Basic Electrostatics

Practice Problems
Basic Electrostatics

Directions: On this worksheet ...

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Question 1 Who originally named the electric charges?

Charles CoulombErnest RutherfordBenjamin FranklinJ. J. ThomsonHenri Cavendish

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Question 2 A nonconductor is charged and then brought near a conductor. Consequently

the two electrostatically repel each otherthere is no electrostatic interaction at allthe conductor is neutralizedthe two electrostatically attract each other

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Question 3 If the charge on each of two identical tiny spheres is changed to a value that represents a factor of 5 times their original charge while their separation is decreased to a distance that represents a factor of 1/9 their original separation, what will be the new force of interaction?

0.0005 times as strong0.0044 times as strong0.3086 times as strong225 times as strong2025 times as strong

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Question 4 By roughly how much does the mass of a copper object change when, upon being stroked with a piece of woolen cloth, it acquires an excess charge of -5 µC?

3.43 x 10⁴⁹ kg2.85 x 10^-11 kg2.85 x 10^-17 kg3.43 x 10⁴³ kg

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Question 5 Which of the following statements is NOT true when comparing electrical forces and gravitational forces?

both forces can be repulsiveboth forces can be attractivewhen two electrons are in close proximity,
the gravitational force between them is
smaller than the electrical force between them

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Question 6 Which of the following demonstrations was not a result of charge polarization?

a water stream 'bending' towards a charged balloona charged balloon sticking to a ceiling tilea charged balloon discharging through a metal handlea wooden stick being rotated on the watch glass by a charged balloontiny pieces of paper confetti being 'scattered' by a charged balloon

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Question 7 Two isolated charges, +q and -2q, are 2 centimeters apart. If F is the magnitude of the force acting on charge -2q, what are the magnitude and direction of the force acting on charge +q?

F away from charge -2q0.5 F towards charge -2qF towards charge -2q0.5 F away from charge -2q2F towards charge -2q

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Question 8 Two identical, positive point charges repel each other with force 0.36 N when their separation is 1 m. How large is each charge?

6.32 x 10^-6 C6.32 x 10^-6 C6.32 x 10^-6 C5.69 x 10⁴ C4 x 10^-11 C

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Question 9 Which of the following statements is NOT true when comparing electroscopes charged by induction and conduction?

both scopes will have the same charge
as the charging rodthe scope charged by conduction will have
the same charge as the charging rodthe scope charged by induction will have
the opposite charge as the charging rod