Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:

Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:

Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.1 Electric charge and electric fields

1. Fill the blanks in the following questions.

(a) Like charges repel ; unlike charges attract .
(b)
neutron ( neutral )
electron ( negative )

proton ( positive )

(c) The charge of a proton is +1.6 × 10-19 C . The charge of an electron is -1.6 × 10-19 C .
The unit of charge is coulomb .Its symbol is C .
(d) Materials which do not allow electrons to flow through are called insulators .
Materials which allow electrons to flow through are called conductors . In metals, the
outermost electrons of the atoms are loosely held. They are free to move
between the atoms. These electrons are called free electrons .

2. Fig a shows the charge distribution of an aluminium foil. A positively charged rod is then brought near
to the foil as shown in Fig b.

Fig a Fig b Fig c

(a) Draw the charge distribution in Fig b.

(b) Draw the net charge distribution in Fig c.

3. Fig a shows the charge distribution of a paper strip. A positively charged rod is then brought near to the
strip as shown in Fig b.

Fig a Fig b Fig c

(a) Draw the charge distribution in Fig b.

(b) Draw the net charge distribution in Fig c.

Phy WS_Book4 1.1_1 Ans.doc Page 1 of 2

4. Peter wants to charge two metal spheres A and B (with insulating supports) with a positively charged
rod. Draw the charge distributions in Fig b and c.

two spheres are separated, and

initially neutral a positively rod is brought near then the charged rod is removed

A B A B A B

Fig a insulating supports Fig b Fig c

5. Mary wants to charge a metal sphere by earthing. Draw the charge distributions in Fig b and c.

the earth wire is removed, and

the sphere is earthed momentarily then the charged rod is removed

Fig a insulating support Fig b Fig c

6. Mary holds a charged metal rod with bare hand while David holds another charged metal rod with a
plastic handle. They hold the rods close to some small pieces of paper. Explain why David's metal rod
can attract the paper while Mary's cannot.
When Mary's hand touches the
charged metal rod, the rod is earthed.
Mar's rod becomes neutralized and
cannot attract the paper.
However, David's rod is not earthed
because the handle is made of plastic.
As a result, his rod remains charged and can attract the paper.

7. A girl stands on a plastic stool and touches the dome of a Van dc Graaff generator. When the generator
is started, the girl's hair stands on end.
(a) Why does the girl's hair stand on end?
The girl has the same type of charge on her hair. Hence, the hairs
repel and stand on end.
(b) Why does the girl stand on a plastic stool?
The girl can be insulated by the plastic stool / not earthed
The charges remain on her hairs and keep the hair standing

Phy WS_Book4 1.1_1 Ans.doc Page 2 of 2

Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:
Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:
Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.1 Electric charge and electric fields

1. Draw the electric field patterns in the following diagrams.

(a) A positive charge (b) A negative charge (c) Two parallel plates

(d) Two negative electrodes (e) Two positive electrodes (f) A positive and a negative
electrode

2. Two opposite charges of the same quantities are placed in two parallel plates.
(a) Label the electric forces acting on the charges by the electric field.
(b) Is the electric force acting on the negative charge larger, smaller or
the same as that on the positive charge? Explain briefly.
They have the same electric force
because the electric field in the plates is uniform or they
have the same electric field pass through

3. What are the directions of motions of the following charges?

(a) (b) (c)
electric field

The charge moves The charge moves The charge remains

to the right to the left at rest

4. In Fig a, an earthed metal sphere is suspended by an insulating thread and a positively charged rod is
placed nearby. The earth connection is removed and then the rod is removed. Draw the new charge
distribution in Fig b.

Fig a Fig b

Phy WS_Book4 1.1_2 Ans.doc Page 1 of 2

5. In Fig a, A, B and C are uncharged metal balls suspended by insulating threads and placed in contact. A
positively charged rod is placed near A. Afterwards, B is removed and the charged rod is removed.
Draw the new charge distribution in Fig b.

A B C A C
Fig a Fig b

6. In the diagram shown, P and Q do not attract each other. X and Q attract each other. X and Y repel each
other. If Y carries a negative charge, what are the charges on
X? Negative
Q? No charge (neutral)
P? No charge (neutral)

7. Two light metal spheres A and B are hung from the ceiling by nylon threads and are
fixed to the positions. Sphere A is positively charged and sphere B is neutral.
Describe and explain the motion of the spheres when they are released.
They attract (and rise) together because sphere A is charged. A B
When they touch, they share the same charge from A.
Since they have the same charge, they repel and rise up

