AP Physics C - AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism

Card 0 of 20

Question

A straight copper wire has a fixed voltage applied across its length. Which of the following changes would increase the power dissipated by this wire?

Answer

Relevant equations:

$R = \frac{\rho L}{A}$

Current and resistance are inversely proportional to one another, assuming voltage is fixed. Since , changes in current effect the power more than changes in resistance do. Thus, we need current to increase, meaning that resistance must decrease.

To decrease resistance, we could:

1. Change the material of the wire to one of lesser resistivity

2. Decrease the length of the wire

3. Increase the cross-sectional area of the wire

4. Decrease the temperature of the wire (very slight effect on resistance)

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A battery is measured to have a potential of 5V. When connected to a wire with no resistors or other components, the voltage measured is 4.9V.

If the current through the wire is measured to be 2A, how much thermal energy is being lost per second as soon as the wire is connected to the battery?

Answer

First, we must know that the wire has some internal resistance . To calculate this, we need to know the potential drop through the wire, which must be the difference we saw from the initial voltage reading to the second. This value, 0.1V, we plug into Ohm's law to calculate the resistance of the wire.

$R=0.05\Omega$

The question asks for energy lost per second; this value is equivalent to the power.

Use our values to solve.

$P=(2A)^2(0.05\Omega)=0.2W$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A simple circuit contains two $12\Omega$ resistors in parallel, connected to a 20V source. What power is being provided by the source to the circuit?

Answer

The power supplied to the circuit can be calculated using the equation:

$P=IV=\frac{V^2}{R}$

To use this equation, we need to find the equivalent resistance of the circuit. Use the equation for equivalent resistance in parallel:

$\frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}$

$\frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{12\Omega}+\frac{1}{12\Omega}=\frac{1}{6\Omega}$

$R_{eq}=6\Omega$

Now that we have the resistance and the voltage, we can solve for the power.

$P=\frac{V^2}{R}=\frac{(20V)^2}{6\Omega}\approx 67W$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A straight copper wire has a fixed voltage applied across its length. Which of the following changes would increase the power dissipated by this wire?

Answer

Relevant equations:

$R = \frac{\rho L}{A}$

Current and resistance are inversely proportional to one another, assuming voltage is fixed. Since , changes in current effect the power more than changes in resistance do. Thus, we need current to increase, meaning that resistance must decrease.

To decrease resistance, we could:

1. Change the material of the wire to one of lesser resistivity

2. Decrease the length of the wire

3. Increase the cross-sectional area of the wire

4. Decrease the temperature of the wire (very slight effect on resistance)

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A battery is measured to have a potential of 5V. When connected to a wire with no resistors or other components, the voltage measured is 4.9V.

If the current through the wire is measured to be 2A, how much thermal energy is being lost per second as soon as the wire is connected to the battery?

Answer

First, we must know that the wire has some internal resistance . To calculate this, we need to know the potential drop through the wire, which must be the difference we saw from the initial voltage reading to the second. This value, 0.1V, we plug into Ohm's law to calculate the resistance of the wire.

$R=0.05\Omega$

The question asks for energy lost per second; this value is equivalent to the power.

Use our values to solve.

$P=(2A)^2(0.05\Omega)=0.2W$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A simple circuit contains two $12\Omega$ resistors in parallel, connected to a 20V source. What power is being provided by the source to the circuit?

Answer

The power supplied to the circuit can be calculated using the equation:

$P=IV=\frac{V^2}{R}$

To use this equation, we need to find the equivalent resistance of the circuit. Use the equation for equivalent resistance in parallel:

$\frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{R_1}+\frac{1}{R_2}$

$\frac{1}{R_{eq}}=\frac{1}{12\Omega}+\frac{1}{12\Omega}=\frac{1}{6\Omega}$

$R_{eq}=6\Omega$

Now that we have the resistance and the voltage, we can solve for the power.

$P=\frac{V^2}{R}=\frac{(20V)^2}{6\Omega}\approx 67W$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A lamp has a bulb. If the house wiring provides to light up that bulb, how much current does the bulb draw?

Answer

The formula for power is ,and we are given the following values.

$P=60\ \text{W}$

$V=110\ \text{V}$

Solve for the current, .

$I=\frac{P}{V}=\frac{60\ \text{W}}{110\ \text{V}}=0.55\ \text{A}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A particle accelerator with a radius of 500 meters can have up to $10^{15}$ protons circulating within it at once.

$q_{proton}=1.60*10^{-19}C$

How fast must the protons in the accelerator move in order to produce a current of 1A?

Answer

The current produced is the total charge that circulates the particle accelerator per unit time.

$I=\frac{dQ}{dt}$

We calculate this by the equation:

$I = \frac{nqv}{2\pi R}$

is the number of protons, is the charge per proton, is the velocity of each proton, and is the radius of the particle accelerator.

