2022

AP Physics C:
®

Electricity and
Magnetism
Free-Response Questions
Set 1

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 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C TABLE OF INFORMATION
CONSTANTS AND CONVERSION FACTORS
Proton mass, m p 1.67 – 10 27 kg Electron charge magnitude, e 1.60 – 10 19 C
Neutron mass, mn 1.67 – 10 27 kg 1 electron volt, 1 eV 1.60 – 10 19 J
Electron mass, me 9.11 – 10 31 kg Speed of light, c 3.00 – 108 m s
Universal gravitational
Avogadro’s number, N 0 6.02 – 10 23 mol 1
constant,
G 
6.67 – 10 11 N<m 2  kg 2
Acceleration due to gravity
Universal gas constant, R 8.31 J (mol <K)
at Earth’s surface, g 9.8 m s2
Boltzmann’s constant, k B 1.38 – 10 23 J K
1 unified atomic mass unit, 1u 1.66 – 10 27 kg 931 MeV c 2
Planck’s constant, h 6.63 – 10 34 J <s 4.14 – 10 15 eV <s
hc 1.99 – 10 25 J <m 1.24 – 103 eV < nm
Vacuum permittivity, e0 
8.85 – 10 12 C2 N < m 2 
Coulomb’s law constant, k 1  4 pe0  
9.0 – 109 N< m 2  C2
Vacuum permeability, m0 4 p – 10 7 (T <m) A
Magnetic constant, k „ m0  4 p  1 – 10 7 (T< m) A
1 atmosphere pressure, 1 atm 1.0 – 105 N m 2 1.0 – 105 Pa

meter, m mole, mol watt, W farad, F

kilogram, kg hertz, Hz coulomb, C tesla, T
UNIT second, s newton, N volt, V degree Celsius, ’C
SYMBOLS
ampere, A pascal, Pa ohm, W electron volt, eV
kelvin, K joule, J henry, H

PREFIXES VALUES OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS FOR COMMON ANGLES

D
Factor Prefix Symbol q 0 30D 37D 45D 53D 60D 90D
109 giga G sin q 0 12 35 2 2 45 3 2 1
106 mega M cos q 1 3 2 45 2 2 35 12 0
103 kilo k tan q 0 3 3 34 1 43 3 ‡
10 2 centi c
10 3 milli m The following assumptions are used in this exam.
10 6 micro m I. The frame of reference of any problem is inertial unless otherwise
stated.
10 9 nano n II. The direction of current is the direction in which positive charges
10 12 pico p would drift.
III. The electric potential is zero at an infinite distance from an isolated
point charge.
IV. All batteries and meters are ideal unless otherwise stated.
V. Edge effects for the electric field of a parallel plate capacitor are
negligible unless otherwise stated.
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

MECHANICS ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Ãx Ãx 0  a x t a = acceleration G 1 q1q2 A = area
E= energy FE B = magnetic field
1 2 4pe0 r 2
x x0  Ãx 0 t  at F = force C = capacitance
2 x G
f = frequency G FE d = distance
Ãx2 Ãx 0  2 a x  x  x0 
2
E
h = height q E = electric field
G G I = rotational inertia e emf
=
G
a
ÇF Fnet
J = impulse G G Q F = force
m m
K = kinetic energy vÔ E < dA e0 I = current
G G k = spring constant J = current density
dp dV
F A = length Ex  L = inductance
dt dx
L = angular momentum A = length
G G G G G
J m= mass n = number of loops of wire
Ô F dt Dp
P = power
DV  Ô E <dr
per unit length
G G p = momentum N = number of charge carriers
p mv 1 q
r = radius or distance V Ç rii per unit volume
G G 4pe0 P = power
F f … m FN T = period i