8. Two charged spheres A and B are hung from the ceiling by nylon threads and
are fixed to the positions. They repel and rise up when they are released. The
charge store on spheres A and B are 4 C and 6 C respectively. Is FB larger than
or equal to FA? Explain briefly. FA
A B
They are the same
because FA and FB are action-and-reaction pair

9. Suggest a reason why an experiment of attracting paper strips by a charged rod is not easy to perform if
the air consists of too much moisture.
Since water is conducting, the water vapour (or moisture) in the air
neutralize the charges on the rod

10. Explain why a stream of water can be bent by a charged comb placed nearby.
Hint: http://www.smarterthanthat.com/experiments/bending-water-with-a-plastic-comb/
The water stream is polarized by the comb (or opposite charges are induced in the water stream)
Since the comb and the side of the water stream near the comb have opposite charges,
the water stream is attracted by the comb

Phy WS_Book4 1.1_2 Ans.doc Page 2 of 2

Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:
Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:
Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.2 More about electric fields
Given: charge of an electron = -1.6 × 10-19 C, e0 = 8.85 × 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2

1. (a) State Coulomb's law.

The electrostatic force F between two point charges is proportional
to the quantity (Q1 and Q2) of each of the charges and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance r between the charges
(b) State the equation of Coulomb's law.
QQ
F = 1 22
4pe 0 r

2. In the diagram shown, P and Q are balls with net charges of +5 × 10-8 C and -8 × 10-8 C respectively.
(a) Label the electric forces acting on each ball.
(b) Find the electric force acting on each ball. FP FQ
Q1Q2
F=
4pe 0 r 2
(5 ´ 10-8 )( -8 ´ 10-8 )
F=
4p (8.85 ´ 10-12 )(0.02) 2
F = -0.089918046 = -0.09 N

3. The electric force between two positive charges X and Y is F. State what happens to F if,
(a) the charge on X is doubled and the charge on Y is reduced by 70%.
Q X QY
F=
4pe 0 r 2
(2Q X )(0.3QY )
F'=
4pe 0 r 2
F ' = 0.6 F
\ F is decreased by 40% (or F' = 0.6F)

(b) the separation between them is halved.

Q X QY
F=
4pe 0 r 2
Q X QY
F'=
4pe 0 (0.5r ) 2
F ' = 4F
\ F is increased by 4 times (or F' = 4F)

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_1 Ans.doc Page 1 of 2

4. Balls A and B are kept in equilibrium by an insulating string of length 0.1 m.
The quantities of charges on A and B are +2 µC and +5 µC. Find the
tension in the string.

Q1Q2
F=
4pe 0 r 2
(2 ´ 10-6 )(5 ´ 10-6 )
F=
4p (8.85 ´ 10-12 )(0.1) 2
F = 8.991804694 = 8.99 N
F = 18.0 N (wrong)

5. Three light balls A, B and C are evenly spaced on a straight line, carrying charges of the same
magnitude but with signs as shown. If the electric force between B and C is F, find the resultant electric
force acting on A.
F = FB + FC
QQ Q ( -Q )
F= +
4pe 0 r 2
4pe 0 (2 r ) 2
1 QQ
F ' = (1 - )
4 4pe 0 r 2
3 QQ
F'= ´
4 4pe 0 r 2
3
F'= F (to the left)
4

6. Three light balls A, B and C are located on the vertices of an equilateral triangle, carrying charges of
the same magnitude but with signs as shown. If the electric force between A and C is F, find the
resultant electric force acting on B.
Since all forces acting on B along y-axis balance
y
\ resultant force acting on B = FAB cos 60o + FBC cos 60o
= 0.5F + 0.5F
= F (to the right or toward positive x direction)
x

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_1 Ans.doc Page 2 of 2

Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:
Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:
Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.2 More about electric fields
Given: charge of an electron = -1.6 × 10-19 C, e0 = 8.85 × 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2, g = 9.81 m s-2

1. There are three charges Q1 (2 × 10-8 C), Q2 (3 × 10-8 C) and Q3 (-4 × 10-8 C). Find the magnitude of
the resultant force acting on Q1 in each of the following cases.
(a)
F = F12 + F13
Q1Q2 Q1Q3
F= +
4pe 0 (0.1) 2
4pe 0 (0.3) 2
(2 ´ 10-8 )(3 ´ 10-8 ) (2 ´ 10-8 )( -4 ´ 10-8 )
F= +
4pe 0 (0.1) 2 4pe 0 (0.3) 2
F = 4.595811288 ´ 10-4 = 4.60 ´ 10-4 N

