douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 1

This print-out should have 15 questions.

Multiple-choice questions may continue on 1. 30 V correct
the next column or page – find all choices
before answering. 2. 90 V

001 10.0 points 3. 15 V

A sheet of mica is inserted between the plates
of an isolated charged parallel-plate capaci-
tor. Mica is a transparent mineral that comes
naturally in thin sheets, and is an excellent
dielectric.
Which of the following statements is true?
1. The energy of the capacitor does not
change.
2. The charge on the capacitor plates de-
creases.
3. The electric field between the capacitor
plates increases.
4. The capacitance decreases.
4. 50 V
5. 130 V
Explanation:
An electric field always points in the direc-
tion of decreasing electric potential. For an
uniform field E, the change in electric poten-
tial over a distance of d along the field direc-
tion is given by ∆V = −Ed. For E = 50 N/C
and d = 1 m, the potential decreases by 50 V
and thus becomes 30 V.
003 10.0 points
A 2 ohm resistor and a 4 ohm resistor are
connected in parallel to a 6 volt battery.

5. The potential difference across the capac-

2
itor decreases. correct

Explanation:
Since the capacitor is isolated, the charge
on the capacitor plates remains the same. On
the other hand, the capacitance is increased
by introducing the dielectric. Therefore, from
Q
4
V = , the potential difference across the ca-
C
pacitor is decreased. The polarization of the
dielectric reduces the electric field between
the plates, which is what reduces the poten-
tial difference. Since the charged capacitor
actually attracts and pulls in the dielectric, it
does work on it, and therefore the stored en-
ergy decreases. This can easily be seen also
6V
from U = (1/2)(Q2/C), since Q stays con- The power dissipated by the 2 ohm resistor
stant but C increases. is:

002 10.0 points 1. none of these

Consider a uniform horizontal electric field
of 50 N/C directed toward the east. If the 2. 9 W
electric potential at a given point in the field
is 80 V, what is the electric potential at a 3. 18 W correct
point 1.0 m directly east of the point?
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 2
4. 8 W through the 12 Ω resistor is 0.5 A.

5. 6 W 005 10.0 points

Explanation:
Since the two resistors are in parallel, and
there is no resistor in the branch with the
battery, what happens in one parallel branch
does not affect the other.
Therefore, the current through the 2 ohm
V
resistor is I = = 3 A.
R
The power dissipated in the resistor is
therefore P = IV = (3 A)(6 V) = 18 W
Consider oppositely charged concentric spher-
ical shells as shown. The charges are uni-
formly distributed throughout the two shells.
Denote the electric fields in regions I, II and
III by EI , EII and EIII .
II
I +Q

004 10.0 points

Consider the circuit below. All resistance III −Q
values are in Ω.
12V 6 Identify the correct relationships.

4 1. EI = 0, EII = 0,EIII 6= 0

2. EI = 0, EII 6= 0, EIII = 0 correct

12 3. EI 6= 0, EII = 0, EIII = 0

3 5 4. EI 6= 0, EII = 0, EIII 6= 0

5. EI 6= 0, EII 6= 0, EIII = 0
What is the current in the 12 Ω resistor?
6. EI = 0, EII 6= 0, EIII 6= 0
1. 0.67 A
Explanation:
2. 0.5 A correct From Gauss’ law,

~ = Q.
I
ΦS = ~ · dA
E
3. 2.0 A ǫ0
S

4. 1.5 A For a spherical charge distribution ΦS =

E (4 π r 2 ), so
5. 1.0 A Q
E= .
4 π r 2 ǫ0
6. 0.33 A
There is no charge in region I, and qI = 0 ,
Explanation:
so
The upper branch consists of a 4 Ω resis-
tor in series with a parallel combination of
~ = EI (4πr 2 ) = qI = 0
I
6 Ω and 12 Ω resistors, resulting in an equiv- E~I · dA
alent resistance of 8 Ω. The current in the S ǫ0
upper branch is therefore 12 V/8 Ω = 1.5 A. Similarly, since qII = −Q 6= 0 in region II,
This current is divided by the 6 Ω and 12 Ω
resistors in an 2 : 1 ratio. Thus the current EII 6= 0 .
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 3
In region III,
4. Both its electric potential and electric
qIII = qI + qII = (−Q) + (+Q) = 0 and potential energy remain the same.
EIII = 0 .
5. It moves from high electric potential to
006 10.0 points low electric potential and its electric potential
A 5.0 µF capacitor and a 7.0 µF capacitor energy increases.
are connected in series across a 6.0 V battery.
What is the potential difference across the 5.0 Explanation:
µF capacitor? An electric field is directed in the direction
of decreasing electric potential. An electron,
1. 6.0 V when released from rest, is accelerated in the
direction of the electric force, which is in the
2. 2.5 V opposite direction to the electric field. There-
fore, it moves from low electric potential to
3. 3.0 V high electric potential.
The difference in potential energy ∆U of a
4. 0.5 V charge q is ∆U = q ∆V , so for a negatively
charged electron, going to higher electric po-
5. 3.5 V correct tential means lower potential energy.