t = time Q = charge
G G 1 q1q2 q = point charge
U= potential energy UE qV
DE W Ô F <dr 4pe0 r R = resistance
v = velocity or speed
1 2 W= work done on a system r = radius or distance
K mà Q
2 x = position DV t = time
C
m = coefficient of friction U = potential or stored energy
dE k e0 A V = electric potential
P q = angle C
dt d
t = torque v = velocity or speed
G G r = resistivity
P F <v w = angular speed Cp
a = angular acceleration
Ç Ci F = flux
i
DUg mg Dh f = phase angle k = dielectric constant
G G 1 1 G G G
Fs k D x Cs
ÇC FM qv – B
Ã2 i i
ac w2r G G
r
G G G
Us
1
k  Dx 
2
I
dQ vÔ < d A m0 I
B
2 dt
t r –F G
x xmax cos( wt  f
G m0 I d A – r
G G 1
QDV
1
C  DV 2 dB
G Çt t net UC 4p r 2
a 2 2
I I 2p 1 G G G
T rA
w f R F Ô A–B
I d
2 2 A
I Ô r dm Ç mr
m G G Bs m0 nI
Ts 2p E rJ
k
Ç mi xi G G
x cm I Nevd A FB Ô B < dA
Ç mi Tp 2p
A
g G G
à rw DV d FB
G I e vÔ < d A
E 
G Gm1m2 R dt
G G G FG
L r – p Iw r2 Rs Ç Ri dI
e L
1 2 Gm1m2 i dt
K Iw UG 
2 r 1 1 1 2
ÇR UL LI
Rp i i 2
w w0  at

1 2 P I DV
q q0  w0 t  at
2
 ADVANCED PLACEMENT PHYSICS C EQUATIONS

GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY CALCULUS

Rectangle A = area df d f du
A bh C = circumference dx du dx
V = volume
Triangle d n
S = surface area x  nx n  1
1 dx
A bh b = base
2 d ax
h = height e  aeax
Circle  = length dx

A pr2 w = width d 1
ln ax 
r = radius dx x
C 2p r s = arc length d
s rq q = angle dx
>sin ax @ a cos ax 
Rectangular Solid
d
V wh dx
>cos ax @  a sin ax 
Cylinder s
r n 1 n 1
V pr 
2
q
Ôx dx
n 1
x , n › 1

ax 1 ax
S 2p r   2p r 2
Ôe dx e
a
Sphere
dx
4 3 Ôxa ln x  a
V pr
3
1
S 4p r 2 Ô cos ax dx a
sin ax 

1
Right Triangle Ô sin ax dx  cos  ax 
a
a 2  b2 c2
VECTOR PRODUCTS
a  
sin q
c A B AB cos q
c  
b a A–B AB sin q
cos q
c q 90°
b
a
tan q
b
 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

Begin your response to QUESTION 1 on this page.

PHYSICS C: ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

SECTION II
Time—45 minutes
3 Questions

Directions: Answer all three questions. The suggested time is about 15 minutes for answering each of the questions,
which are worth 15 points each. The parts within a question may not have equal weight. Show all your work in this
booklet in the spaces provided after each part.

1. A nonconducting sphere of uniform volume charge density is surrounded by a thin concentric conducting
spherical shell, as shown in the cutout view. The sphere has a charge of −Q and the shell has a charge of +3Q .
The radii of the inner sphere and spherical shell are R and 4R , respectively, as shown in the cross-section view.
(a) Determine the charge on the outer surface of the shell.

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AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

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(b) Using Gauss’s law, derive an expression for the electric field a distance r from the center of the sphere for
r < R . Express your answer in terms of Q , R, r , and physical constants, as appropriate.

(c) The magnitude of the electric field at r = R is 8N / C . Calculate the value of the electric field at r = 2R .

(d) Derive an expression for the absolute value of the potential difference between the outer surface of the sphere
and the inner surface of the shell. Express your answer in terms of Q , R, and physical constants, as
appropriate.

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 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

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(e)

i. On the following axes that include regions I, II, and III, sketch a graph of the electric field E as a function of the
distance r from the center of the sphere.

ii. On the following axes that include regions I, II, and III, sketch a graph of the electric potential V as a function
of the distance r from the center of the sphere.

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 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

Begin your response to QUESTION 2 on this page.

