Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

1. An electron moves from point i to point f , in the direction of a uniform electric eld. During
this displacement:
E
.....
.................................................................................................................................................. .................
....

A. the work done by the eld is positive and the potential energy of the electron-eld
increases
B. the work done by the eld is negative and the potential energy of the electron-eld
increases
C. the work done by the eld is positive and the potential energy of the electron-eld
decreases
D. the work done by the eld is negative and the potential energy of the electron-eld
decreases
E. the work done by the eld is positive and the potential energy of the electron-eld
does not change
ans: B

system
system
system
system
system

2. A particle with a charge of 5.5 108 C is 3.5 cm from a particle with a charge of 2.3 108 C.
The potential energy of this two-particle system, relative to the potential energy at innite
separation, is:
A. 3.2 104 J
B. 3.2 104 J
C. 9.3 103 J
D. 9.3 103 J
E. zero
ans: B
3. A particle with a charge of 5.5 108 C is xed at the origin. A particle with a charge of
2.3 108 C is moved from x = 3.5 cm on the x axis to y = 4.3 cm on the y axis. The change
in potential energy of the two-particle system is:
A. 3.1 103 J
B. 3.1 103 J
C. 6.0 105 J
D. 6.0 105 J
E. 0
ans: C

352

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

4. A particle with a charge of 5.5 108 C charge is xed at the origin. A particle with a charge
of 2.3 108 C charge is moved from x = 3.5 cm on the x axis to y = 3.5 cm on the y axis.
The change in the potential energy of the two-particle system is:
A. 3.2 104 J
B. 3.2 104 J
C. 9.3 103 J
D. 9.3 103 J
E. 0
ans: E
5. Three particles lie on the x axis: particle 1, with a charge of 1 108 C is at x = 1 cm, particle
2, with a charge of 2 108 C, is at x = 2 cm, and particle 3, with a charge of 3 108 C,
is at x = 3 cm. The potential energy of this arrangement, relative to the potential energy for
innite separation, is:
A. +4.9 104 J
B. 4.9 104 J
C. +8.5 104 J
D. 8.5 104 J
E. zero
ans: B
6. Two identical particles, each with charge q, are placed on the x axis, one at the origin and the
other at x = 5 cm. A third particle, with charge q, is placed on the x axis so the potential
energy of the three-particle system is the same as the potential energy at innite separation.
Its x coordinate is:
A. 13 cm
B. 2.5 cm
C. 7.5 cm
D. 10 cm
E. 5 cm
ans: A
7. Choose the correct statement:
A. A proton tends to go from a region of low potential to a region of high potential
B. The potential of a negatively charged conductor must be negative
C. If E = 0 at a point P then V must be zero at P
D. If V = 0 at a point P then E must be zero at P
E. None of the above are correct
ans: E
8. If 500 J of work are required to carry a charged particle between two points with a potential
dierence of 20 V, the magnitude of the charge on the particle is:
A. 0.040 C
B. 12.5 C
C. 20 C
D. cannot be computed unless the path is given
E. none of these
ans: B
Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

353

9. The potential dierence between two points is 100 V. If a particle with a charge of 2 C is
transported from one of these points to the other, the magnitude of the work done is:
A. 200 J
B. 100 J
C. 50 J
D. 100 J
E. 2 J
ans: A
10. During a lightning discharge, 30 C of charge move through a potential dierence of 1.0 108 V
in 2.0 102 s. The energy released by this lightning bolt is:
A. 1.5 1011 J
B. 3.0 109 J
C. 6.0 107 J
D. 3.3 106 J
E. 1500 J
ans: B
11. Points R and T are each a distance d from each of two particles with charges of equal magnitudes
and opposite signs as shown. If k = 1/4 0 , the work required to move a particle with a negative
charge q from R to T is:
R

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Q +

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

354

0
kqQ/d2
kqQ/d
kqQ/( 2d)
kQq/(2d)
ans: A

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

12. Points R and T are each a distance d from each of two particles with equal positive charges as
shown. If k = 1/4 0 , the work required to move a particle with charge q from R to T is:
R

.
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Q +

+ Q

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

0
kQq/d2
kQq/d
kQq/( 2d)
kQq/(2d)
ans: A

13. Two particle with charges Q and Q are xed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle with
sides of length a. If k = 1/4 0 , the work required to move a particle with charge q from the
other vertex to the center of the line joining the xed particles is:

..
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Q
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

0
kQq/a
kQq/a2
2kQq/a
2kQq/a
ans: A

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

355

14. A particle with mass m and charge q is projected with speed v0 into the region between
two parallel plates as shown. The potential dierence between the two plates is V and their
separation is d. The change in kinetic energy of the particle as it traverses this region is:
0

m, q

............................................