Using the given current, we then solve for the velocity:

$1A = \frac{(10^{15})(1.6010^{-19}C)v}{2\pi (500m)}$

$v=\frac{(1A)2\pi(500m)}{(10^{15})(1.6010^{-19}C)}= 1.96*10^7\frac{m}{s}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A lamp has a bulb. If the house wiring provides to light up that bulb, how much current does the bulb draw?

Answer

The formula for power is ,and we are given the following values.

$P=60\ \text{W}$

$V=110\ \text{V}$

Solve for the current, .

$I=\frac{P}{V}=\frac{60\ \text{W}}{110\ \text{V}}=0.55\ \text{A}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A particle accelerator with a radius of 500 meters can have up to $10^{15}$ protons circulating within it at once.

$q_{proton}=1.60*10^{-19}C$

How fast must the protons in the accelerator move in order to produce a current of 1A?

Answer

The current produced is the total charge that circulates the particle accelerator per unit time.

$I=\frac{dQ}{dt}$

We calculate this by the equation:

$I = \frac{nqv}{2\pi R}$

is the number of protons, is the charge per proton, is the velocity of each proton, and is the radius of the particle accelerator.

Using the given current, we then solve for the velocity:

$1A = \frac{(10^{15})(1.6010^{-19}C)v}{2\pi (500m)}$

$v=\frac{(1A)2\pi(500m)}{(10^{15})(1.6010^{-19}C)}= 1.96*10^7\frac{m}{s}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Three identical point charges with $q=1\mu C$ are placed so that they form an equilateral triangle as shown in the figure. Find the electric potential at the center point (black dot) of that equilateral triangle, where this point is at a equal distance, , away from the three charges.

$k=8.99*10^9\frac{Nm^2}{C^2}$

Answer

The electric potential from point charges is $V=\frac{kq}{d}$ .

Knowing that all three charges are identical, and knowing that the center point at which we are calculating the electric potential is equal distance from the charges, we can multiply the electric potential equation by three.

$V=3\frac{kq}{d}$

Plug in the given values and solve for .

$V=3\frac{(8.9910^9\ \frac{\text{Nm}^2}{\text{C}^2})(1 10^{-6}\ \text{C})}{310^{-3}\ \text{m}}$

$V=8.99 10^6\ \text{V}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A proton moves in a straight line for a distance of . Along this path, the electric field is uniform with a value of $210^7 \frac{V}{m}$ . Find the work done on the proton by the electric field.

The charge of a proton is $1.6110^{-19}\text{C}$ .

Answer

Work done by an electric field is given by the product of the charge of the particle, the electric field strength, and the distance travelled.

We are given the charge ( $1.6110^{-19}\text{C}$ ), the distance (), and the field strength ( $210^7 \frac{V}{m}$ ), allowing us to calculate the work.

$W=(1.6110^{-19}C)(210^{7}\frac{V}{m})(5m)$

$W=(3.2210^{-12}\frac{J}{m})(5m)$

$W=1.6110^{-11}J$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A proton moves in a straight line for a distance of . Along this path, the electric field is uniform with a value of $210^7 \frac{V}{m}$ . Find the potential difference created by the movement.

The charge of a proton is $1.6110^{-19}\text{C}$ .

Answer

Potential difference is given by the change in voltage

$V_a-V_b=\frac{W}{q}$

Work done by an electric field is equal to the product of the electric force and the distance travelled. Electric force is equal to the product of the charge and the electric field strength.

$\frac{W}{q}=\frac{Fd}{q}=\frac{qEd}{q}=Ed$

The charges cancel, and we are able to solve for the potential difference.

$\Delta V=Ed=(210^7\frac{V}{m})(5m)=110^8V$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

The potential outside of a charged conducting cylinder with radius and charge per unit length is given by the below equation.

$V=\frac{l}{2\pi\epsilon_0}ln\frac{R}{r}$

What is the electric field at a point located at a distance from the surface of the cylinder?

Answer

The radial electric field outside the cylinder can be found using the equation $E_r=-\frac{dV}{dr}$ .

Using the formula given in the question, we can expand this equation.

$E_r=-\frac{dV}{dr}=-\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{l}{2\pi\epsilon_0}(lnR-lnr))$

Now, we can take the derivative and simplify.

$E_r=-\frac{1}{2\pi \epsilon_0}(\frac{1}{R}-\frac{1}{r})$

$E_r=-(-\frac{l}{2\pi\epsilon_0r})=\frac{l}{2\pi\epsilon_0r}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

For a ring of charge with radius and total charge , the potential is given by $V=\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{q}{\sqrt{x^2+a^2}}$ .

