Electric Potential (AQA A Level Physics)

Exam Questions

3 hours30 questions
11 mark

Which one of the following statements about electric potential is correct?

  • Electric potential is a vector quantity

  • Electric potential is a scalar quantity

  • Electric potential is not zero unless the electric field strength is zero

  • The potential gradient is inversely proportional to the electric field strength 

Did this page help you?

21 mark

The potentials are point X and Y due to the +3.0 nC charge are 629 V and 413 V respectively.

7-5-mcq--q2-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

How much work is done on the 3.0 nC charge where it is moved from X to Y.

  • 1.2 × 10–7 J

  • 6.5 × 10–7 J

  • 1.9 × 10–7 J

  • 3.7 × 10–7 J

Did this page help you?

31 mark

What is the electric potential at an infinite distance away from a point charge?

  • negative infinity

  • 1

  • infinity

  • 0

Did this page help you?

41 mark

Which of these is the standard unit for the change in electric potential?

  • V

  • J kg–1

  • J C–1

  • J

Did this page help you?

51 mark

Which of the diagrams is not an accurate representation of equipotential lines?

7-5-mcq--q5-easy-aqa-a-level-physics

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    Two charges, R and S, are 100 mm apart.

    7-5-mcq--q1-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

    X is a point on the line between R and S. If the potential at X is 0 V, what is the distance from S to X?

    • 30 mm

    • 70 mm

    • 50 mm

    • 60 mm

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    What is the distance from a 9.5 µC point charge where the electric potential is equal to 21 MJ C–1.

    • 64 mm

    • 4.1 µm

    • 2.0 mm

    • 4.1 mm

    Did this page help you?

    31 mark

    An electron and an alpha particle are 3.0 nm apart. In the absence of other charges, what is the electric potential energy of the electron?

    • –1.5 × 10–19 J

    • +1.5 × 10–19 J

    • –5.1 × 10–11 J

    • +5.1 × 10–11 J

    Did this page help you?

    41 mark

    The diagram below shows the field lines and equipotential lines around an isolated negative point charge.

    7-5-mcq--q4-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

    Which one of the following statements when a small charge is moved in the field is incorrect?

    • The work done on the charge is the same when moved from either Q to P or R to S

    • The charge has a larger potential energy at Q than at S

    • Twice as much work is done on the charge when it is moved from Q to R than from P to S

    • The charge has a larger electric potential energy at R than at S

    Did this page help you?

    51 mark

    Two horizontal parallel plate conductors are separated by air. The lower plate is earthed and the potential of the upper plate is +70 V. An ion is placed midway between the plates.

    7-5-mcq--q5-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

    What is the electric potential energy of the ion?

    • 6.4 × 10–17 J

    • 2.2 × 10–17 J

    • 5.8 × 10–17 J

    • 1.1 × 10–17 J

    Did this page help you?

    11 mark

    A point that is 5.2 cm from a –8.0 nC point charge has an electric potential of  –250 J C–1

    At what distance does the electric potential decrease to –300 J C–1?

    • 5.0 cm

    • 6.8 cm

    • 6.0 cm

    • 2.5 cm

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    Two points charges of +4Q and –Q are placed 150 mm apart. 

    Which of the following graphs shows the variation of the potential V against the distance x along the line joining the two point charges?

    7-5-mcq--q2-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

      Did this page help you?

      31 mark

      Two identical negative point charges, P and Q, are separated by a distance of 6.0 mm. The resultant electric potential at point M, which is mid–way between the charges, is –40 V.

      7-5-mcq--q3-medium-aqa-a-level-physics

      What would be the resultant electrical potential at a point 2.0 mm closer to Q?

      • –90 V

      • –72 V

      • –48 V

      • –60 V

      Did this page help you?

      41 mark

      The diagram shows four point charges at the corners of a square of side 4a.

      7-5-mcq--q4-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

      What is the electric potential at P, the centre of the square?

      • negative fraction numerator Q over denominator pi epsilon subscript 0 square root of 2 a end fraction

      • negative fraction numerator Q over denominator 2 pi epsilon subscript 0 square root of 2 a end fraction

      • negative fraction numerator Q over denominator 2 pi epsilon subscript 0 a end fraction

      • negative fraction numerator Q over denominator 4 pi epsilon subscript 0 a end fraction

      Did this page help you?

      51 mark

      The diagram shows a uniform electric field in which equipotential lines are placed 3.0 cm apart.

      7-5-mcq--q5-hard-aqa-a-level-physics

      A charge of –6.0 nC is placed at the equipotential line X

      Which of the following statements is correct? 

      • The charge is in an electric field directed from Z to X and has a gain of 4.8 × 10–7 J of kinetic energy moving from X to Z

      • The charge is in an electric field directed from X to Y and has a loss of 2.4 × 10–7 J of kinetic energy moving from Y to Z

      • The charge is in an electric field directed from X to Y and has a gain of 1.2 × 10–7 J of kinetic energy moving from Y to Z

      • The charge is in an electric field directed from X to Z and has a loss of 1.2 × 10–7 J of kinetic energy moving from Y to Z

      Did this page help you?