2. The plates of a certain variable capacitor have an adjustable area. An experiment is performed to study the
potential difference across the capacitor as it discharges through a resistor. A circuit is to be constructed with the
following available equipment: a single ideal battery of potential difference ∆V0, a single voltmeter, a single
resistor of resistance R, a single uncharged variable capacitor set to capacitance C , and one or more switches as
needed.

(a) Using the symbols shown, draw a schematic diagram of a circuit that can charge the capacitor and may also be
used to study the potential difference across the capacitor as it discharges through the resistor.

The capacitor is fully charged by the battery. At time t = 0, the capacitor starts discharging through the resistor.

− t
RC
(b) Show that the potential difference ∆VC across the capacitor as a function of time t is ∆VC (t ) = ∆V0 e as

the capacitor discharges.

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AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

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(c) The experiment is performed using a resistor of R = 150 kΩ. Data for the potential difference ∆VC across the

⎛ ∆VC ⎞
capacitor as a function of t are recorded and a plot of ln ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ as a function of t is created on the graph
⎜⎝ ∆V0 ⎟⎟⎠

below.

i. Draw the best-fit line for the data.

ii. Using the best-fit line, calculate a value for the unknown capacitance C .

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 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

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(d) The capacitor is adjusted so that the surface area of the plates is increased, and the experiment is repeated.
Would the slope of the best-fit line in the second experiment be more steep, less steep, or unchanged compared
to the slope of the best-fit line in part (c)?
___ More steep ___ Less steep ___ Unchanged

Briefly justify your answer.

(e) The ideal battery is then replaced with a non-ideal battery with internal resistance r , and the experiment is
repeated.
i. Would the slope of the graph in this final experiment change compared to the graph in part (c)?

___ Yes ___ No

Briefly justify your answer.

ii. Would the vertical intercept of the graph in this final experiment change compared to the graph in part (c)?
___ Yes ___ No

Briefly justify your answer.

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 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

Begin your response to QUESTION 3 on this page.

3. A lightbulb of resistance R = 10.0 Ω is connected to a rectangular loop of wire of negligible resistance near a
very long current-carrying wire. The rectangular loop has a length L = 4.0 cm and a width W = 2.0 cm and is
positioned so one of the longer sides of the loop is a distance d = 1.0 cm above and parallel to the long wire, as
shown. The current in the long wire is initially flowing to the right and is given by I(t ) = C − Dt , where
C = 10.0 A and D = 2.0 A/s. At time t = 5.0 s, the current in the long wire is instantaneously zero as the current
changes direction.

(a) What is the direction, if any, of the magnetic field produced by the induced current in the rectangular loop as
the current in the long wire changes direction?

___ Into the page ___ Out of the page ___ No direction, because the field is zero

Justify your answer.

(b) Calculate the magnetic flux through the loop due to only the long wire at time t = 3.0 s.

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AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

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(c) Calculate the current through the lightbulb at time t = 3.0 s.

(d) A group of students attempts to experimentally verify whether the current through the lightbulb is consistent
with the current calculation from part (c). The current in the rectangular loop is measured to be greater than
the current calculated in part (c). Which of the following could explain this discrepancy? Select one answer.

___ The students did not account for Earth’s magnetic field.
___ The rectangular loop is tilted and is not in the same plane as the wire.
___ The resistance of the lightbulb is greater than the recorded value.
___ The long side of the rectangular loop is shorter than the recorded value.
___ The current in the long wire changes at a faster rate than expected.

Briefly justify your answer.

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 AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

Continue your response to QUESTION 3 on this page.

(e) Later, the same rectangular loop with lightbulb is rotated such that a short side of the loop is 1.0 cm above and
parallel to the long current-carrying wire, as shown. The current in the wire is again initially flowing from left
to right and given by I(t ) = C − Dt , where C = 10.0 A and D = 2.0 A/s . The current through the lightbulb in
the loop’s new orientation at time t = 3.0s is I2 . Which of the following correctly relates the current I2 to I1,
the current through the lightbulb in part (c)?

___I2 < I1 ___I2 = I1 ___ I2 > I1

Justify your answer.

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AP® Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 2022 Free-Response Questions

STOP

END OF EXAM

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