Q#14 (Past Exam Paper – March 2018 Paper 42 Q7)
(a) State what is meant by electric potential at a point. [2]
(b) The centres of two charged metal spheres A and B are separated by a distance of 44.0 cm, as shown in Fig. 7.1.
Fig. 7.1 (not to scale)
A moveable point P lies on the line joining the centres of the two spheres. Point P is a distance x from the centre of sphere A. The variation with distance x of the electric potential V at point P is shown in Fig. 7.2.
Fig. 7.2
(i) Use Fig. 7.2 to state and explain whether the two spheres have charges of the same, or opposite, sign. [1]
(ii) A positively-charged particle is at rest on the surface of sphere A.
The particle moves freely from the surface of sphere A to the surface of sphere B.
1. Describe qualitatively the variation, if any, with distance x of the speed of the particle
as it
moves from x = 12 cm to x = 25 cm
passes through x = 26 cm
moves from x = 27 cm to x = 31 cm
reaches x = 32 cm
[4]
2. The particle has charge 3.2 × 10-19 C and mass 6.6 × 10-27 kg.
Calculate the maximum speed of the particle. [2]
[Total: 9]
Solution:
(a) The electric potential at a point is the work done per unit charge in moving a positive charge from infinity to that point.
(b)
(i) The charges have the same sign as the potential due to both of them always has the same sign (it is always positive).
(ii)
1.
(from x = 12 cm to x = 25 cm: speed increases) at decreasing rate
(from x = 27 cm to x = 31 cm: speed decreases) at increasing rate
at x = 26 cm: speed maximum
at 32 cm: speed still decreasing
{The electric potential energy of the particle is converted to kinetic energy as the particle moves away from sphere A.
q ΔV = ½ mv2
The kinetic energy, and thus speed, depends on the change in potential.
From x = 12 cm to x = 25 cm: speed increase at a decreasing rate (as the change in potential decreases at a decreasing rate)
From x = 27 cm to x = 31 cm: speed decreases at an increasing rate (as the change in potential increases at an increasing rate)
At x = 26 cm: the speed is maximum (as the change in potential is maximum)
At x = 32 cm: the speed is still decreasing (as the change in potential has decreased)}
2.
{The electric potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.}
q ΔV = ½ mv2
{Initial potential of particle = 2.14×104 V
The speed is maximum at x = 26 cm. This corresponds to a potential of 1.43×104 V.}
3.2 × 10-19 × (2.14 – 1.43) × 104 = ½ × 6.6 × 10-27 × v2
v2 = 6.88 × 1011
v = 8.3 × 105 m s-1
Post a Comment for "(a) State what is meant by electric potential at a point. (b) The centres of two charged metal spheres A and B"