Please sit in seat number _____________

PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove the Answer Sheet from the exam booklet.

2. Using a #2 pencil, enter the following information on the left side of the Answer Sheet:

Email / User ID enter your MTU email address without the @mtu.edu
Last Name enter your last name
FI enter the first letter of your first name
Tech ID enter the eight digits of your Tech ID (M-number)
Key leave blank
Print Name print your name
Course PH2200
Instructor Dr. Weidman
Date March 7, 2019

3. Be sure to fill in the circles completely and avoid stray marks on the form.

4. This is a ninety minute exam.

5. Please cover your Answer Sheet at all times.

6. This is a closed book exam. You may use the PH2200 Formula Sheet that is attached to this exam. The next to last
sheet of paper is blank and may be used as scratch paper. You may find it convenient to rip the formula sheet and
scratch paper from the exam booklet.

7. Graphing calculators are permitted, but equations may not be stored in calculators, nor may calculators be
exchanged.

8. Cell phones, communication devices, and music devices must be turned off and may not be used during the
examination period.

9. Assume all numerical data supplied with the problems have the accuracy of three significant figures, unless
explicitly identified otherwise.

10. This exam consists of a total of 29 questions. Each question has a single correct answer and is worth five points.
The total number of points on the exam is 145.

11. If you have any questions during the exam, please raise your hand and wait for assistance.

12. Please turn in only your Answer Sheet. You may keep the exam booklet, formula sheet, and scratch paper.

SI PREFIXES

Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol Factor

femto f 10−15 hecto h 102

pico p 10−12 kilo k 103
nano n 10−9 mega M 106
micro μ 10−6 giga G 109
milli m 10−3 tera T 1012
centi c 10−2 peta P 1015
PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
1. Four students are discussing the figure shown below in which a sphere and an ellipsoid surround equal charges.

Which student, if any, makes a correct statement?

(A) Student 1: The fluxes through A and B are equal because the average radius of each surface is the same.
(B) Student 2: The fluxes through A and B are equal since according to Gauss’s Law, if two closed surfaces
enclose equal charges, the fluxes through the surfaces are equal.
(C) Student 3: The electric field is not perpendicular everywhere to the surface for B, and that makes the flux
through B less than the flux through A.
(D) Student 4: Gauss’s Law doesn’t apply to a situation like B, so we can’t compare the fluxes through A and B.
(E) None of the above – all four students are hopelessly confused.

2. The figure to the right shows three Gaussian surfaces and the electric
flux through each. In order, what are the three charges q1, q2, and q3?

(A) +q, +2q, -3q

(B) +q, +3q, -2q
(C) -2q, +q, +3q
(D) +2q, +q, -3q
(E) +3q, -q, -2q

The following information applies to the next two questions (questions 3 and 4).

A spherically symmetric charge distribution produces the electric field E = ( 200r ) rˆ N/C, where r is in meters.

3. What is the electric field strength at r = 10.0 cm?

(A) 10.0 N/C

(B) 20.0 N/C
(C) 40.0 N/C
(D) 80.0 N/C
(E) 120 N/C

4. How much charge is inside a sphere of radius 10.0 cm that is concentric with the charge distribution?

(A) 17.4 pC
(B) 22.2 pC
(C) 28.8 pC
(D) 33.9 pC
(E) 38.1 pC

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
The following information applies to the next three questions (questions 5, 6, and 7).

A hollow metal sphere has inner and outer radii of 6.00 cm and 10.0 cm,
respectively. The surface charge density on the inside surface is −100 nC/m 2 ,
and the surface charge density on the outer surface is +100 nC/m 2 . A point
particle bearing charge Q sits at the center of the hollow metal sphere.
•Q
5. What is the electric field strength at a point 8.00 cm from the center of the
sphere?

