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Electric Fields (AQA A Level Physics): Exam Questions

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Electric Fields

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11 mark

Which one of the following statements about electric field strength is correct?

  • Electric field strength is a scalar quantity

  • Electric field strength is a vector quantity

  • Electric field strength varies as 1 over r  where r is the distance from a point charge

  • Electric field strength is directed from the negative to positive charge

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21 mark

What is the force that a 40 nC charge experiences in a 10 N C–1 electric field?

  • 250 × 106 N

  • 0.25 N

  • 4.0 × 10–9 N

  • 4.0 × 10–7 N

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31 mark

An electron is placed in the centre of a uniform electric field that is directed from left to right and is initially stationary.

7-4-mcq-q3-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

In which direction does the electron then start to accelerate?

  • to the right

  • upwards

  • downwards

  • to the left

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41 mark

Which of the diagrams accurately represents the field lines in a radial field?

7-4-mcq-q4-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

  • P and R

  • Q and R

  • P and Q

  • Q and S

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51 mark

Two charges 9 nC and –15 nC are placed 10 mm apart.

7-4-mcq-q5-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force between these two charges?

  • 1.2 × 1016 N

  • 1.2 × 10–2 N

  • 1.2 × 10–4 N

  • 1.2 × 104 N

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11 mark

Two isolated point charges are separated by 60 mm, and repel each other with a force of –50 µN. If the distance between them is increased by 120 mm, what is the new force of repulsion?

  • –12.5 N

  • –25.0 N

  • –5.56 N

  • –200 N

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21 mark

An ion of mass 5.9 × 10–17 kg and charge 2e is stationary between two charged plates.

7-4-mcq-q2-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

What is the distance between the plates?

  • 300 m

  • 33.0 cm

  • 17.0 cm

  • 330 m

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31 mark

The diagram shows two particles at distance d apart. One particle has charge +2Q and the other –3Q. The two particles exert an electrostatic force of attraction, F, on each other. Each particle is then given an additional charge +Q and their separation is doubled.

7-4-mcq-q3-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

Which of the following gives the force that now acts between the two particles?

  • An attractive force of begin mathsize 16px style F over 4 end style

  • An attractive force of F over 2

  • A repulsive force of begin mathsize 16px style F over 4 end style

  • A repulsive force of F over 2

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41 mark

Two parallel metal plates separated by a distance d of 20 cm with an electrostatic force F of 4 mN between them acting on an electron e .

7-4-mcq-q4-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

What is the potential difference V midway between the plates?

  • 4 × 10–16 V

  • 2 × 10–16 V

  • 5 × 1015 V

  • 2.5 × 1015 V

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51 mark

The diagram shows a charge –Q being moved from point X to point Y between two charged parallel plates separated by a distance d.

7-4-mcq-q5-fig-1-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

 

Which one of the following graphs best illustrates how the electric field strength E on the charge varies with distance as it moves towards Y?

7-4-mcq-q5-fig-2-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

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    61 mark

    An electron travelling at constant speed enters a uniform electric field directed downwards at right angles to the field. 

    Whilst the electron is in the field it accelerates:

    • downwards

    • in the same direction as the motion of the electron

    • perpendicular to the motion of the electron

    • upwards

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    71 mark

    A point charge Q is placed above an earthed metal sheet. X and Y are two points between Q and the metal sheet, as shown in the diagram.

    7-4-mcq-q7-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

    If the electric field strengths at X and Y are E subscript x and E subscript y respectively, which one of the following statements is correct?

    • E subscript x equals 0

    • E subscript x greater than E subscript Y

    • E subscript Y equals E subscript X

    • E subscript Y greater than E subscript X

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    11 mark

    An ion of mass 4.6 × 10–20 kg carrying a charge of –6.3 pC travels horizontally with a kinetic energy of 1.8 eV. 

    It enters a uniform vertical electric field of strength 6500 V m–1, which is directed downwards and acts over a horizontal distance of 23 cm.

    7-4-mcq-q1-fig-1-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

    Which one of the following rows is correct for the time for the ion to pass through the field and the magnitude of the force on the ion? 

     

    time / s

    force / N

    A

    B

    C

    D

    15.0

    0.065

    15.0

    0.065

    4.1 × 10–8

    4.1 × 10–8

    4.1 × 10–5

    4.1 × 10–5

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      21 mark

      Which one of the following cannot be used as a unit for electric field strength?

      • N A–1 s–1

      • m kg A–1 s–3

      • m kg s–1 C–1

      • J A–1 s–1 m–1 

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      31 mark

      Point charges, each of magnitude Q are placed at three corners of a square as shown in the diagram

      7-4-mcq-q3-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

      What is the direction of the resultant electric field at the fourth corner?

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        41 mark

        What is the electric field pattern between a conducting sphere and an earthed metal plate?

        7-4-mcq-q4-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

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