AP PHYSICS 2 CLASS 8: MAGNETISM

The questions in this homework set covers the class material from Classes 7 and 8, and so it is a bit longer than the
other homework sets. The homework set is divided into three parts: AP-style multiple-choice questions, general
problem-solving questions, and AP-style free-response questions.

For all multiple-choice questions, please answer them directly on the Classkick interface by clicking on the
selection box. The printed copy is for reference only.

1. An electron is moving downward towards the bottom of the page when it passes through a region of magnetic
field, as shown in the figure by the shaded area. The electron travels along a path that takes it through the spot
marked 𝑋. The gravitational force on the electron is very small. What is the direction of the magnetic field?

𝑒−

(A) Towards the bottom of the page

(B) Towards the top of the page
(C) Out of the page
(D) Into the page
2. Two long parallel wires carry currents (𝐼 𝐴 and 𝐼 𝐵 ), as shown in the figure. Current 𝐼 𝐴 in the left wire is twice
that of current 𝐼 𝐵 in the right wire. The magnetic force on the right wire is 𝐹. What is the magnetic force on the
left wire in terms of 𝐹?
𝐼𝐴 𝐼𝐵

(A) 𝐹 in the same direction

(B) 𝐹 in the opposite direction
(C) 𝐹/2 in the same direction
(D) 𝐹/2 in the opposite direction
3. An iron magnet is broken in half at the midpoint between its north and south ends. What is the result?
(A) A separate north pole and south pole, each with the same magnetic strength as the original magnet
(B) A separate north pole and south pole, each with half the magnetic strength of the original magnet
(C) Two separate north-south magnets, each with the same magnetic strength as the original magnet
(D) Two separate north-south magnets, each with half the magnetic strength of the original magnet
4. The figure below shows the microscopic dipoles inside two metal objects. Copper is diamagnetic. Iron is
ferromagnetic. Which of the following best depicts the microscopic internal dipole position when the objects
are placed in a strong, external magnetic field directed towards the top of the page?

5. A magnetic field, directed into the page, is placed between two charged capacitor plates, as shown in the figure.
The magnetic and electric fields are adjusted so a proton moving at a velocity of 𝑣 will pass straight through the
fields. The speed of the proton is doubled to 2𝑣. Which of the following force diagrams most accurately depicts
the forces acting on the proton when traveling at 2𝑣?

××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××
××××××

𝑝
(A)
𝑝
(B)
𝑝
(C)

𝑝
(D)
 6. Which of the following is true concerning the force on the current-carrying wire due to the electron?

(A) The force is directed towards the right.

(B) The force is directed towards the left.
(C) The force is directed into the page.
(D) There is no force on the current-carrying wire due to the electron.

Questions 7–8: A negatively charged particle of mass 𝑚 and charge 𝑞 in a uniform magnetic field 𝐵 travels in a
circular path of radius 𝑟.

7. In terms of the other given quantities, the charge-to-mass ratio 𝑞/𝑚 of the particle is
𝐵𝑣
(A)
𝑟
𝑟
(B)
𝐵𝑣
𝑟𝑣
(C)
𝐵
(D) 𝑟𝑣𝐵
𝑣
(E)
𝑟𝐵
8. The work done by the magnetic field after two full revolutions of the charge is
(A) zero
𝑞𝑣𝐵
(B) −
𝑟𝑚
𝑞𝑣𝑚
(C)
𝐵𝑟
𝑚𝐵𝑟
(D) −
𝑞𝑣
𝑚𝑞𝑣
(E) −
𝐵𝑟
 9. A current is passed through an analog ammeter and the needle moves to indicate the current flowing through the
circuit. Which of the following best explains how an analog ammeter works?
(A) Current is passed through the needle placed in a magnetic field, and the needle is attracted to the high side
of the scale.
(B) The needle is a magnet, and is attracted to a magnet on the high side of the scale.
(C) The needle gathers an electrostatic charge from the current, and is attracted to an electrostatic charge on the
high side of the scale.
(D) Current is passed through a spring coil of wire placed in a magnetic field, and the coil rotates, moving the
needle proportionally to the current in the coil.
(E) Current flows through the needle, making it heavier, and it falls to the high side of the scale.

Questions 10–11: Two wires are parallel to each other, one carrying twice the current as the other. The two currents
flow in the same direction.

10. Which of the following is true of the forces the wires exert on each other?
(A) The wire with the larger current exerts a greater force on the other wire.
(B) The wire with the smaller current exerts a greater force on the other wire.
(C) The wires exert equal and opposite forces on each other.
(D) The wires exert equal forces on each other, but in the same direction.
(E) The net force between the wires is zero.

11. The direction of the force between the wires is

(A) repulsive
(B) attractive
(C) zero
(D) into the page
(E) out of the page

12. An electric motor consists of a current-carrying loop of wire mounted to an axle and turned at a slight angle in
a magnetic field as shown. The wire loop will

(A) experience a torque and turn clockwise

(B) experience a torque and turn counterclockwise
(C) accelerate upward out of the magnetic field
(D) accelerate downward out of the magnetic field
(E) not experience a force or torque
 For all free-response (problem-solving) questions, we recommend that you do all your work on a separate
piece of paper, and upload them onto Classkick as an image or PDF file. The printed copy (downloaded from
the school website) is for reference only.