(A) 0 7.85 × 103 N/C

(B) 6.01 × 103 N/C
(C) 6.69 × 103 N/C
(D) 7.01 × 103 N/C
(E) 7.55 × 103 N/C

6. What is Q, the charge of the particle at the center of the hollow metal sphere?

(A) 2.80 nC
(B) 3.22 nC
(C) 3.82 nC
(D) 4.14 nC
(E) 4.52 nC

7. What is the electric field strength at a point 12.0 cm from the center of the hollow metal sphere?

(A) 7.05 × 103 N/C

(B) 7.45 × 103 N/C
(C) 7.85 × 103 N/C
(D) 8.25 × 103 N/C
(E) 8.65 × 103 N/C

8. A glass rod is positively charged. The figure shows an end view of

the rod. A negatively charged particle undergoes uniform circular
motion around the glass rod. As the negatively charged particle makes
one complete rotation about the charged rod, is the work done on the
negatively charged particle by the electric force due to the charged rod
positive, negative, or zero.

(A) positive
(B) negative
(C) zero

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
9. Two protons are initially very far apart. Each proton is shot toward the other with an initial speed of 3.00 × 106 m/s.
What is the distance of closest approach of the protons, that is, what is the distance between the protons when they
are instantaneously at rest? Ignore gravity.

(A) 1.23 × 10−14 m

(B) 1.53 × 10−14 m
(C) 1.82 × 10−14 m
(D) 2.12 × 10−14 m
(E) 2.44 × 10−14 m

The following information applies to the next two questions (questions 10 and 11). y
m, q
Three identical particles having charge q = +2.25 μC and mass
m = 10.0 g are located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
of side s = 2.00 cm.
s s
10. What is the electric potential energy of this group of charges?

(A) 5.78 J x
(B) 6.09 J m, q s m, q
(C) 6.46 J
(D) 6.83 J
(E) 7.11 J

11. The two particles on the x-axis remain fixed in position. If the particle on the y-axis is released from rest, what will
its speed be when it is very far away? Ignore gravity.

(A) 20.1 m/s

(B) 23.1 m/s
(C) 26.9 m/s
(D) 30.2 m/s
(E) 33.5 m/s


E
12. Three identical electric dipoles are in a uniform electric field.
Which dipole has the least electric potential energy?
+  - A +
p 
(A) A p
(B) B  -
B - +
(C) C p C
(D) Dipoles A and B have the same potential energy.

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
13. A proton is released from rest at the positive plate of a parallel-plate capacitor. It crosses the capacitor and reaches
the negative plate with a speed of 5.00 × 104 m/s. If an electron is released from rest at the negative plate of the same
capacitor, what is its speed when it reaches the positive plate?

(A) 1.34 × 106 m/s

(B) 1.54 × 106 m/s
(C) 1.74 × 106 m/s
(D) 1.94 × 106 m/s
(E) 2.14 × 106 m/s

3•
14. In the figure to the right, for which two points does the magnitude
of the electric potential difference between those points have the
largest value?
1 2 5 6
(A) 1 and 6 • • +q -q • •
(B) 2 and 5
(C) 3 and 4
(D) (1 and 2) and (5 and 6)
(E) (1 and 6) and (3 and 4) 4
•

15. In Figure 15-1 to the right, charge +Q is uniformly distributed

on a ring of radius R. In Figure 15-2, charge +Q is uniformly +Q +Q
distributed on a semicircle of radius R. Is the electric potential
at the center of the ring (P1) greater than, less than, or equal to
• P1 • P2
to electric potential at the center of the semicircle (P2)?
R R
(A) greater than
(B) less than
(C) equal to Figure 15-1 Figure 15-2

16. A spark plug initiates combustion of gasoline in an automobile engine by producing

a spark across a small gap between two conductors whenever the electric field
strength in the gap is greater than or equal to 3.00 × 106 V/m. For a gap of 1.50 mm,
what is the minimum electric potential difference that must be applied to produce a
spark? Model the two conductors as a parallel-plate capacitor.

(A) 12.0 V
(B) 180 V
(C) 1,500 V
(D) 4,500 V
(E) 30,000 V

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
17. The figure to the right is a graph of Ex versus x. What is the
electric potential difference between xi = 1.00 m and xf = 3.00 m?

(A) -400 V
(B) -200 V
(C) 0V
(D) +100 V
(E) +300 V

The following information applies to the next two questions (questions 18 and 19).

