Solution for Multiple-Choice Homework 5 Gauss Law

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.1(Electric Field for Spherical Shells)

Problem: The figure to the right shows two charged spherical
shells. The inner shell has radius a and charge density a =
2. The outer shell has radius b and charge density b = +3.
Calculate the electric field in Region II between the two shells
(a < r < b).

y
III
II

Select One of the Following:

a
I
Air

(a) 0
2a2
r
(b-Answer)
0 r 2
a2
(c) +
r
20 r2
5a2
(d)
r
40 r2
a2
(e) +
r
40 r2
2a2 + 3b2
(f)
r
40 r2

Air

x
b

Air

Solution
The charge enclosed by a Gaussian surface in Region II is the charge of the inner shell, Qenc = 8a2 .The
electric field between the two shells is then
2
2
~ II = Qenc = (4a )(2) r = 2a r
E
40 r2
40 r2
0 r 2

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.2(Flux Through Hoop Normal Perpendicular)

Problem: A square hoop with sides of length 3.0m is in a uniform electric field with magnitude 1.0 105 N
C . Its
normal is perpendicular to the field (careful here). What is the flux through the hoop?
Select One of the Following:
(a-Answer) 0
2
(b) 3.0 105 N
Cm
2
(c) 1.0 105 N
Cm
2
(d) 6.0 105 N
Cm
2
(e) 9.0 105 N
Cm

Solution
The electric flux through the loop is 0, because the electric field is perpendicular to the surface normal, so no field
lines pass through the surface. This could be a loop in the x y plane with an electric field in the x direction.
The normal for the loop is in the z direction. Since the normal and the field are perpendicular, the flux must be
zero.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.3(Flux Through the Surface for

Different Charge Locations)
Problem: The figure to the right shows a spherical Gaussian
surface. A point charge +Q is placed at one of three points inside
the surface. Rank the electric flux out of the surface, A , B ,
and C , for each placement.

Select One of the Following:

(a-Answer) A = B = C

(b) A > B > C

(c) A < B < C

(d) A = B < C
(e) A < B = C
(f) A > B = C

Solution
The flux is the same for each scenario listed. The electric flux depends only on the charge inside the surface, not
.
the location. Gauss Law tells us = Qenc
0
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.4(When is Gauss Law True?)

Problem: For what kind of charge distributions does Gausss law hold?
Select One of the Following:
(a) only highly symmetric charge distributions
(b) any symmetric charge distribution
(c-Answer) any charge distribution
(d) positive charge distributions
(e) negative charge distributions
Solution
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points
Gauss Law is always true.

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.5(Flux Through Wedding Ring Normal Parallel)
Problem: A wedding ring is a circle with radius 1.0cm. If the normal to the surface bounded by the ring is
parallel to the earths electric field of 150 N
C , what is the electric flux through the ring?
Select One of the Following:
2
(a) 1.5 102 N
Cm
2
(b) 2.3 102 N
Cm
2
(c-Answer) 4.7 102 N
Cm

2
(d) 3.5 101 N
Cm

(e) 0
Solution
Since the field is uniform and the normal is parallel to the field, the electric flux through the loop is

N
N
2
(1 102 m)2 = 4.7 102 m2
= EA = ER = 150
C
C
since the normal is parallel to the field.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.6(Electric Flux of Sphere Charged

by Battery)
Problem: If a metal sphere of radius 1cm is charged with a D cell battery, a charge of 1.7 1012 C is
developed. If this sphere is then placed in a cubic box with edges of length 30.0cm. What is the electric flux out
of the box?
Select One of the Following:
(a) 2.7 1015 Nm2 /C
(b) 4.6 1014 Nm2 /C
(c) 1.7 104 Nm2 /C
(d) 5.2 103 Nm2 /C
(e-Answer) 0.19Nm2 /C
Solution
By Gauss Law, the magnitude of the total electric flux out of a cube containing a net charge Q is proportional
to the charge
Nm2
1.7 1012 C
Qenclosed
= 0.19
=
=
2
C
0
C
8.85 1012 Nm2
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.7(Charge to Produce Tabletop Accelerator Fields)

Problem: A tabletop accelerator uses lasers to accelerate electrons. The accelerator produces an electric field
11 N
of 100, 000, 000, 000 N
C = 1 10 C . How much charge would I have to put on a pith ball of radius 0.5cm to
11 N
produce a field of 1 10 C at its surface?
Select One of the Following:
(a) 6 102 C
(b-Answer) 3 104 C
(c) 5 102 C
(d) 4 106 C
(e) 2 102 C
Solution

Outside a spherical system, the field is that of a point charge at the center of the system. If R is the radius of
the pith ball and Q its charge, then the field at its surface is E = kQ/R2 . The charge required for the given field
is then
3
(1 1011 N
m)2
ER2
C )(5 10
Q=
=
= 3 104 C
2
Nm
k
8.99 109 C2
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.8(Electric Field for Spherical Shells)

Problem: The figure to the right shows two charged spherical
shells. The inner shell has radius a and charge density a =
+2. The outer shell has radius b and charge density b = 3.
Calculate the electric field at points in Region I inside the inner
shell, at a radius of r < a.

y
III

Select One of the Following:

II
a
I
Air

(a-Answer) 0

(b)
r
40 r2

r
(c) +
40 r2
4a2
(d)
r
40 r2
4a2
(e) +
r
40 r2
4a2 9b2
(f)
r
40 r2

Air

x
b

Air

Solution
A spherical Gaussian surface in Region I encloses no charge, therefore the field in Region I is zero.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.9(Charge in Gauss Law )

Problem: The figure to the right shows a surface and two point
charges QA and QB . If Gauss law is applied to the surface, which
of the charges must be included in the charge used in Gauss law?
Select One of the Following:
(a) neither charge should be included
(b) both charges should be included

QA

(c-Answer) only charge QA should be included

(d) only charge QB should be included

Solution
Only the charge QA needs to be used in Gauss law. Gauss law applies to the charge inside the surface.
4

QB

Total Points for Problem: 3 Points

Solution to Multiple-Choice Homework Problem 5.10(Qualitative Direction of Field

Lines In Region )
Problem: The two thin concentric spherical shells each have uniform surface charge densities. The total charge
on the inner shell is +Q and the total charge on the outer shell is Q. Which of the following best describes the
direction of the electric field between the shells?
Select One of the Following:
(a-Answer) The electric field between the shells points radially outward from the center of the system.
(b) The electric field between the shells points radially inward toward the center of the system.
(c) The electric field between the shells points radially outward from the center of the system near the inner
shell and changes direction to radially inward near the outer shell.
(d) The electric field between the shells points radially inward from the center of the system near the inner shell
and changes direction to radially outward near the outer shell.
(e) The electric field lines are concentric circles around the inner shell.
Solution
The charge of the inner shell is positive, so the field lines point radially inward, since Gauss law applies only to
the charge inside.
Total Points for Problem: 3 Points