Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
University Physics Volume 2

# Chapter 7

Menu

### Check Your Understanding

7.1

$K = 1 2 m v 2 , v = 2 K m = 2 4.5 × 10 −7 J 4.00 × 10 −9 kg = 15 m/s K = 1 2 m v 2 , v = 2 K m = 2 4.5 × 10 −7 J 4.00 × 10 −9 kg = 15 m/s$

7.2

It has kinetic energy of $4.5×10−7J4.5×10−7J$ at point $r2r2$ and potential energy of $9.0×10−7J,9.0×10−7J,$ which means that as Q approaches infinity, its kinetic energy totals three times the kinetic energy at $r2,r2,$ since all of the potential energy gets converted to kinetic.

7.3

positive, negative, and these quantities are the same as the work you would need to do to bring the charges in from infinity

7.4

$Δ U = q Δ V = ( 100 C ) ( 1.5 V ) = 150 J Δ U = q Δ V = ( 100 C ) ( 1.5 V ) = 150 J$

7.5

–2.00 C, $ne=1.25×1019electronsne=1.25×1019electrons$

7.6

It would be going in the opposite direction, with no effect on the calculations as presented.

7.7

Given a fixed maximum electric field strength, the potential at which a strike occurs increases with increasing height above the ground. Hence, each electron will carry more energy. Determining if there is an effect on the total number of electrons lies in the future.

7.8

$V=kqr=(8.99×109N·m2/C2)(−3.00×10−9C5.00×10−3m)=−5390V;V=kqr=(8.99×109N·m2/C2)(−3.00×10−9C5.00×10−3m)=−5390V;$ recall that the electric field inside a conductor is zero. Hence, any path from a point on the surface to any point in the interior will have an integrand of zero when calculating the change in potential, and thus the potential in the interior of the sphere is identical to that on the surface.

7.9

The x-axis the potential is zero, due to the equal and opposite charges the same distance from it. On the z-axis, we may superimpose the two potentials; we will find that for $z>>dz>>d$, again the potential goes to zero due to cancellation.

7.10

It will be zero, as at all points on the axis, there are equal and opposite charges equidistant from the point of interest. Note that this distribution will, in fact, have a dipole moment.

7.11

Any, but cylindrical is closest to the symmetry of a dipole.

7.12

infinite cylinders of constant radius, with the line charge as the axis

### Conceptual Questions

1.

No. We can only define potential energies for conservative fields.

3.

No, though certain orderings may be simpler to compute.

5.

The electric field strength is zero because electric potential differences are directly related to the field strength. If the potential difference is zero, then the field strength must also be zero.

7.

Potential difference is more descriptive because it indicates that it is the difference between the electric potential of two points.

9.

They are very similar, but potential difference is a feature of the system; when a charge is introduced to the system, it will have a potential energy which may be calculated by multiplying the magnitude of the charge by the potential difference.

11.

An electron-volt is a volt multiplied by the charge of an electron. Volts measure potential difference, electron-volts are a unit of energy.

13.

The second has 1/4 the dipole moment of the first.

15.

The region outside of the sphere will have a potential indistinguishable from a point charge; the interior of the sphere will have a different potential.

17.

No. It will be constant, but not necessarily zero.

19.

no

21.

No; it might not be at electrostatic equilibrium.

23.

Yes. It depends on where the zero reference for potential is. (Though this might be unusual.)

25.

So that lightning striking them goes into the ground instead of the television equipment.

27.

They both make use of static electricity to stick small particles to another surface. However, the precipitator has to charge a wide variety of particles, and is not designed to make sure they land in a particular place.

### Problems

29.

a. $U=3.4J;U=3.4J;$
b. $12mv2=Q1Q2(1ri−1rf)→v=2.4x104m/s12mv2=Q1Q2(1ri−1rf)→v=2.4x104m/s$

31.

$U = 4.36 × 10 −18 J U = 4.36 × 10 −18 J$

33.

$1 2 m e v e 2 = q V , 1 2 m H v H 2 = q V , so that m e v e 2 m H v H 2 = 1 or v e v H = 42.8 1 2 m e v e 2 = q V , 1 2 m H v H 2 = q V , so that m e v e 2 m H v H 2 = 1 or v e v H = 42.8$

35.

$1 V = 1 J/C; 1 J = 1 N · m → 1 V/m = 1 N/C 1 V = 1 J/C; 1 J = 1 N · m → 1 V/m = 1 N/C$

37.

a. $VAB=3.00kVVAB=3.00kV$; b. $VAB=750VVAB=750V$

39.

a. $VAB=Ed→E=5.63kV/mVAB=Ed→E=5.63kV/m$;
b. $VAB=563VVAB=563V$

41.

a. $ΔK=qΔVandVAB=Ed,so thatΔK=800keV;ΔK=qΔVandVAB=Ed,so thatΔK=800keV;$
b. $d=25.0kmd=25.0km$

43.