Two conducting spheres of radii rA and rB are connected by a very

long conducting wire and therefore have the same electric potential
on their surfaces. The charge on sphere A is QA and rA < rB . A B

18. What is the charge on sphere B?

(A) QA
2
r 
(B)  A  QA
 rB 
2
r 
(C)  B  QA
 rA 
r 
(D)  A  QA
 rB 
r 
(E)  B  QA
 rA 

19. Which sphere has the greater electric field strength immediately above its surface?

(A) A
(B) B
(C) The electric field strength immediately above both spheres is the same.

20. An ordinary AA battery has an emf of 1.50 V. If an AA battery is connected to a parallel-plate capacitor having
4.00 cm x 4.00 cm plates spaced 1.00 mm apart, how much charge does the battery deliver to each plate?

(A) 1.07 × 10−11 C

(B) 1.50 × 10−11 C
(C) 1.88 × 10−11 C
(D) 2.12 × 10−11 C
(E) 2.35 × 10−11 C

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
21. The figure shows a negatively charged electroscope. The gold leaf stands
away from the rigid metal post. Is the electric potential of the gold leaf
greater than, less than, or equal to the electric potential of the metal post?

(A) greater than

(B) less than
(C) equal to

22. A capacitor is discharged when a screwdriver is connected across its terminals. The electric potential energy stored
in the capacitor is quickly released in the form of heat in the screwdriver and a spark at the point of contact. How
much energy is released when a 1.50 F capacitor is discharged if the electric potential difference across its terminals
is 100 V?

(A) 3.50 × 103 J

(B) 4.50 × 103 J
(C) 5.50 × 103 J
(D) 6.50 × 103 J
(E) 7.50 × 103 J

The following information applies to the next three questions (questions 23, 24, and 25).
C
In the figure to the right, the electric potential difference across A • •
the 1.00 μF is 10.0 V. 1.00 μF
3.00 μF
23. Find the equivalent capacitance between points A and B.
2.00 μF
(A) 1.18 μF
(B) 1.50 μF
B • •
(C) 1.85 μF D
(D) 2.07 μF 7.00 μF 2.00 μF
(E) 2.33 μF

24. What is the charge on the 1.00 μF capacitor?

(A) 1.25 μC
(B) 2.50 μC
(C) 5.00 μC
(D) 10.0 μC
(E) 20.0 μC

25. Find the magnitude of the electric potential difference between points C and D.

(A) 10.0 V
(B) 12.5 V
(C) 15.0 V
(D) 17.5 V
(E) 20.0 V

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
26. A copper cylinder is machined to have the shape shown to the right.
The ends are connected to a battery so that a current flows through
the copper. In which region is the electron drift speed least?
A B C
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) The electron drift speed is the same in all three regions.

The following information applies to the last three questions (questions 27, 28, and 29).

The recent frigid temperatures in the Copper Country have resulted in frozen water pipes. It’s possible to thaw a metal
water pipe by passing a current through it. Suppose a current of 350 A passes through a copper water pipe 6.00 m in
length with an inner diameter of 21.0 mm and an outer diameter of 22.2 mm. (Note: The cross-sectional area of the
copper pipe through which the current passes is 4.07 × 10−5 m 2 .) The resistivity of copper at 0° C is
ρ 1.54 × 10−8 Ω ⋅ m, and the conduction electron density of copper is=
= n 8.50 × 1028 m −3 .

27. What is the current density in the copper pipe?

(A) 8.60 × 106 A/m 2

(B) 8.90 × 106 A/m 2
(C) 9.20 × 106 A/m 2
(D) 9.50 × 106 A/m 2
(E) 9.80 × 106 A/m 2

28. What is the electric potential difference across the 6.00 m length of the pipe?

(A) 0.795 V
(B) 14.9 V
(C) 110 V
(D) 1220 V
(E) 14,900 V

29. A copper water pipe 6.00 m in length takes about 9 minutes to thaw. How far does a conduction electron travel
during the 9.00 minutes it takes the pipe to thaw as a current of 350 A passes through it?

(A) 0.341 m
(B) 0.376 m
(C) 0.404 m
(D) 0.444 m
(E) 0.491 m

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PH2200 EXAM II SPRING 2019
1. B 11. D 21. C
2. D 12. B 22. E
3. B 13. E 23. E
4. B 14. B 24. D
5. A 15. C 25. E
6. E 16. D 26. C
7. C 17. C 27. A
8. C 18. E 28. A
9. B 19. A 29 A
10. D 20. D