(b)
Q1Q2 (2 ´ 10-8 )(3 ´ 10-8 )
F12 = =
4pe 0 (0.3) 2 4pe 0 (0.3) 2
F12 = 5.99 ´ 10-5
Q1Q3 (2 ´ 10-8 )( -4 ´ 10-8 )
F13 = =
4pe 0 (0.9) 2 4pe 0 (0.9) 2
F13 = -8.88 ´ 10-6
F = F122 + F132
F = 6.059963083 ´ 10-5 = 6.06 ´ 10-5 N

2. Ball A of mass 20 g is suspended by an insulating thread. Ball B fixed to a plastic handle carries a
charge of +5 × 10-8 C. When the balls are 3 cm apart, the string inclines at 10o to the vertical as shown.
Find
(a) the tension in the string
T cos10° = mg
T cos10° = 0.02 ´ 9.81 T
T = 0.208791679 = 0.209 N

FAB
(b) the quantity of charge on A.
QQ mg
T sin10° = A B2
4pe 0 r
Q A (5 ´ 10-8 )
0.209 ´ sin10° =
4pe 0 (0.03) 2
Q A = 7.257867851 ´ 10-8 = 7.26 ´ 10-8 C
Phy WS_Book4 1.2_2 Ans.doc Page 1 of 2
3. In the diagram, A and B are metal balls carrying the same FBA
amount of positive charge. They are at rest on a rough f
horizontal surface.
(a) Label the electric force and the friction acting on ball A. Area they action-and-reaction pair?
No
(b) When the separation between the balls is 2.5 cm and f = 2 x 10-3 N. Find the magnitude of charge
on each ball.
Q A QB
f =
4pe 0 r 2
-3 Q2
2 ´ 10 =
4pe 0 (0.025) 2
Q = 1.179048239 ´ 10-8 = 1.18 ´ 10-8 C

4. Fig.a shows two identical small metal spheres X and Y suspended by insulating threads of the same
length. Each sphere has a mass of 1.0 × 10-5 kg and each carries a positive charge of 3.1 nC (1 nC =
10-9 C). The separation d of the spheres is 10 cm. The size of the spheres is negligible compared with
their separation, therefore they can be treated as point charges.

Fig. a Fig. b

(a) Find the angle between the threads.

T cos q = mg
T sin q = FXY FE

tan q = FXY / mg
mg tan q = FXY
(3.1 ´ 10-9 )(3.1 ´ 10-9 )
(1 ´ 10 )(9.81) tan q =
-5

4pe 0 (0.1) 2
q = 5.033898039 = 5.03°
\ the angle between the threads = 2q = 10.1o
(b) Point P is vertically below the fixed point O and it is 10 cm from each sphere.
(i) Indicate on Fig.b the direction of the resultant electric field at P due to these two charged
spheres.
(ii) A neutral metal sphere of finite size is now placed at P. State whether the separation d would
increase, decrease or remain unchanged due to the presence of this sphere.
d would decrease

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_2 Ans.doc Page 2 of 2

 Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:
Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:
Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.2 More about electric fields
Given: charge of an electron = -1.6 × 10-19 C, e0 = 8.85 × 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2, g = 9.81 m s-2

1. Find the electric field strength at (a) A and (b) B due to charge Q1, where Q1 = 2 × 10-8 C.
(a) At A
Q1
E=
4pe 0 r 2
(2 ´ 10-8 )
E=
4pe 0 (0.1) 2
E = 17983.60939 = 18000 N C-1 Towards the left
(b) At B
Q1
E=
4pe 0 r 2
(2 ´ 10-8 )
E=
4pe 0 (0.2) 2
E = 4495.902347 = 4500 N C-1 Towards the right

2. Find the electric field strength at A

(a) due to Q1, where Q1 = 2 × 10-8 C.

Q1 A B
E=
4pe 0 r 2
(2 ´ 10-8 )
E=
4pe 0 (0.1) 2
E = 17983.60939 = 18000 N C-1
Towards the left
(b) due to Q1 and Q3, where Q3 = -4 × 10-8 C.

3. Find the electric field strength at Q1 due to charges Q2 (3 × 10-8 C) and Q3 (-4 × 10-8 C).

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_3 Ans.docx Page 1 of 2

4. In a hydrogen atom, an electron moves around the proton in a circular orbit of radius 5.29 x 10-11 m. Find
the electric field strength due to the proton at the position of the electron.
e
E=
4pe 0 r 2
1.6 ´ 10-19
E=
4pe 0 (5.29 ´ 10-11 ) 2
E = 5.141093518 ´ 1011 = 5.14 ´ 1011 N C-1 Away from the centre

5. In the diagram, the charges of Q2 and Q3 are 3 × 10-8 C and -4 × 10-8 C respectively.
(a) (i) Label the electric field at X due to Q2.
(ii) Label the electric field at X due to Q3.
(b) Label the resultant electric field in dotted line.
(c) Find the magnitude of the electric field at X due to Q2 and Q3. E3
X
Q3
E3 =
4pe 0 r32
E2
-8
-4 ´ 10 E23
E3 =
4pe 0 (0.9) 2
E3 = -444.039738 = -444 N C-1