Explanation: 008 10.0 points

Let V1 and V2 be the potential difference Calculate the separation of Na+ and Cl− ions
across C1 = 5.0 µF and C2 = 7.0 µF, respec- for which the potential energy is −1.6 eV. The
tively. In a series combination, the charge Q Coulomb constant is 8.99×109 N · m2 /C2 and
is the same on each capacitor, so the charge on an electron is 1.6 × 10−19 C.
V1 C2 7
Q = C1 V1 = C2 V2 =⇒ = = 1. 1.32153 nm
V2 C1 5
On the other hand, the sum of the potential 2. 0.49445 nm
difference must be equal to the battery volt-
age: V1 + V2 = 6.0 V. Thus V1 = 3.5 V and 3. 0.1798 nm
V2 = 2.5 V.
4. 0.899 nm correct
007 10.0 points
Release an electron initially at rest in the 5. 1.78901 nm
presence of an electric field. What happens to
the electron? 6. 0.63829 nm

1. It moves from low electric potential to Explanation:

high electric potential and its electric poten-
tial energy decreases. correct
Let : k = 8.99 × 109 N · m2 /C2 ,
2. It moves from high electric potential to e = 1.6 × 10−19 C , and
low electric potential and its electric potential Ue = −1.6 eV .
energy decreases.
The electrostatic potential energy of the ions
3. It moves from low electric potential to is
high electric potential and its electric poten- k e2
tial energy increases. Ue = − ,
r
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 4
so the separation of the ions is 3. 0.531659
4. 0.818765
k e2 5. 0.874036
r=−
Ue 6. 0.513732
8.99 × 109 N · m2 /C2 7. 0.776737
=− 8. 0.721957
(−1.6 eV) (1.6 × 10−19 J/eV)
9. 0.627645
109 nm
× (1.6 × 10−19 C)2 · 10. 1.18784
m
= 0.899 nm . Correct answer: 0.513732 s.
Explanation:
keywords:
Let : p = 0.744 and
009 10.0 points t = 0.7 s .
Consider the circuit below.
From Q = Qmax (1 − e−t/τ ), we get

Q
p=
Qmax
= 1 − e−t/τ
e t/τ =1−p
What current flows in the 12 Ω resistor? t
= ln(1 − p)
τ
1. 0.5 A t
τ =−
ln(1 − p)
2. 0.2 A 0.7 s
=−
ln(1 − 0.744)
3. 0.25 A correct
= 0.513732 s .
4. 0.75 A
011 10.0 points
5. 2 A
Consider the capacitor circuit
6. 1 A
28 µF

34 µF

56 µF

6 µF

Explanation:
Applying Kirschhoff’s Loop Rule to the
outer loop, the current in the 12 Ω resistor
is
9V−6V
I= = 0.25 A
12 Ω 23 V
What is the effective capacitance of the
010 10.0 points circuit?
A capacitor in an RC circuit is charged to 1. 38.0
74.4% of its maximum value in 0.7 s. 2. 43.5
What is the time constant of the circuit? 3. 41.5
1. 0.587257 4. 37.5
2. 1.0272 5. 38.5
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 5
6. 33.0 parallel to each other. They each have area
7. 39.5 A. Plate #1 has a positive charge Q while
8. 31.0 plate #2 has a charge −2 Q.
9. 39.0 +Q −2 Q
10. 44.5
y
Correct answer: 31 µF.
Explanation: x
P

Let : C1 = 28 µF ,
C2 = 34 µF , #1 #2
C3 = 56 µF , Find the magnitude of the electric field at
a point P in the gap. Assume that the sepa-
C4 = 6 µF , and
ration between the plates is very small com-
EB = 23 V . pared to the dimensions of the plates.

