
y
cos i sin j , cos
, sin
2
2
2
2
2
4 0 (a y )
a y
a y2

E E1 E2

Q
3a i y j .
4 0 (a 2 y 2 )3/2

(d) (8 Pts.) Draw the electric field lines. Comment on the meaning of your drawing and its relationship to
your answers in part (b) and (c).

(d) (8 Pts.) Solution:

The electric field lines along the axis are closer together in the left hand side compared to the right hand
side. This is in accordance with the answer in part (b). The electric field lines along the axis are
pointing towards right with a little contribution in direction. This is in accordance with the answer in
part (c).

2. (a) (10 Pts.) A uniform field E is parallel to the axis of a hollow hemisphere of
radius r. What is the electric flux through the hemispherical surface?
Solution:
From the figure, we see that the flux outward through the hemispherical
surface is the same as the flux inward through the circular surface base of the
hemisphere. On that surface all of the flux is perpendicular to the surface. So, we say that on the circular base, E A.
Thus E E A r 2 E.
(b) (23 Pts.) Two thin concentric spherical shells of radii r1 and r2 r1 < r2 contain uniform surface charge densities

1 and 2 , respectively. Determine the electric field for 0 < r < r1 , r1 < r < r2 , and
r > r2 . Under what conditions will E 0 for r > r2 ? Neglect the thickness of the
shells.
Solution:
In the region 0 r r1 , a gaussian surface would enclose no charge. Thus, due to the spherical symmetry, we have

 E dA E 4 r
2

Qencl

0 E 0.

In the region r1 r r2 , only the charge on the inner shell will be enclosed. Therefore

E dA E 4 r
2

Qencl

1 4 r12

1r12
E
.
0r 2

In the region r2 r, the charge on both shells will be enclosed. So

2
E dA E 4 r

Qencl

1 4 r12 2 4 r22
0

1r12 2 r22
.
0r 2

To make E 0 for r2 r, we must have 1r12 2 r22 0. This implies that the shells are of
opposite charge.

3. The electric potential in a region of space is given by (, , ) = (2 2 3 2 + 2 ),

where is in volts, the coordinates are in meters, and is a constant.
a) (11 Pts.) Find the electric field in this region (express the result in terms of unit vectors).
Solution:

V
V
V
E Ex i Ey j Ez k , where Ex
4 Ax , E y
6 Ay , Ez
2 Az .
x
y
z
Hence

E 2 A 2 x i 3 y j z k .

1
2

b) (11 Pts.) If the work done by the field on a 4-C test charge when it moves from point ( , 0,1) m to the origin
(0,0,0) is 3.105 J, what is ? (: 1 = 106)
Solution:

WE U q0 V q0 (V f Vi ) . Vi V ( 12 , 0,1)

WE q0 V

3A 2
m , V f V (0, 0, 0) 0 . Since q0 4 106 C ,
2

3
q0 A 3 105 J and we have A 5V / m2 .
2
1
2

c) (11 Pts.) Find the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the test charge at the point ( , 0,1) m.
Solution:

E( 12 , 0,1) 10(i k ) V / m E 10 2 V / m . F q0 E 4 2 105 N .