Yale University Department of Physics Physics 181 University Physics, Spring 2011 Assignment #1 Solutions by Camille Avestruz

Problem 1: Isolated conducting spheres. HRW 21.2.

Figure 1: Problem 1 In (a), both spheres have charge q, Q1 = Q2 = q (1 pts) (1)

In part (b), when the neutral charged sphere 3 comes into contact with sphere 1, the total charge between 1 and 3 is conserved and distributes equally, so, Q1 + Q3 = Q1 + Q3 = q + 0 and Q1 = Q3 Q1 = Q3 = q (2 pts) 2 (2)

In part (c), when sphere 3 comes into contact with sphere 2, the total charge between 2 and 3 is conserved and distributes equally, so, Q2 + Q3 = Q2 + Q3 q = q + and 2 Q2 = Q3 3q Q2 = Q3 = (2 pts) 4

(3)

The initial force between the two spheres was, |F | = k The nal force between the two spheres is, |F | = k 3q 2 (2 pts) 2 4r2 (5) q2 (1 pts) r2 (4)

F 3 = = .375 (2 pts) F 8

(6)

Problem 2: Force vectors.

Figure 2: Problem 2 The net force vector on q1 is given by the sum of forces from q2 and q3 . F3 on 1 = k |q1 ||q3 | x 2 r1

(5 109 C)(5 109 C) x 32 104 m2 = 25 105 N x (2 pts) = 9 109 N m2 /C 2 2

(7)

and, F2 on 1 = k |q1 ||q2 | (cos + sin ) x y 2 r2 (5 109 C)(10 109 C) = 9 109 N m2 /C 2 (cos + sin ) x y (32 + 42 ) 104 m2 = 18 105 N (cos + sin ) (2 pts) x y

(8)

The angle, , is given by in the inverse tan of the ratio between the two sides, tan1 4 = 53.13o 3 sin = 0.8 (1 pts) (9) Alternatively, since we know all three sides of the triangle (it is a 3-4-5 right triangle), we can directly compute the sine and cosine of the angle using SOH-CAH-TOA. So, sin = 4/5 = 0.8, and cos = 3/5 = 0.6. Fnet on 1 = 25 105 N x 18 105 (0.6 + 0.8)N x y = (14.2N x 14.4N y ) 105 (2 pts) The corresponding magnitude and angle of the net force on 1 is, |Fnet on 1 | = 14.22 + 14.42 105 N (11) (10)

cos = 0.6 (1 pts)

= 2.0 104 N (1 pts) and = tan1 14.4 14.2 = 45o (1 pts)

(12)

|Fnet | = 2.0 104 N and = 45o clockwise from the positive x-axis

(13)

Problem 3: Repulsive charges on weightless threads. In this problem we need to nd all of the forces in the diagram in terms of q, set the net force on each charge to be 0, and solve for q. From the Free-body diagram, we have forces due to tension from the thread, gravity, and the electrostatic charge. Fg = mg y FT Fe = |T |( sin(20) + cos(20)) x y 2 q = k 2 x (3 pts) d 3

(14)

Figure 3: Problem 3 We can re-express d in terms of L, sin(20) = d (1 pt) 2L (15)

In equilibrium, the net force on each charge is zero. So, the net force in each direction is also zero, |T | cos(20) mg q2 |T | sin(20) + k 2 2 4L sin (20) mg q2 sin(20) + k 2 2 cos(20) 4L sin (20) 4L2 sin2 (20) mg tan(20) k Finally plugging in all the numbers, q = (3 103 kg) (9.8N/kg) 0.36 4 0.342 m2 9 109 N m2 /C 2 (17) q = .75C (2 pts) (18) = 0 for the y direction (2 pts) = 0 for the x direction (2 pts) = 0 = q 2 (2 pts) (16)

= .75 106 C

Problem 4: Force as a function of position. HRW 21.32 The zero-crossing of the graph indicates a position for particle 3 where the net force of particles 1 and 3 on 2 are zero. Since this occurs when particle 3 is to the right of particle 2, so particle 2 is in between the particles 1 and 3, particles 1 and 3 must have the same sign (2 pts); particles 1 and 3 must be either both pushing or both pulling on 2 for it to feel zero force. The problem tells us the magnitude of particle 1, so we now know that q1 = q3 = 8.00e, and the net force is zero when 4

