QUESTIONS SET 2: Electrostatics and Circuits

Show Work by applying the GUESS method. G (write out the given), U (write out the unknown), E (write out the equations), S (substitute numbers with units), S (solve for the unknown).


  1. An electric field exerts an electrostatic force of magnitude 1.5 × 10−14 newton on an electron within the field. What is the magnitude of the electric field strength at the location of the electron?
    1) 2.4 × 10−33 N/C
    2) 1.1 × 10−5 N/C
    3) 9.4 × 104 N/C
    4) 1.6 × 1016 N/C

  2. The potential difference between two points, A and B, in an electric field is 2.00 volts. The energy required to move a charge of 8.00 × 10−19 coulomb from point A to point B is
    1) 4.00 × 10−19 J
    2) 1.60 × 10−18 J
    3) 6.25 × 1017 J
    4) 2.50 × 1018 J

  3. An electrostatic force exists between two +3.20 × 10−19-coulomb point charges separated by a distance of 0.030 meter. As the distance between the two point charges is decreased, the electrostatic force of
    1) attraction between the two charges decreases
    2) attraction between the two charges increases
    3) repulsion between the two charges decreases
    4) repulsion between the two charges increases

  4. When an isolated conductor is placed in the vicinity of a positive charge, the conductor is attracted to the charge. The charge of the conductor
    1) must be positive
    2) must be negative
    3) could be neutral or positive
    4) could be neutral or negative

  5. The electroscope shown in the diagram below is made completely of metal and consists of a knob, a stem, and leaves. A positively charged rod is brought near the knob of the electroscope and then removed. electroscopes The motion of the leaves results from electrons moving from the
    1) leaves to the knob, only
    2) knob to the leaves, only
    3) leaves to the knob and then back to the leaves
    4) knob to the leaves and then back to the knob

  6. Which circuit diagram represents the correct way to measure the current in a resistor? electrical meters

  7. A metal sphere, X, has an initial net charge of −6 × 10−6 coulomb and an identical sphere, Y, has an initial net charge of +2 × 10−6 coulomb. The spheres touch each other and then separate. What is the net charge on sphere X after the spheres have separated?
    1) 0 C
    2) −2 × 10−6 C
    3) −4 × 10−6 C
    4) −6 × 10−6 C

  8. The diagrams below represent four pieces of copper wire at 20.°C. For each piece of wire, ℓ represents a unit of length and A represents a unit of cross-sectional area.
    wires The piece of wire that has the greatest resistance is
    1) wire 1
    2) wire 2
    3) wire 3
    4) wire 4