v0
d
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

qV /d
2qV /mv02
qV
mv02 /2
none of these
ans: C

15. An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential dierence V . Its nal speed is proportional to:
A. V
B. V 2
C.
V
D. 1/V
E. 1/ V
ans: C
16. In separate experiments, four dierent particles each start from far away with the same speed
and impinge directly on a gold nucleus. The masses and charges of the particles are
particle 1: mass m0 , charge q0
particle 2: mass 2m0 , charge 2q0
particle 3: mass 2m0 , charge q0 /2
particle 4: mass m0 /2, charge 2q0
Rank the particles according to the distance of closest approach to the gold nucleus, from
smallest to largest.
A. 1, 2, 3, 4
B. 4, 3, 2, 1
C. 3, 1 and 2 tie, then 4
D. 4, 1 and 2 tie, then 1
E. 1 and 2 tie, then 3, 4
ans: C

356

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

17. Two large parallel conducting plates are separated by a distance d, placed in a vacuum, and
connected to a source of potential dierence V . An oxygen ion, with charge 2e, starts from
rest on the surface of one plate and accelerates to the other. If e denotes the magnitude of the
electron charge, the nal kinetic energy of this ion is:
A. eV /2
B. eV /d
C. eV d
D. V d/e
E. 2eV
ans: E
18. An
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

electron volt is :
the force acting on an electron in a eld of 1 N/C
the force required to move an electron 1 meter
the energy gained by an electron in moving through a potential dierence of 1 volt
the energy needed to move an electron through 1 meter in any electric eld
the work done when 1 coulomb of charge is moved through a potential dierence of 1 volt.
ans: C

19. An electron has charge e and mass me . A proton has charge e and mass 1840me . A proton
volt is equal to:
A. 1 eV
B. 1840 eV
C. (1/1840) eV
1840 eV
D.
E. (1/ 1840) eV
ans: A
20. Two conducting spheres, one having twice the diameter of the other, are separated by a distance
large compared to their diameters. The smaller sphere (1) has charge q and the larger sphere
(2) is uncharged. If the spheres are then connected by a long thin wire:

....
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1
q

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

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2d

1 and 2 have the same potential

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

357

21. Two conducting spheres are far apart. The smaller sphere carries a total charge Q. The larger
sphere has a radius that is twice that of the smaller and is neutral. After the two spheres are
connected by a conducting wire, the charges on the smaller and larger spheres, respectively,
are:
A. Q/2 and Q/2
B. Q/3 and 2Q/3
C. 2Q/3 and Q/3
D. zero and Q
E. 2Q and Q
ans: B
22. Three possible congurations for an electron e and a proton p are shown below. Take the zero
of potential to be at innity and rank the three congurations according to the potential at S,
from most negative to most positive.
d D

e
p
S
1

D
d

e
p
S
2

|
|
D
|
|

p
S

e
3

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1, 2, 3
3, 2, 1
2, 3, 1
1 and 2 tie, then 3
1 and 3 tie, then 2
ans: D

23. A conducting sphere with radius R is charged until the magnitude of the electric eld just
outside its surface is E. The electric potential of the sphere, relative to the potential far away,
is:
A. zero
B. E/R
C. E/R2
D. ER
E. ER2
ans: D

358

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

24. A 5-cm radius conducting sphere has a surface charge density of 2 106 C/m on its surface.
Its electric potential, relative to the potential far away, is:
A. 1.1 104 V
B. 2.2 104 V
C. 2.3 105 V
D. 3.6 105 V
E. 7.2 106 V
ans: A
25. A hollow metal sphere is charged to a potential V . The potential at its center is:
A. V
B. 0
C. V
D. 2V
E. V
ans: A
26. Positive charge is distributed uniformly throughout a non-conducting sphere. The highest
electric potential occurs:
A. at the center
B. at the surface
C. halfway between the center and surface
D. just outside the surface
E. far from the sphere
ans: A
27. A total charge of 7 108 C is uniformly distributed throughout a non-conducting sphere with
a radius of 5 cm. The electric potential at the surface, relative to the potential far away, is
about:
A. 1.3 104 V
B. 1.3 104 V
C. 7.0 105 V
D. 6.3 104 V
E. 0
ans: B
28. Eight identical spherical raindrops are each at a potential V , relative to the potential far away.
They coalesce to make one spherical raindrop whose potential is:
A. V /8
B. V /2
C. 2V
D. 4V
E. 8V
ans: D