Figure 4: Problem 4 x1 = 0.4m and x3 = 0.4m (2 pts). (xs corresponds to 0.8m, and the zero crossing occurs between xs and the origin.) As particle 3 moves further away, its contribution to the net force on particle 2 asymptotes to 0 (2 pts). The problem states that the asymptote of F2,net (x3 ) = 1.5 1025 N x. Let the charge of particle 2, q2 , equal q2 = e. So, 1.5 1025 N 8e e 0.42 m2 8 (1.6 1019 C)2 = (9 109 N m2 /C 2 ) .16m2 28 = 115.2 10 N (2 pts) = (9 109 N m2 /C 2 ) = 13.02 q2 = 13.02e (2 pts) (19) (20)

= .01302 103

Problem 5: Proton orbiting a wire. This problem involves a proton, whose orbit is kept stable by the force between itself and a charged wire, of some linear charge density . Since the force must be attractive (think gravity, and how the earth orbits the sun), the charged wire must be negatively charged (1 pts). We can calculate the electric eld due to the wire at all points a perpendicular distance r from the wire, E = 1 || r 2 o r 2|| = k r (2 pts) r (21) Note, that since the wire must be negative to keep the proton in orbit, so eld lines point towards the wire, in the direction (1 pts). The force on a charge q at some point in space with electric r 5

Figure 5: Problem 5 eld E is F = q E (1 pts). The force needed to keep a mass in circular orbit is F = mv r (1 pts). r Setting this equal to the electrostatic force, we have, k mv 2 (2 pts) r mv 2 || = with v = 2rf , (1 pts) 2qk (1.67 1027 kg)(2 102 m 106 s1 )2 = 2(1.6 1019 C)(9 109 N m2 /C 2 ) = 2.3 109 C/m 2q| r = = 2.3nC/m (1 pts)
2

(22) (23)

Problem 6: Two parallel non-conducting rings. HRW 22.23. The electric eld due to a ring of charge along the axis of the ring (z-axis) can be calculated as such: the electric eld due to a qi point charge is E = k rq2 r, and we can break up the ring into dqi s where dqi = 2R , where i = 1, 2. Note, all of the components of the electric eld that are parallel to the plane of the ring cancel, and we are left with only the components in the z-direction. Our contributing dierential electric elds from each ring are, dE1 z = k q1 /(2R) cos 1 z 2 r1 q2 /(2R) dE2 z = k cos 2 z (2 pts) 2 r2

(24)

where ri is the distance from the point to the ring, and i is the angle between the z-axis and the line between our dqi and P. For our point P, we have r1 = r2 = R2 + R2 and R2 + 4R2 (2 pts). 6 (25)

Figure 6: Problem 6 This gives, cos 1 = cos 2 = R r1 2R (2 pts) r2 (26) Integrating our dierential electric eld along the length of each ring gives a factor our net contribution to the electric eld at point P from each ring is, E1 = k R q1 2R2 2R2 q1 = k 2 2R2 2q2 (2 pts) = k 5 5R2 dl = 2R, so

E2

(27)

Since the net electric eld at P is 0, we know that E1 + E2 = 0, so, q1 4 2 = 0.506 (2 pts) q2 5 5 (28)

Problem 7: Semi-innite non-conducting rod. HRW 22.33. Each innitesimal length, dx along the charged rod contributes a dq = dx. The distance, r, between a dierential charge at distance x from the edge of the rod and the point P is, r = 7 R 2 + x2 (29)

Figure 7: Problem 7 The dierential element of the electric eld is then, dE = k dx ( sin cos ). (3pts) x y r2 (30) Changing all of our variables so our integration can be over , x = R tan Rd dx = cos2 r = R/ cos , (3pts) our electric eld becomes,
/2

(31)

E =
0

dk

Rd/ cos2 ( sin cos ) x y R2 / cos2

/2 /2 cos |0 x + sin |0 y R = k ( y ) (2 pts) x R = k (32) ( + y ) x R 8

E = k

(33)

Since both the x and y components of the electric eld are equal for all values of R, we nd that the net electric eld at point P due to the rod makes a 45o angle with the rod. (3 pts) Problem 8: Two large at sheets of plastic. The sheet on the left has surface charge o .

Figure 8: Problem 8 Let us assume that this creates electric eld lines pointing in towards the left sheet. The sheet on the right has a surface charge of opposite sign and dierent magnitude, 3o . This, in turn, would create electric eld lines pointing away from the sheet on the right. Let us recall that the electric eld due to a given large surface with charge, i , is E = i /2 o . (4pts) Point 1 has an electric eld contribution from the left sheet pointing to the right (positive x direction), and contribution from the right sheet pointing to the left. The resulting net electric eld at that point is given by, E1 = = 3o o x x 2 o 2 o o x (2pts)
o

(34)

Likewise, the resulting net electric elds at points 2 and 3 are, respectively, E2 = = 3o o x x 2 o 2 o 2o x (2pts)
o

E3 = =

3o o x+ x 2 o 2 o o x (2pts)
o

(35)

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