The University of the West Indies

SEMESTER I

SEMESTER II

Examinations of December

SUPPLEMENTAL/SUMMER SCHOOL

/ April/May

Originating Campus:

Cave Hill

Mona

Mode:

On Campus

By Distance

/ July

2012
St. Augustine

Course Code and Title:PHYS1421 Electricity and Magnetism

Date: Wednesday May 16, 2012

Time:9:00 am to 11:00 am

Duration: Two (2) Hours.

Paper No:

Materials required:
Answer booklet:
Calculator:

Normal

Special

Programmable

Non Programmable

numerical

alphabetical

Not required

(where applicable)

Multiple choice answer sheets:

1- 20

1-100

Auxiliary/Other material(s) - Please specify:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Candidates are permitted to bring the following items to their desks:
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Instructions to Candidates: This paper has5pages &6questions.

Do any FOUR (4) questions.
Reasonable numerical approximations are acceptable.
All symbols have their usual meanings and SI units are used throughout, except where otherwise specified.
Assume where necessary :

k = 9 x 109 N m2 /C2
o = 4 x 10-7 T m/A
o = 8.85 x 10-12 C2 /N.m2
Magnitude of the charge on an electron = 1.6 x 10-19 C
dx
x
x2

a2

3/ 2

a2

x2

a2

Candidates are reminded that the examiners shall take into account the proper use of the English Language in
determining the mark for each response.

2
1 (a) Consider a point charge Q1. Write expressions for (i) the force exerted on it by a second
charge Q2 a distance r away (ii) the electric field strength E at a distance r away (iii) the
electric potential V at a distance r away.
+Q
-Q
(b) A square of side a contains fixed charges as shown.
Point P is located at the centre of the square.
P
a
(i)
Determine an expression in terms of k, Q, and a
for the magnitude of the force exerted on the
positive charge due to the other charges. In
-Q
-Q
what direction does it act?
(ii) In what direction does the net electric field at P
act? Show that its magnitude is 4kQ/a2.

2 2kQ
.
a
Describe one way to replace a single charge in the configuration that would make
the electric field at P zero. Explain.
Describe one way to replace a single charge in the configuration that would make
the electric potential at P zero, but the electric field at P non zero. Explain.

(iii) Show also that the electric potential at P is given by V P

(iv)
(v)

2
2

2 (a) Write an expression relating the electric field strength, E, to the electric potential, V.

(b) A sphere of radius R has symmetric charge distribution and net positive charge Qo
distributed within it. Its electric potential V as a function of the distance r from the center
of the sphere is given by the following:
V (r )
V (r )

Qo
4

3 2
r
R2

when r < R

Qo

when r > R
4 or
(i)
Indicate the direction of the electric field E (i.e. whether radially inward or outward)
6Qo r
when r < R and show that its magnitude is given by E
.
4 o R3
(ii) Indicate the direction of the electric field E and derive an expression for its
magnitude when r > R.
(iii) State Gauss Law.
(iv) Hence or otherwise show that an expression for the enclosed charge, Qenclosed, which
6Qo r 3
generated the electric field for r< R is Qenc,r R
.
R3
(v) Hence or otherwise derive an expression for the enclosed charge, Qenclosed, which
generated the electric field for r > R.
(vi) Determine the charge on the surface i.e. when r = R (Hint: Qenclosed for r > R is the
sum of the Q at the surface and all the charge inside the surface).

4
1
4
3
3

Contd.

3
3 (a) State Amperes Law.

(b)
b

Io

Cross sectional view

(current into page)
A section of a long straight conducting cylinder with inner radius a and outer radius b
carries a current Io that has a uniform current density (see figure).
Using Amperes Law:
i. Derive an expression for the magnetic field at r < a, where r is measured from the
central axis.
2
a2 )
o I o (r
ii. Show that if a < r < b, the magnetic field is given by: B
2r (b 2 a 2 )
iii. Derive an expression for the magnetic field at r > b.
iv. Sketch the cross sectional view and indicate the direction of the magnetic field at P,
which is a distance r = 2b from the axis.

2
5
3
1

(c) Let, Io = 10.0 A and let an electron be at point P. Determine the magnitude and direction of
the force acting on the electron if b = 10 cm and the electron:
i.
Is at rest.
ii.
Is moving with velocity 4 m/s directed along the x-axis drawn at P.
iii.
Is moving with velocity 4 m/s directed along the y-axis drawn at P.

4 (a)

Ids sin
4
r2

Starting with the following expression for Biot-Savarts Law dB

2
5
1

, show

that:
(i)

The magnetic field strength at P a perpendicular

distance R away from a short wire segment set up as

S2

S2
oI
shown is given by: B
4 R

s
S1

(ii)

(s

R )

B at the centre of an arc subtending an angle of /2

oI
(i.e. a quarter circle) is given by B
.
8R

-S1

Contd

4
(b) For the arrangements below, find the magnitude and direction of B at P. The current, I, in
all cases is equal to 1.0 A.
(i)
2.0 cm

1.0 cm

1.0 cm
1.0 cm

x
P

1.0 cm

2.0 cm

(ii)
I

Arc 2
2
P /4
2 cm
I
/2
2 cm

Arc 1

5 (a) Under given conditions, the magnetic flux, m, through a surface can be expressed by
BA cos . Explain the symbols B, A, and .
m
3
(b) A circular wire loop with
radius 0.10 m and resistance
50 is horizontally
suspended in a magnetic field
of magnitude B which is
directed upward at an angle
of 60o with the vertical as
shown. The magnitude of B
in tesla is given by B = 4(1
0.2t) where t is time in
seconds.
(i)

(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

Vertical
B
o

60

0.10 m

Show that the

magnetic flux m through the loop as a function of time is given by
0.063 (1 0.2t )
m
State Faradays Law in terms of m
Hence or otherwise determine the magnitude of the induced emf in the loop.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the induced current in the loop
(sketch the loop and show the direction). Explain your choice of direction.
Determine the energy dissipated in the loop from t = 0 s to t= 4 s.
Which of your answers in (iii) and (iv) would change if B were a) oppositely
directed b) directed vertically upwards? Explain (do not calculate).

3
1
3
4
2
4
Contd.

5
6 (a) Derive an expression for how the charge, q, on a capacitor changes with time if the
capacitor is connected in a series circuit consisting of an emf, , and a resistor, R, and is
originally uncharged. t is the time measured from the instant the circuit is completed.
500
(b)

S1

S2

9.0 V
25 mF

5.0 H

The circuit represented above contains a 9.0 V battery, a 25 mF capacitor, a 5.0 H

inductor, a 500 resistor, and a switch with two positions, S1 and S2. Initially the
capacitor is uncharged and the switch is open.
In the first experiment the switch is closed to position S1 at time t1.
i.
If at time t2 the charge on the plate is 105 mC, determine t2.
ii.
What is the energy stored by the capacitor at this time?
iii. Sketch a graph of the magnitude of the charge as a function of time until the
capacitor is fully charged. Label both the maximum charge, and the value at the
time constant. Show any calculations done.
(c) If the switch was moved to position S2 at time t2 above, thereby allowing for
electromagnetic oscillations in the LC circuit.
i. Use energy conservation to show that the maximum current that will be present
during the oscillations is 0.30 A.
ii. Calculate the time rate of change of the current (dI/dt) when the charge on the
capacitor plate is 50 mC.

END OF PAPER

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