Q2
E2 =
4pe 0 r2 2 E232 = E22 + E32
3 ´ 10-8 E232 = 30002 + ( -444)2
E2 =
4pe 0 (0.3) 2 E23 = 3029.981541 = 3030 N C-1
E2 = 2997.268231 = 3000 N C-1
EA
6. (a) In the diagram,
EAB
(i) label the electric field at X due to QA. q
(ii) label the electric field at X due to QB. EB
(iii) label the resultant electric field in dotted line.
(b) Find the electric field at X due to QA and QB.

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_3 Ans.docx Page 2 of 2

Block: MS3 Block Name: Mark:
Class: MS3 ( ) HKCCCU Logos Academy Due date:
Physics Worksheet – Chapter 1 Electrostatics
1.2 More about electric field
Given: charge of an electron = -1.6 × 10-19 C, mass of an electron = 9.1 × 10-31 kg,
e0 = 8.85 × 10-12 C2 N-1 m-2, g = 9.81 m s-2

1. Two opposite charges of the same quantities are placed in two parallel plates.
(a) Label the electric forces acting on the charges by the electric field.
(b) Is the electric force acting on the negative charge larger, smaller or
the same as that on the positive charge? Explain briefly.
They have the same electric force
because the electric field in the plates is uniform or they
have the same electric field pass through

2. If the electric potential difference between two parallel plates is 3 kV and the separation between them
is 1 cm, find the electric field strength between the plates.
E=V/d
E = 3000 / 0.01
E = 300000 = 3 x 105 N C-1

3. An electron accelerates from rest from a negative plate to a positive plate.

(a) Describe the energy change of the electron.
The electric potential energy stored in the electron
changes to its kinetic energy when it moves from the
negative plate to the positive plate

(b) Find the electric PE stored in the electron before it moves.

V=W/Q
\ electric PE = W = VQ
electric PE = 200 x (1.6 x 10-19)
electric PE = 3.2 x 10-17 J

(c) Find the speed of the electron when it reaches the positive plate.
KE gain = electric PE loss
1/2 m v2 = 3.2 x 10-17
1/2 (9.1 x 10-31) v2 = 3.2 x 10-17
v = 8386278.694 = 8.39 x 106 m s-1

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_4 Ans.doc Page 1 of 2

4. The electric field strength between two parallel plates is 8 x 104 N C-1 and the separation between the
plates is 4 cm. An electron accelerates from the negative plate to the positive plate. If the initial speed is
2 m s-1 what is the speed of the electron when it reaches the positive plate?
KE gain = electric PE loss
1/2 m v2 - 1/2 m u2 = QV
1/2 (9.1 x 10-31)(v2 - 22) = (1.6 x 10-19)(Ed)
1/2 (9.1 x 10-31)(v2 - 22) = (1.6 x 10-19)(8 x 104)(0.04)
v = 33545114.78 = 3.35 x 107 m s-1

5. Two parallel metal plates are separated by a distance d. The potential

difference between the two plates is V. Find the magnitude of the electric
force acting on a charge Q placed midway between the plates in terms of
V, Q and d.
F = QE
V V /2 Re: electric field in two parallel plates is uniform
F = Q ( ) or F = Q ( )
d d /2
QV
F=
d

6. A particle of charge 3.2 × 10-17 C is placed in a uniform electric field of 4 N C-1. It

Y
accelerates from rest from X to Y. The distance between X and Y is 3 cm. Find the
speed of the electron at Y.
X
KE gain at Y = electric PE loss at X
1/2 (m v2 - 0) = QV
1/2 (m v2 - 0) = Q(Ed)
1/2 (9.1 x 10-31)(v2) = (3.2 x 10-17)(4)(0.03)
v = 2905092.157 = 2.91 x 106 m s-1

7. A metal sphere of charge 2 × 10-8 C is suspended by a nylon thread in T

two parallel plates. The distance between the plates is 5 cm. The potential FE 10o
difference between two plates is 1500 V.
(a) Label all forces acting on the sphere. mg
(b) Find the mass of the sphere.
FE = QE = (2 x 10-8)(V / d)
FE = (2 x 10-8)(1500 / 0.05)
FE = 6 x 10-4 N
T cos 10o = mg
T sin 10o = FE
tan 10o = FE / mg
m = 3.468673896 x 10-4 = 3.47 x 10-4 kg

Phy WS_Book4 1.2_4 Ans.doc Page 2 of 2