Unit 2: Electric Force, Field, and Potential
Physics 2 · Unit 2 · Paper 2

Electric Force, Field, and Potential unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Each paper is built from this unit’s 47 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 2, Paper 2” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.
Suggested time 37 min 34 points0/17 attempted
1

Field from potential

2

Charged particle released in a uniform field

3

Potential difference and work

4

Reading field lines

5

Field vs potential

6

Charge is conserved and quantized

7

Charge conservation and quantization

8

When gravity matters

9

Zero field with nonzero potential

10

Same voltage, same energy, different speeds

11

Capacitance of parallel plates

12

Acceleration of a charge in a field

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Coulomb versus Newton

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Conductors vs insulators

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Keep signs out of field magnitudes

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Uniform field between parallel plates

3 pts

Free response

10 pts

Two point charges are fixed on the x-axis. A charge of +Q is at the origin, and a charge of −Q is at x = d. Point P is located on the x-axis midway between them, at x = d/2.

A(i). Indicate the direction of the net electric field at point P. A(ii). Indicate the direction of the electric force that would be exerted on a small positive test charge placed at P.

B. Derive an expression for the magnitude of the net electric field at point P, in terms of Q, d and physical constants.

C. Derive an expression for the electric potential at point P, in terms of Q, d and physical constants.

D. A small charge +q is moved from point P to a point infinitely far from both charges. Determine the work done by the electric field during this displacement, and justify your answer.