~Pk = Q
1. kE
3 ǫ0 A
C1 C2 C3 C4 4Q
~Pk =
2. kE
ǫ0 A
~Pk = Q
3. kE
EB ǫ0
C1 and C2 are in parallel, so ~Pk = 3Q
4. kE
ǫ0 A
C12 = C1 + C2 = 28 µF + 34 µF 5Q
~Pk =
5. kE
= 62 µF . ǫ0 A
C3 and C4 are in parallel, so ~Pk = 3Q
6. kE correct
2 ǫ0 A
C34 = C3 + C4 = 56 µF + 6 µF
= 62 µF . ~Pk = 0
7. kE

~Pk = Q
8. kE
2 ǫ0 A
C12 EB C34
~Pk = Q
9. kE
ǫ0 A
~Pk = 2Q
10. kE
C12 and C34 (Note: C12 = C34 ) are in series ǫ0 A
with the battery, so
1 C12 C34 Explanation:
C1234 = =
1 1 C12 + C34 The electric field generated by plate #1 at
+ Q
C12 C34 P is E1 = directed along the positive
(62 µF) (62 µF) 2 ǫ0 A
= = 31 µF . x-axis. The field generated by plate #2 has
62 µF + 62 µF 2Q
a magnitude E2 = and it is directed
2 ǫ0 A
012 10.0 points along the positive x-axis also, since the charge
Two uniformly charged conducting plates are is negative. Therefore, the magnitudes add
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 6
and we get Consider two conductors 1 and 2 made of the
same ohmic material (ρ1 = ρ2 ). Denote the
Q 2Q 3Q length of the conductor by ℓ and the radius
Egap = + = .
2 ǫ0 A 2 ǫ0 A 2 ǫ0 A by r. The same voltage V is applied across
the ends of both conductors.
013 10.0 points I2
I 1 ~E 2
~E 1 V2
V1
R2
b
b
C ℓ1 ℓ2
R1 r1
r2
E I2
S If r2 = 2 r1 , and ℓ2 = 2 ℓ1 , find the ratio
I1
of the currents.
After the switch S has been closed for a I2
very long time, the currents through the two 1. =4
I1
resistors are I2
2. =1
E I1
1. i1 = through R1 and zero through
R1 I2 1
R2 . 3. =
I1 8
E I2 1
2. i1 = i2 = 4. =
R1 + R2 I1 2
E I2 1
3. zero through R1 and i2 = through R2 . 5. =
R2 I1 4
correct I2
6. =8
E E I1
4. i1 = through R1 and i2 = through I2
R1 R2 7. = 2 correct
R2 . I1
E (R1 + R2 )
5. i1 = i2 =
R1 R2
6. zero through both resistors
Explanation:
Since the potential drop across resistor R2 Explanation:
is fixed to be E after the switch is closed, the V 1 ρℓ ρℓ ℓ
I = ∝ and R = = ∝ 2
current in R2 remains unchanged to be RE2 , R R A πr 2 r
when V1 = V2 and ρ1 = ρ2 , so
while for R1 , after a long time, the current I2 R1 ℓ1 r22 ℓ1 (2 r1)2
in the circuit tends to an equilibrium state, = = = = 2.
namely the capacitor doesn’t get charged or I1 R2 ℓ2 r12 (2 ℓ1) r12
release charge any more. There is no current 015 10.0 points
through the capacitor or resistor R1 after a
long time. Consider three identical light bulbs (A, B,
and C) in the circuit below. Each light bulb
014 10.0 points has the same resistance R.
 douglas (jed3339) – Practice Midterm 02 – yao – (54790) 7

2 2
1 E2
 
1 1 2E
PC = I R= R= .
A 2 2 3R 9 R
E

C
What is the power dissipation in bulb C?

9 E2
1. PC =
4R
E2
2. PC =
4R
E2
3. PC =
R
E2
4. PC = correct
9R
E2
5. PC =
3R
E2
6. PC =
2R
4 E2
7. PC =
9R
3 E2
8. PC =
2R

Explanation:
Consider an equivalent circuit:

C E

R
RAC = and RB = R , so
2

E 2 E
I= = and
R 3 R
+R
2