Find the expression for electric field produced by the ring.

Answer

We know that $E=-\frac{dV}{dx}$ .

Using the given formula, we can find the electric potential expression for the ring.

$E=-\frac{d}{dx}(\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{q}{\sqrt{x^2+a^2}})$

Take the derivative and simplify.

$E=-(\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{1}{(x^2+a^2)^{3/2}}-\frac{1}{2}2x)=\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\frac{qx}{(x^2+a^2)^{3/2}}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A negative charge of magnitude $9.0 \mu C$ is placed in a uniform electric field of $3.0 * 10^4 \frac{N}{C}$ , directed upwards. If the charge is moved upwards, how much work is done on the charge by the electric field in this process?

Answer

Relevant equations:

$\Delta V = E * d$

$W = q \Delta V$

Given:

$E = 3.0 * 10^4 \frac{N}{C}$

$q = -9.0 \mu C = -9.0 * 10 ^ {-9}C$

First, find the potential difference between the initial and final positions:

$\Delta V = (3.0 * 10^4 \frac{N}{C})(1.0m)= 3.0 * 10^4 \frac{N\cdot m}{C}$

2. Plug this potential difference into the work equation to solve for W:

$W = (-9.0 * 10^{-9}C)(3.0 * 10^4 \frac{N\cdot m}{C})$

$W = -2.7 * 10^{-4}J$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Three point charges are arranged around the origin, as shown.

$\begin{matrix} &\text{Charge} & \text{Location}\ Q_1& +3C&(-2cm,0) \ Q_2&-5C &(4cm,0) \ Q_3&+1C & (0,5cm) \end{matrix}$

Calculate the total electric potential at the origin due to the three point charges.

$k=9*10^9\frac{Nm^2}{C^2}$

Answer

Electric potential is a scalar quantity given by the equation:

$V = \frac{kq_{i}}{r_{i}}$

To find the total potential at the origin due to the three charges, add the potentials of each charge.

$V_{total}= V_{1}+V_{2}+V_{3} = \frac{kQ_{1}}{r_{1}}+\frac{kQ_{2}}{r_{2}}+\frac{kQ_{3}}{r_{3}}$

$V_{total}=\frac{(910^9)(3C)}{0.02m}+\frac{(910^9)(-5C)}{0.04m}+\frac{(910^9)(1C)}{0.05m}$

$V_{total}=1.3510^{12}V+(-1.12510^{12}V)+1.810^{11}V$

$V_{total}=4.05*10^{11}V$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A uniformly charged square frame of side length carries a total charge . Calculate the potential at the center of the square.

You may wish to use the integral:

$\int{\frac{dx}{\sqrt{x^2+b^2}}} = \ln {(\sqrt{x^2+b^2} + x)} + C$

Answer

Calculate the potential due to one side of the bar, and then multiply this by to get the total potential from all four sides. Orient the bar along the x-axis such that its endpoints are at $\pm\frac{a}{2}$ , and use the linear charge density $\frac{Q}{4a}$ . The potential is therefore

$V=4\times\left (\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}}\int_{-a/2}^{a/2} \left (\frac{Q}{4a} \right )\frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+\frac{a^2}{4}}}dx\right )$

$=\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}a}\int_{-a/2}^{a/2} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+\frac{a^2}{4}}}dx$

$=\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}a}\left[ \ln\left (\sqrt{x^2+\frac{a^2}{4}} +x\right )\right]_{-a/2}^{a/2}$

$=\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_0a}\ln\left (\frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{\sqrt{2}-1} \right )$

$=\frac{Q}{2\pi\epsilon_0a}\ln(1+\sqrt{2})$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Eight point charges of equal magnitude are located at the vertices of a cube of side length . Calculate the potential at the center of the cube.

Answer

By the Pythagorean theorem, each charge is a distance

$d = \sqrt{\left (\frac{a}{2} \right )^2 + \left (\frac{a}{2} \right )^2+\left (\frac{a}{2} \right )^2} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a$

from the center of the cube, so the potential is

$V=8\times\left (\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_0\left (\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \right )} \right )$

$=\frac{4Q}{\pi\epsilon_0a\sqrt{3}}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A uniformly charged ring of radius carries a total charge . Calculate the potential a distance from the center, on the axis of the ring.

Answer

Use the linear charge density $\frac{Q}{2\pi R}$ and length element $Rd\theta$ . The distance from each point on the ring to the point on the axis is $\sqrt{R^2+a^2}$ . Lastly, integrate over $\theta$ from to $2\pi$ to obtain

$V=\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\left (\frac{Q}{2\pi R} \right )\frac{1}{\sqrt{R^2+a^2}}Rd\theta$

$=\frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_0\sqrt{R^2+a^2}}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Tap the card to reveal the answer