Physics 121

Midterm1

Name:

Student number

Signature:

Tutorial section:

Instructions
Answer ALL questions. On the long answer questions show all your work and explain your reasoning
for full credit. Neatness and clarity of presentation will be considered when assigning a grade. For
multiple choice questions, circle ONE answer only.
No aids other than a basic scientific calculator may be used.
Problem

4-10

Total

Max

10

/30

Electrostatics

=
=

1 2

40 12
1

40 2

= 0

20

12 =

Capacitors

E = E ds

1 2

40 12

1 2

= 2 =

20

() =

= 0 2

Mechanics

= 2

Constants

k = 9.0 109

E ds =

Qencl
0

= E dl

40

= 1 + 2

= 0

e 1.60 10

1
1

1
2

0 =

1
2

19

= + = .
Nm2
C2

C2

0 = 8.85 1012 Nm2

= 9.11 1031

g = 9.8 m/s2

Circle: Circumference=2R, Area=R2

Sphere: Area = 4R2, =

4
3

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Physics 121

Midterm1

1. [9pts] Three charges Q1, Q2, and Q3 are

arranged on the y-axis as shown in the figure
on the right. Q1 is located at (0, a), Q2 is
located at the origin, and Q3 is located at
(0,a).

Q1 = +8 C
Q2 = 12 C
Q3 = +5 C

Q1
a

Q2

(a) [4pts] Find the energy stored in the charge

configuration of Q1, Q2, and Q3 (i.e., the work that
was necessary to assemble the three charges).

a = 1 cm
Q3

y
(b) [5pts] A fourth charge q = +2 C is now brought in from infinity,
and placed on the x-axis at a distance of d = 3 cm from the origin.
All other values are the same as above.
Find the y-component of the net force of Q1, Q2, and Q3 on q.

Q1
a

Q2

d
Q3

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Physics 121

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2. [10pts] A spherical shell having inner radius a and outer radius b is centered around the origin. This
shell is made of conducting material and carries a total charge Q2. Concentric with this shell is an
insulating shell having inner radius c and outer radius d, and carrying a total charge Q3. A charge Q1 is
placed at the origin. The values of all parameters are given in the figure below.
y

Q3
Q2
Q1
a

d
c

Q1 = 2 C
Q2 = +7 C
Q3 = 3 C
a = 3 cm
b = 4 cm
c = 6 cm
d = 7 cm

insulator
metal

(a) [4pts] Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the point x = 10 cm on the xaxis.

Problem continues on next page.

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Physics 121

Midterm1

(b) [6pts] Calculate the electric potential difference V(c)-V(a) between the radius r = c = 6 cm and the
radius r = a = 3 cm.

Exam continues on next page..

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Physics 121

Midterm1

3. Four capacitors are connected to a battery in the

manner shown at right. All capacitances are given in the
table next to the figure, but the voltage V delivered by the
battery is unknown. What is known is that, when
connected to the network, the capacitor C1 acquires a
charge of magnitude |Q1| = 15 nC = 15 10-9 C on each
of its plates.

C1
C2

C3

Q1 = 15 nC
C1 = 8 pF
C2 = 6 pF
C3 = C4 = 5 pF

C4
[4pts] What is the voltage V supplied by the battery?

Exam continues on next page..

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Physics 121

Midterm1

Multiple choice questions have one correct answer. For each question, please circle the correct
answer or write your answer choice next to the question. All questions 1pt each.
4. Two charged particles are a distance d apart. The force of either one on the other has magnitude F. If
the distance between them is doubled, the magnitude of the force becomes
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

2F
F/2
4F
F/4
None of the above

5. Consider the electric dipole and field lines shown below. Compare the net electrical flux, through
the boxes marked A and B.

a. >
b. =
c. <

6. A parallel plate capacitor with plate spacing d has capacitance C0. The separation between the plates
is now increased to 2d and a dielectric having = 3 is inserted to fill the space between the plates, as
shown below. Calculate the new capacitance, C, in terms of C0.
a. C = 3/2 C0
b. C = 2/3 C0
c. C = 3 C0

C0

C =3

2d

out
7. A conducting sphere contains a cavity placed off-center from the
origin, as shown at right. A charge having value q resides inside the
cavity. The surface charge density, out, on the outer surface of the
conducting sphere is

a. uniform
b. not uniform.

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Physics 121

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8. A thin insulating rod of length L has a charge Q spread

uniformly along it. Point P is at a distance R from the middle
point of the rod.

What is the magnitude of the electric field, E, at point P? (Hint:

Do not try to derive the solution. Instead, try to select the correct
answer by considering the limiting cases).

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Q

QL
4 0 R3
Q
1
b. E
2
2 0 R ( L 4 R 2 )1/ 2
Q
1
c. E
2
2 0 R (4 L R 2 )1/ 2
a. E

The next two questions refer to the situation described below.

The electric field lines (solid) and the equipotential lines (dashed) in a certain region of space are as
shown below.
A

B
C

9. When a positive charge is moved from point A to point D, the work done by the electric field is
a. greater than the work done by the field when the same charge is moved from point B to point C
b. equal to the work done by the field when the same charge is moved from point B to point C
c. less than the work work done by the field when the same charge is moved from point B to point C
10. The electric potential at C is
a. greater than the electric potential at B
b. equal to the electric potential at B
c. less than the electric potential at B.
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