A charged sphere in a gravitational field is initially stationary between two parallel metal plates. There is a potential difference V between the plates.

Three changes can be made:

I.   Increase the separation of the metal plates
II.  Increase V
III. Apply a magnetic field into the plane of the paper

What changes made separately will cause the charged sphere to accelerate?

A.  I and II only

B.  I and III only

C.  II and III only

D.  I, II and III

Four identical, positive, point charges of magnitude Q are placed at the vertices of a square of side 2d. What is the electric potential produced at the centre of the square by the four charges?

A.     0

B.     $\frac{4kQ}{d}$

C.     $\frac{\sqrt{2}kQ}{d}$

D.     $\frac{2\sqrt{2}kQ}{d}$

Show that the gravitational potential due to the planet and the star at the surface of the planet is about −5 × 10⁹J kg⁻¹.

Draw a graph, on the axes, to show the variation of the gravitational potential V of the planet with height h above the surface of the planet.

On the diagram, draw and label the equipotential lines at –0.4 V and –0.8 V.

Show that V = –g(R + h).

An object of mass $m$ released from rest near the surface of a planet has an initial acceleration $z$. What is the gravitational field strength near the surface of the planet?

A.  $z$

B.  $\frac{z}{m}$

C.  $mz$

D.  $\frac{m}{z}$

The diagram shows some of the electric field lines for two fixed, charged particles X and Y.

The magnitude of the charge on X is $Q$ and that on Y is $q$. The distance between X and Y is 0.600 m. The distance between P and Y is 0.820 m.

At P the electric field is zero. Determine, to one significant figure, the ratio $\frac{Q}{q}$.

A planet has a radius of 3.1 × 10⁶ m. At a point P a distance 2.4 × 10⁷ m above the surface of the planet the gravitational field strength is 2.2 N kg^–1. Calculate the gravitational potential at point P, include an appropriate unit for your answer.

The mass of the asteroid is 6.2 × 10¹² kg. Calculate the gravitational force experienced by the planet when the asteroid is at point P.