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DP IB Physics: SL

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5.1 Electric Fields

Question 1a

Marks: 2
(a)
Define the coulomb.
[2]
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    Key Concepts
    Charge

    Question 1b

    Marks: 2
    (b)
    A charge of 60 × 10–6 C flows through a given section of a conductor in 140 × 10–3 s. Calculate the electric current, stating the final answer in mA.
    [2]

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      Key Concepts
      Electric Current
      Charge

      Question 1c

      Marks: 4
      (c)
      Use words from the list below to complete the description of the movement of charge carriers in a conductor.

      average current delocalised electric force
      electric field randomly drift

      The charge carriers in a metal conductor are _____ electrons.

      Normally the electrons move _____ in all directions, but if a potential difference is applied between two points on the conductor, then an _____ is created.

      This causes an _____ to act on on the charge carriers, causing them to _____ along the conductor in a resultant direction. 

      Therefore we can say that  a steady _____  flows through the conductor.

      [4]

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        Key Concepts
        Electric Current
        Charge

        Question 1d

        Marks: 3

        One equation for electric current states that

        I = nAvq

        (d)
        Define the four terms used here to calculate current.
        [3]
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          Key Concepts
          Drift Speed

          Question 2a

          Marks: 2
          (a)
          Define electrical current.

          [2]

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            Key Concepts
            Electric Current

            Question 2b

            Marks: 3
            (b)
            Define potential difference.
                
            (i)
            State the definition in words.
            [1]
            (ii)
            State the equation, defining all terms.
            [2]
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              Key Concepts
              Potential difference

              Question 2c

              Marks: 3

              A current of 3.0 A flows in a copper wire of cross-sectional area 1.5 × 10−6 m2. Assume that the charge carriers are delocalised electrons with a charge of −1.6 × 10−19 C, moving with an average drift velocity of 1.0 × 10−4 ms−1.

              (c)
              Calculate the charge density of the wire.
              [3]
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                Question 2d

                Marks: 3

                When working with the very small energies needed to move electrons, the unit electronvolt (eV) is often used rather than the joule (J).

                (d)
                Convert 4.6 MeV into joules.
                [3]
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                  Key Concepts
                  Potential difference

                  Question 3a

                  Marks: 4
                  (a)
                  For the point charges shown sketch a diagram showing the electric field lines.
                  5-1-3a-qun-sl-sq-easy-phy
                  [4]
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                    Key Concepts
                    Electric fields

                    Question 3b

                    Marks: 2
                    (b)
                    Indicate, by drawing a circle around an area on your diagram from part (a) where the field lines are more dense and explain why they look like this.
                    [2]
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                      Key Concepts
                      Electric fields

                      Question 3c

                      Marks: 3
                      (c)
                      Sketch a diagram showing the electric field lines for the point charges shown.
                      5-1-3c-qun-sl-sq-easy-phy
                      [3]
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                        Key Concepts
                        Electric fields

                        Question 3d

                        Marks: 2
                        (d)
                        Identify the differences between the central area of both the diagrams below.
                        5-1-3d-qun-sl-sq-easy-phy
                        [2]
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                          Key Concepts
                          Electric fields

                          Question 4a

                          Marks: 4

                          The following descriptions apply to either direct current (dc), alternating current (ac) or both.

                          (a)
                          For each row in the table, identify which of the options (ac, dc or both) best fits the description.

                          Description ac, dc, or both
                          energy is carried by electrons moving in wires  
                          supplied by cells or batteries  
                          typically used in high voltage devices  
                          typically used in low voltage devices  
                          charge carriers have a drift velocity  
                          current flows from positive to negative  
                          current changes direction with high frequency  
                          a potential difference across a conductor causes current to flow  

                          [4]

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                            Question 4b

                            Marks: 4
                            (b)
                            Distinguish between the following pairs of terms
                                
                            (i)
                            Conventional current and electron flow
                            [2]
                            (ii)
                            Delocalised electrons and charge carriers
                            [2]
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                              Question 4c

                              Marks: 3
                              (c)
                              Complete the sentence stating Coulomb's Law by using words from the text box.
                                                
                              directly electrostatic force inversely
                              sum product separation
                                   
                                      
                              The attractive or repulsive ______ ______ between two point charges is ______ proportional to the ______ of the charges and ______ proportional to the square of their ______ .
                              [3]
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                                Key Concepts
                                Coulomb's Law

                                Question 4d

                                Marks: 4
                                (d)
                                Coulomb's Law is represented by the equation
                                F equals k fraction numerator q subscript 1 q subscript 2 over denominator r squared end fraction
                                     
                                Define each of the terms used in this equation and state the units.
                                [4]
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                                  Key Concepts
                                  Coulomb's Law

                                  Question 5a

                                  Marks: 3

                                  When calculating the electrostatic force between two charged bodies, a constant k called Coulomb's constant is taken into account. 

                                  (a)
                                  State the relationship, name and the factor that affects the magnitude of k.
                                  [3]
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                                    Key Concepts
                                    Coulomb's Law

                                    Question 5b

                                    Marks: 3

                                    An electron experiences a force of 0.3 N in an electric field.

                                    (b)
                                    Calculate the field strength of the field.

                                    [3]

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                                      Question 5c

                                      Marks: 3

                                      In a vacuum, an alpha particle approaches an aluminium nucleus. 

                                      (c)
                                      State: 
                                      • The charge on the nucleus
                                      • The charge on the alpha particle
                                      • The nature of the force between them

                                      [3]

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                                        Question 5d

                                        Marks: 4
                                        (d)
                                        Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on each of the charges from part (c).
                                        • q= 3.2 × 10−19 C
                                        • q2.08 × 10–18 C
                                        • = 2.0 × 10–3 m
                                        • k = 8.99 × 109 N m2 C–2

                                        [4]

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