One possibility is to stay at constant radius and go along the arc from $P1P1$ to $P2P2$, which will have zero potential due to the path being perpendicular to the electric field. Then integrate from a to b: $Vab=αln(ba)Vab=αln(ba)$

45.

$V = 144 V V = 144 V$

47.

$V=kQr→Q=8.33×10−7CV=kQr→Q=8.33×10−7C$;
The charge is positive because the potential is positive.

49.

a. $V=45.0MVV=45.0MV$;
b. $V=kQr→r=45.0mV=kQr→r=45.0m$;
c. $ΔU=132MeVΔU=132MeV$

51.

$V=kQ/rV=kQ/r$; a. Relative to origin, find the potential at each point and then calculate the difference.
$ΔV=135×103VΔV=135×103V$;
b. To double the potential difference, move the point from 20 cm to infinity; the potential at 20 cm is halfway between zero and that at 10 cm.

53.

a. $VP1=7.4×105VVP1=7.4×105V$
and $VP2=6.9×103VVP2=6.9×103V$;
b. $VP1=6.9×105VVP1=6.9×105V$ and $VP2=6.9×103VVP2=6.9×103V$

55.

The problem is describing a uniform field, so $E=200V/mE=200V/m$ in the –z-direction.

57.

Apply $E→=−∇→VE→=−∇→V$ with $∇→=r^∂∂r+φ^1r∂∂φ+z^∂∂z∇→=r^∂∂r+φ^1r∂∂φ+z^∂∂z$ to the potential calculated earlier,
$V=−2kλlns:E→=2kλ1rr^V=−2kλlns:E→=2kλ1rr^$ as expected.

59.

a. increases; the constant (negative) electric field has this effect, the reference point only matters for magnitude; b. they are planes parallel to the sheet; c. 0.006 m/V

61.

a. from the previous chapter, the electric field has magnitude $σε0σε0$ in the region between the plates and zero outside; defining the negatively charged plate to be at the origin and zero potential, with the positively charged plate located at $+5mm+5mm$ in the z-direction, $V=1.7×104VV=1.7×104V$ so the potential is 0 for $z<0,1.7×104V(z5mm)z<0,1.7×104V(z5mm)$ for $0≤z≤5mm,1.7×104V0≤z≤5mm,1.7×104V$ for $z>5mm;z>5mm;$
b. $qV=12mv2→v=7.7×107m/sqV=12mv2→v=7.7×107m/s$

63.

$V = 85 V V = 85 V$

65.

In the region $a≤r≤b,E→=kQr2r^a≤r≤b,E→=kQr2r^$, and E is zero elsewhere; hence, the potential difference is $V=kQ(1a−1b)V=kQ(1a−1b)$.

67.

From previous results $VP−VR=−2kλlnsPsR.VP−VR=−2kλlnsPsR.$, note that b is a very convenient location to define the zero level of potential: $ΔV=−2kQLlnab.ΔV=−2kQLlnab.$

69.

a. $F=5.58×10−11N/CF=5.58×10−11N/C$;

The electric field is towards the surface of Earth. b. The coulomb force is much stronger than gravity.

71.

We know from the Gauss’s law chapter that the electric field for an infinite line charge is $E→P=2kλ1ss^E→P=2kλ1ss^$, and from earlier in this chapter that the potential of a wire-cylinder system of this sort is $VP=−2kλlnsPRVP=−2kλlnsPR$ by integration. We are not given $λλ$, but we are given a fixed $V0V0$; thus, we know that $V0=−2kλlnaRV0=−2kλlnaR$ and hence $λ=−V02kln(aR)λ=−V02kln(aR)$. We may substitute this back in to find a. $E→P=−V0ln(aR)1ss^E→P=−V0ln(aR)1ss^$; b. $VP=V0ln(sPR)ln(aR)VP=V0ln(sPR)ln(aR)$; c. $4.74×104N/C4.74×104N/C$

73.

a. $U1=7.68×10−18JU2=5.76×10−18JU1=7.68×10−18JU2=5.76×10−18J$;
b. $U1+U2=−1.34×10−17JU1+U2=−1.34×10−17J$

75.

a. $U=2.30×10−16JU=2.30×10−16J$;
b. $K−=32kT→T=1.11×107KK−=32kT→T=1.11×107K$

77.

a. $1.9×106m/s1.9×106m/s$; b. $4.2×106m/s4.2×106m/s$; c. $5.9×106m/s5.9×106m/s$; d. $7.3×106m/s7.3×106m/s$; e. $8.4×106m/s8.4×106m/s$

79.

a. $E=2.5×106V/m<3×106V/mNo, the field strength is smaller than the breakdown strength for air.E=2.5×106V/m<3×106V/mNo, the field strength is smaller than the breakdown strength for air.$;
b. $d=1.7mmd=1.7mm$

81.

