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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 point charges are separated by a distance of 60 mm, and repel each other with a force of –50 µN. The distance between the point charges is increased by 120 mm.

What is the new force of repulsion?

  • –5.6 µN

  • –12.5 µN

  • –25.0 µN

  • –200 µN

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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 are separated by a distance of d space equals space 20 space cm. An electron is placed midway between the plates. The magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the electron is 4.0 cross times 10 to the power of negative 15 end exponent space straight N.

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

What is the potential difference across the plates?

  • 0 V

  • 2500 V

  • 5000 V

  • 10 000 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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