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

359

29. A metal sphere carries a charge of 5 109 C and is at a potential of 400 V, relative to the
potential far away. The potential at the center of the sphere is:
A. 400 V
B. 400 V
C. 2 106 V
D. 0
E. none of these
ans: A
30. A 5-cm radius isolated conducting sphere is charged so its potential is +100 V, relative to the
potential far away. The charge density on its surface is:
2
A. +2.2 107 C/m
B. 2.2 107 C/m2
2
C. +3.5 107 C/m
2
D. 3.5 107 C/m
2
E. +1.8 108 C/m
ans: E
31. A conducting sphere has charge Q and its electric potential is V , relative to the potential far
away. If the charge is doubled to 2Q, the potential is:
A. V
B. 2V
C. 4V
D. V /2
E. V /4
ans: B
32. The potential dierence between the ends of a 2-meter stick that is parallel to a uniform electric
eld is 400 V. The magnitude of the electric eld is:
A. zero
B. 100 V/m
C. 200 V/m
D. 400 V/m
E. 800 V/m
ans: E
33. In a certain region of space the electric potential increases uniformly from east to west and
does not vary in any other direction. The electric eld:
A. points east and varies with position
B. points east and does not vary with position
C. points west and varies with position
D. points west and does not vary with position
E. points north and does not vary with position
ans: B

360

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

34. If the electric eld is in the positive x direction and has a magnitude given by E = Cx2 , where
C is a constant, then the electric potential is given by V =:
A. 2Cx
B. 2Cx
C. Cx3 /3
D. Cx3 /3
E. 3Cx3
ans: D
35. An electron goes from one equipotential surface to another along one of the four paths shown
below. Rank the paths according to the work done by the electric eld, from least to greatest.
1
.............................................................................
2
............................
3
........................................................................
.
............................
4
......................
..... ...
.............................................
90 V 80 V 70 V 60 V 50 V
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1, 2, 3, 4
4, 3, 2, 1
1, 3, 4 and 2 tie
4 and 2 tie, then 3, then 1
4, 3, 1, 2
ans: D

36. The work required to carry a particle with a charge of 6.0 C from a 5.0-V equipotential surface
to a 6.0-V equipotential surface and back again to the 5.0-V surface is:
A. 0
B. 1.2 105 J
C. 3.0 105 J
D. 6.0 105 J
E. 6.0 106 J
ans: A
37. The equipotential surfaces associated with a charged point particles are:
A. radially outward from the particle
B. vertical planes
C. horizontal planes
D. concentric spheres centered at the particle
E. concentric cylinders with the particle on the axis.
ans: D

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

361

38. The electric eld in a region around the origin is given by E = C(x i + y j), where C is a
constant. The equipotential surfaces in that region are:
A. concentric cylinders with axes along the z axis
B. concentric cylinders with axes along the x axis
C. concentric spheres centered at the origin
D. planes parallel to the xy plane
E. planes parallel to the yz plane
ans: A
39. The electric potential in a certain region of space is given by V = 7.5x2 + 3x, where V is in
volts and x is in meters. In this region the equipotential surfaces are:
A. planes parallel to the x axis
B. planes parallel to the yz plane
C. concentric spheres centered at the origin
D. concentric cylinders with the x axis as the cylinder axis
E. unknown unless the charge is given
ans: B
40. In the diagram, the points 1, 2, and 3 are all the same very large distance from a dipole. Rank
the points according to the values of the electric potential at them, from the most negative to
the most positive.
2

.
p ......

1
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

362

1, 2, 3
3, 2, 1
2, 3, 1
1, 3, 2
1 and 2 tie, then 3
ans: D

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

41. A particle with charge q is to be brought from far away to a point near an electric dipole. No
work is done if the nal position of the particle is on:
A. the line through the charges of the dipole
B. a line that is perpendicular to the dipole moment
C. a line that makes an angle of 45 with the dipole moment
D. a line that makes an angle of 30 with the dipole moment
E. none of the above
ans: B
42. Equipotential surfaces associated with an electric dipole are:
A. spheres centered on the dipole
B. cylinders with axes along the dipole moment
C. planes perpendicular to the dipole moment
D. planes parallel to the dipole moment
E. none of the above
ans: E
43. The diagram shows four pairs of large parallel conducting plates. The value of the electric
potential is given for each plate. Rank the pairs according to the magnitude of the electric eld
between the plates, least to greatest.
20 V

+70 V

1
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

1, 2, 3,
4, 3, 2,
2, 3, 1,
2, 4, 1,
3, 2, 4,
ans: D

+20 V

+70 V

10 V

+90 V

+30 V

+90 V

4
1
4
3
1

Chapter 24:

ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

363