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Physics 260 Sample Midterm 3

This document is a sample midterm exam for a Physics 260 course taught by Professor Wellstood on December 2, 2014. It contains 4 multi-part problems testing various concepts related to electric fields and Gauss's Law. The exam instructions specify that it is closed book, calculators are allowed but no other electronic devices, and students must show their work to receive partial credit. The document provides constants that may be useful for solving problems.

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Michael Waldman
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
41 views

Physics 260 Sample Midterm 3

This document is a sample midterm exam for a Physics 260 course taught by Professor Wellstood on December 2, 2014. It contains 4 multi-part problems testing various concepts related to electric fields and Gauss's Law. The exam instructions specify that it is closed book, calculators are allowed but no other electronic devices, and students must show their work to receive partial credit. The document provides constants that may be useful for solving problems.

Uploaded by

Michael Waldman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NAME:_________________________

Physics 260 - Professor Wellstood - Dec. 2, 2014 - Sample Midterm 3


Instructions
- If you have a cell phone, turn it off
- Check that you have FIVE pages, including this cover page.
- Write your name on each page of the exam. Write Clearly. Do this now.
- Read and Sign the Academic Integrity Pledge:
I understand that academic dishonesty is a serious offense that may result expulsion from the
University. In addition to any other action taken, the grade "XF" denoting "failure due to academic
dishonesty" will normally be recorded on the transcripts of students found responsible for acts of
academic dishonesty.
The work on this exam is entirely my own and I will comply with the instructions.
________________________________
- This is a closed book exam. No crib sheets are allowed. You can use a scientific calculator, but
you cannot use any device with communication capability or the ability to store text and
graphics.
- Keep your exam flat on the writing desk at all times.
- Write your answers in this booklet on the same page as the question is written.
If you run out of space, use the back side. Scrap paper of any kind is not allowed.
- If you want credit, write clearly and always show your work.
- There are no "trick questions" in this exam. If you have a question about a problem, raise
your hand to let your instructor know.
- If you still have time, check your answers! Did you answer the question, does your answer
have units, are the units right, is the sign right, is the quantity a vector, is the answer
reasonable?
- When you are done, turn your exam into the collection box at the front of the room - do not
give your exam to anyone else.

problem #
1
2
3
4
total GRADE
CONSTANTS:

points

maximum
possible
25
25
25
25
100

the charge of an electron: q = -e = -1.609 x 10 -19 C


permittivity of free space: o = 8.85x10-12 C2/(Nm2)
mass of an electron: me = 9.11x10-31 kg
ke = 1/(4o)

NAME:______________________
1. A Few Quick Questions

Phys 260 Sample Midterm 3 Wellstood Dec 2, 2014

[7 points] (a) Give Gausss Law as an equation and then define all the symbols.

[6 points] (b) When a piece of metal is placed in an applied static electric field, the electric field
inside the metal is zero. In a few complete sentences, explain why the field must be zero inside the
metal. You will not get any credit if you just restate that the field is zero using different words. You
need to explain why the static electric field goes to zero inside a piece of metal.

[7 points] (c) A positive charge Q and a negative charge -Q are shown below. Carefully sketch the
electric field lines in the region all around the charges .

+Q

-Q

NAME:______________________
Phys 260 Sample Midterm 3 Wellstood Dec 2, 2014

2. An infinitely long string is uniformly charged, with a positive charge, and sits on the z-axis. It
creates an electric field with a magnitude of 5.00x104 N/C at a distance of 0.0100 m from the z-axis.
[9 points] (a) Make a sketch of the string, show the electric field at a few points, and draw a Gaussian
surface that you could use for evaluating Gausss law. Be sure to label the string and the Gaussian
surface and the electric field vectors you draw.

[8 points] (b) What is the charge per unit length on the string.

[8 points] (c) What is the electric field at the position x = (a, a, a) where a = 1.00 m? You must show
your work to get credit. (HINT: a vector is not a scalar)

NAME:______________________
Phys 260 Sample Midterm 3 Wellstood Dec 2, 2014

3. Consider the two positive point charges shown below. Each has a charge of +2.0 nC.
[9 points] (a) What is the electric potential (voltage) at the point A indicated with the dot in the figure?

3.0 cm
A
3.0
cm

[8 points] (b) What is the electric field at the dot (dont forget that its a vector).

[8 points] (c) If a 3 nC charge is placed at the dot, what force will it experience?

NAME:______________________
Phys 260 Sample Midterm 3 Wellstood Dec 2, 2014

4. A very thin flat conducting plate is lying in the x-y plane. Assume that the plate is infinite in area.
We apply an external electric field such that for z < 0 the electric field is E = (0, 0, 30 V / m) ,
while for z > 0 the electric field is E = (0, 0, 70 V / m) . Of course the field is zero inside the plate.
[8 points] (a) Make a sketch of the plate, show the electric field above and below the plate, and draw a
Gaussian surface that you could use to find the total charge on both sides of a section of the plate.

[9 points] (b) What is the total charge per unit area on the conducting sheet? (include the charges on
both sides of the plate) (show work and give numerical answer).

[8 points] (c) If a 3 nC charge starts at z = -5.0 m and moves to z = 2.0 m, by how much does the
potential (voltage) change?

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