$K f = q V AB = q E d → E = 8.00 × 10 5 V/m K f = q V AB = q E d → E = 8.00 × 10 5 V/m$

83.

a. $Energy=2.00×109JEnergy=2.00×109J$;
b. $Q=m(cΔT+L∇)m=766kgQ=m(cΔT+L∇)m=766kg$;
c. The expansion of the steam upon boiling can literally blow the tree apart.

85.

a. $V=kQr→r=1.80kmV=kQr→r=1.80km$; b. A 1-C charge is a very large amount of charge; a sphere of 1.80 km is impractical.

87.

The alpha particle approaches the gold nucleus until its original energy is converted to potential energy. $5.00MeV=8.00×10−13J5.00MeV=8.00×10−13J$, so
$E0=qkQr→r=4.54×10−14mE0=qkQr→r=4.54×10−14m$
(Size of gold nucleus is about $7×10−15m7×10−15m$).

### Additional Problems

89.

$E tot = 4.67 × 10 7 J E tot = q V → q = E tot V = 3.89 × 10 6 C E tot = 4.67 × 10 7 J E tot = q V → q = E tot V = 3.89 × 10 6 C$

91.

$V P = k q tot z 2 + R 2 → q tot = −3.5 × 10 −11 C V P = k q tot z 2 + R 2 → q tot = −3.5 × 10 −11 C$

93.

$V P = −2.2 GV V P = −2.2 GV$

95.

Recall from the previous chapter that the electric field $EP=σ02ε0EP=σ02ε0$ is uniform throughout space, and that for uniform fields we have $E=−ΔVΔzE=−ΔVΔz$ for the relation. Thus, we get $σ2ε0=ΔVΔz→Δz=0.22mσ2ε0=ΔVΔz→Δz=0.22m$ for the distance between 25-V equipotentials.

97.

a. Take the result from Example 7.13, divide both the numerator and the denominator by x, take the limit of that, and then apply a Taylor expansion to the resulting log to get: $VP≈kλLxVP≈kλLx$; b. which is the result we expect, because at great distances, this should look like a point charge of $q=λLq=λL$

99.

a. $V=9.0×103VV=9.0×103V$; b. $−9.0×103V(1.25cm2.0cm)=−5.7×103V−9.0×103V(1.25cm2.0cm)=−5.7×103V$

101.

a. $E=KQr2→Q=−6.76×105CE=KQr2→Q=−6.76×105C$;
b. $F=ma=qE→a=qEm=2.63×1013m/s2(upwards)F=ma=qE→a=qEm=2.63×1013m/s2(upwards)$;
c. $F=−mg=qE→m=−qEg=2.45×10−18kgF=−mg=qE→m=−qEg=2.45×10−18kg$

103.

If the electric field is zero ¼ from the way of $q1andq2q1andq2$, then we know from
$E=kQr2that|E1|=|E2|→Kq1x2=Kq2(3x)2so thatq2q1=(3x)2x2=9E=kQr2that|E1|=|E2|→Kq1x2=Kq2(3x)2so thatq2q1=(3x)2x2=9$; the charge $q2q2$ is 9 times larger than $q1q1$.

105.

a. The field is in the direction of the electron’s initial velocity.
b. $v2=v02+2ax→x=−v022a(v=0).Also,F=ma=qE→a=qEm,x=3.56×10−4m;v2=v02+2ax→x=−v022a(v=0).Also,F=ma=qE→a=qEm,x=3.56×10−4m;$
c. $v2=v0+at→t=−v0mqE(v=0),∴t=1.42×10−10s;v2=v0+at→t=−v0mqE(v=0),∴t=1.42×10−10s;$
d. $v=−(2qExm)1/2−5.00×106m/s(opposite its initial velocity)v=−(2qExm)1/2−5.00×106m/s(opposite its initial velocity)$

### Challenge Problems

107.

Answers will vary. This appears to be proprietary information, and ridiculously difficult to find. Speeds will be 20 m/s or less, and there are claims of $~10−7~10−7$ grams for the mass of a drop.

109.

Apply $E→=−∇→VE→=−∇→V$ with $∇→=r^∂∂r+θ^1r∂∂θ+φ^1rsinθ∂∂φ∇→=r^∂∂r+θ^1r∂∂θ+φ^1rsinθ∂∂φ$ to the potential calculated earlier, $VP=kp→·r^r2VP=kp→·r^r2$ with $p→=qd→,p→=qd→,$ and assume that the axis of the dipole is aligned with the z-axis of the coordinate system. Thus, the potential is $VP=kqd→·r^r2=kqdcosθr2VP=kqd→·r^r2=kqdcosθr2$.
$E→=2kqd(cosθr3)r^+kqd(sinθr3)θ^E→=2kqd(cosθr3)r^+kqd(sinθr3)θ^$

Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Citation/Attribution

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
• If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
• If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jan 19, 2023 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.