𝑚
E 𝑣 𝑑
𝑞

13. A positively charged particle (𝑞) of mass 𝑚 travels horizontally, with a velocity of 𝑣, through the centre of two
capacitor plates. The plates are separated by a distance of 𝑑 and connected to a battery of potential difference
(E), as shown in the figure.
(a) On the diagram above, sketch the electric field between the plates.

(b) Derive an algebraic expression for the electric field between the plates in terms of given quantities. Show
all your work.

(c) Describe the motion of the particle as it passes through the capacitor plates. What shape is the path? Which
direction is the acceleration?

(d) What direction of magnetic field is needed to make the particle travel horizontally straight through the
capacitor plates?
(e) Derive an algebraic expression for the magnitude of the magnetic field needed to cause this straight,
horizontal motion between the plates in terms of given quantities. Show all your work.

(f) The crossed electric and magnetic fields are adjusted to cause positively charged particles with a velocity
of 𝑣 to travel straight. What happens to a particle traveling at 2𝑣? Will it travel straight, or will it curve? If
it curves, indicate which way it will curve, and explain why. If it continues to travel straight, explain why.

(g) The crossed electric and magnetic fields are tuned to cause positively charged particles with a velocity of 𝑣
to travel straight. What happens to a negatively charged particle traveling at v? Will it travel straight, or will
it curve? If it curves, indicate which way it will curve, and explain why. If is continues to travel straight,
explain why.
 𝐵®

𝑅 𝑣® 𝑦

® The two wires

14. Two long parallel wires, separated by a distance of 𝑦, pass through a region of magnetic field ( 𝐵).
are connected by a resistor (𝑅) and a metal bar, separated by a distance of 𝑥, to produce a circuit loop, as shown
in the figure. The metal bar slides along the wires to the right at a velocity of 𝑣®.
(a) Calculate the induced emf (E) in the bar in terms of the given quantities.

(b) Calculate the current in the circuit in terms of the given quantities.

(c) What is the direction of the current in the resistor–upward or downward?

15. A rail gun is a device that propels a projectile using a magnetic force. A simplified diagram of this device is
shown above. The projectile in the picture is a bar of mass 𝑀 and length 𝐷, which has a constant current 𝐼
flowing through it in the +𝑦-direction, as shown. The space between the thin frictionless rails contains a uniform
magnetic field B, perpendicular to the plane of the page. The magnetic field and rails extend for a distance 𝐿.
The magnetic field exerts a constant force F on the projectile, as shown. Express all algebraic answers to the
following parts in terms of the magnitude 𝐹 of the constant magnetic force, other quantities given above, and
fundamental constants.
(a) Determine the position 𝑥 of the projectile as a function of time 𝑡 while it is on the rail if the projectile starts
from rest at 𝑥 = 0 when 𝑡 = 0.

(b) Determine the speed of the projectile as it leaves the right-hand end of the track.

(c) Determine the energy supplied to the projectile by the rail gun.

(d) In what direction must the magnetic field B point in order to create the force F? Explain your reasoning.

(e) Calculate the speed of the bar when it reaches the end of the rail given the following values.
𝐵 = 5T 𝐿 = 10 m 𝐼 = 200 A 𝑀 = 0.5 kg 𝐷 = 10 cm
16. A conducting rod of mass 𝑚 and length 𝐿 hangs at rest from two identical conducting springs, each with spring
constant 𝑘, as shown in the figure at left above. The upper ends of the springs are fixed at points 𝑃 and 𝑄, and
the rod is in a uniform magnetic field B directed into the page. A battery is then connected between points 𝑃
and 𝑄, as shown in the figure at right above, resulting in a current 𝐼 in the rod. The rod is displaced downward,
eventually reaching a new equilibrium position with the springs stretched an additional distance Δ𝑦.
(a) Which point, 𝑃 or 𝑄, is connected to the positive terminal of the battery?

𝑃 𝑄

Justify your answer.

(b) On the dot below that represents the rod, draw and label the forces (not components) that act on the rod in
its new equilibrium position. Each force must be represented by a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing
away from, the dot.

(c) Derive an expression for Δ𝑦 in terms of 𝑘, 𝑚, 𝐿, 𝐼, the magnetic field strength 𝐵, and fundamental constants,
as appropriate.
An experiment is conducted with batteries of different emf connected between points 𝑃 and 𝑄. The current 𝐼 in
the rod and the stretch of the springs Δ𝑦 are measured and recorded in the table below.
𝐼 (amperes) Δ𝑦 (meters)
1.0 0.0028
2.0 0.0050
3.0 0.0084
4.0 0.0119
5.0 0.0140

(d) On the grid below, plot the data points for Δ𝑦 as a function of 𝐼. Be sure to label your axes with variables,
units, and scale. Draw a straight line that best represents the data.

(e) Using the straight line you drew in part (d), calculate the value 𝐵 for the magnetic field if 𝑚 is 0.019 kg, 𝐿
is 0.35 m, and 𝑘 is 25 N/m.