EET 1156 Basic Electrical Technology

TUTORIAL 3

ELECTRIC FIELDS
Question 1

Calculate the distance of separation between two electrons (in vacuum) for which the
electric force between them is equal to the gravitational on one of them at the earth
surface.
Mass of electron = 9.1 x 10-31 kg
Charge of electron = 1.6 x 10-19 C

Question 2

Two point charges Q1 and Q2 with equal magnitude of 35C but opposite sign are
separated in air by a distance of 20 cm as shown in figure below and an electron is
located midway between these charges. Calculate the magnitude of net force experienced
by the electron.

Q1 = 35C Electron Q3 = -35C

= 1.6 X 10-19C
Question 3

Find the radius of an isolated sphere capable of being charged to 106 V potential before
sparking into air, given that electric field intensity is equal to 3  10 6 V/cm.

Question 4

A 0.23 cm thick sheet of fibre with a relative permittivity of 5 is inserted between two
parallel metal plates 0.25 cm apart. A potential difference of 2500 V is applied between
the plates. Determine the electric field intensity in the fibre and in the air film between
the fibre and the metal plates.

Question 5

A parallel plate capacitor has plates 0.15 mm apart and a dielectric with permittivity of 3.
Find the electric field intensity and the voltage between plates if the surface charge is
5  10 4 C / cm .
2
Question 6

A capacitor consists of two similar square aluminium plates, each 10 cm x 10 cm

mounted parallel and opposite to each other. What is their capacitance when the distance
between them is 1 cm and the dielectric is air? If is the capacitor is given a charge of 500
pC, what will be the difference of potential between plates? How will this be affected if
the space between the plates is filled with wax which has a relative permittivity of 4 ?

Question 7

Calculate the dielectric flux between two parallel plates each 35 cm 2 with an air-gap of
1.5 mm between them, the pd being 3000 V. A sheet of insulating material 1 mm thick is
inserted between the plates, the permittivity of the insulating material being 6. Find out
the potential gradient in the insulating material and also in air if the voltage across the
plates is raised to 7, 500 V.

Question 8

The capacitance of the capacitor formed by two parallel plates, each 100 cm 2 in area
separated by a dielectric 2 mm thick is 2  10 4  F. A potential difference of 20 kV is
applied. Find (i) the dielectric flux (ii) the potential gradient (iii) the permittivity of the
material.