Chapter 16: Electric Charge and Electric Field
MCAT Study Guide




1.  

Two electrically neutral materials are rubbed together. One acquires a net positive charge. The other must

have lost electrons.
have gained electrons.
have lost protons.
have gained protons.


2.  

Identical conducting spheres labeled A and B have net charges + 3.0x10-3 C and - 9.0x10-3 C respectively. The spheres are touched together momentarily and then separated. What then will be the net charge on sphere A?

+ 3.0x10-3 C
- 3.0x10-3 C
- 6.0x10-3 C
- 9.0x10-3 C
some other value


3.  

Two identical conducting spheres labeled A and B have net charges q1 = 4 qo (>0) and q2 = 6 qo respectively. A third conducting sphere identical to the others is initially uncharged. This third sphere is touched first to the first sphere and then to the second sphere before being removed from the area. The net charge on the second sphere will now be ____ x qo.

1
2
3
4
5


4.  

Two identical conducting spheres labeled A and B have net charges q1 = 4 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo respectively. A third conducting sphere identical to the others is initially uncharged. This third sphere is touched first to the first sphere and then to the second sphere before being removed from the area. The net charge on the second sphere will now be ____ x qo.

1
-1
2
-2
3
-3


5.  

Which net electric charge on a small sphere is possible?

6.02 x 1023 C
3.2 x 10-19 C
2.4 x 10-19 C
8.0 x 10-20 C


6.  

What is the net charge on a body that has an excess of 20 electrons?

-3.2 x 10-18 C
-1.6 x 10-18 C
-3.2 x 10-19 C
-2.4 x 10-19 C


7.  

Two point particles, A and B, have net charges 2.0 x 10-4 C and -4.0 x 10-4 C respectively and are separated by a distance of 6.0 meters. What is the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on particle A?

2.2 x 10-9 N
1.3 N
20 N
36 N


8.  

Two point charges are separated by 10 meters. If the distance between them is reduced to 5.0 meters, the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on each

decreases to half its original value.
increases to twice its original value.
decreases to one quarter of its original value.
increases to four times its original value.


9.  

If the magnitude of the charge on two identical charged bodies is doubled, the electrostatic force between the bodies will be

doubled.
halved.
quadrupled.
unchanged.


10.  

The electrostatic force between two point charges is F. If the charge of one point charge is doubled and that of the other charge is quadrupled, the force becomes which of the following?

1/2F
2F
4F
8F


11.  

The graph that best represents the relation between the electrostatic force F associated with two point charges and the distance d separating the point charges is



12.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

The magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the second particle is ___ mN.

4
12
18
36
48


13.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If the distance between the particles was increased to 3 do, the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the first particle would be ___ mN.

4
12
18
36
48


14.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If the magnitude of the net charge on the second particle was doubled, the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the second particle would be ___ mN.

4
12
36
48
72


15.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If the two spheres were momentarily touched together and returned to their original positions, the magnitude of the electrostatic force acting on the first sphere would be ___ mN.

4
12
18
36
48


16.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

The magnitude of the electric field at the point labeled p1, i. e., |E(p1)| is ___ |E(p6)|.

equal to
less than
more than
incomparable, without additional information, with


17.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

|E(p5)| is ___ |E(p2)|.

equal to
less than
more than
incomparable, without additional information, with


18.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

The direction of the electric field at the point labeled p3 is ___.

toward q1
toward q2
some other direction


19.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If a small negative charge was placed at point p8, |E(p3)| would ___.

increase
decrease
remain constant
be impossible to predict


20.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If a small positive charge was placed at point p6, |E(p3)| would ___.

increase
decrease
remain constant
be impossible to predict


21.  

Two very small, identical, conducting spheres have net charges q1 = 2 qo (>0) and q2 = - 6 qo and are separated by a distance such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle (the one with charge q1) is 36 mN. Refer to the figure. The labeled points in the space around the two charges are equidistant from one another and/or the nearer charge.

If the two spheres were momentarily touched together and returned to their original positions, |E(p3)| would ___.

increase
decrease
remain constant
be impossible to predict


22.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If both particles were free to move under the influence of their mutual electrostatic interaction only, the particle labeled 1 would accelerate toward the ___ of this page.

top edge
bottom edge
right side
left side
none of these


23.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If both particles were free to move under the influence of their mutual electrostatic force only and the magnitude of the acceleration of the first particle was ao, the magnitude of the acceleration of the second particle would be ao x ___.

1
1/2
2
1/3
3
1/4


24.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

The magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 2 on particle 1 is ___ mN.

1
3
6
12
24
48


25.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If the distance between the two particles was changed to dox2, the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle would be ___ mN.

1
2
3
4
6
8


26.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If the magnitude of the net charge on both particles was simultaneously doubled, the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the second particle would be ___ mN.

2
6
16
32
48
96


27.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If a charge qo was removed from the charge on the second particle and added to the charge on the first particle, the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle would be ___ mN.

2
5
8
12
14
24


28.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If the two particles were touched together momentarily and then returned to their original positions, the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted on the first particle would be ___ mN.

2
4
8
16
24
32


29.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

The magnitude of the electric field at the point in space labeled p1, i.e., |E(p1)| is ___ |E(p2)|.

equal to
less than
more than
incomparable with


30.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If the two particles were momentarily touched together and returned to their original positions, the magnitude of the electric field at the point labeled p2, i.e., |E(p2)|, would ___.

increase
decrease
remain constant
be impossible to predict


31.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If a small positive charge was placed at the point labeled p3, |E(p2)| would ___.

increase
decrease
remain constant
be impossible to predict


32.  

In the figure at the right, there are two small spherical conducting particles with radii r1 = r2 = ro. The particle labeled 1 has a net charge q1 = 6 qo (>0) and a mass m1 = mo. The particle labeled 2 has a net charge q2 = 2 qo and mass m2 = 3 mo. The particles are separated by a distance do such that the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by particle 1 on particle 2 is 24 mN. The point in space labeled p1 is midway between the two particles and the point p2 is along the line through the two particles a distance do/2 from the particle labeled #1.

If the charge on a particle in an electric field is reduced to half its original value, the force exerted on the particle by the field is

doubled.
halved.
quadrupled.
unchanged.


33.  

Points A, B and C are at various distances from a given point charge. Which statement is most accurate? The electric field strength is

Greatest at point A.
Greatest at point B.
Greatest at point C.
The same at all three points.


34.  

Which diagram best represents the electric field lines around two oppositely charged particles?



35.  

Which of the following is a vector quantity?

Electric charge
Electric energy
Electric power
Electric field intensity


Bosworth et al, ARCO MCAT SuperCourse (MacMillan, 1997). Copyright 1997, 1996, 1994, 1991 by Stefan Bosworth, Ronald Drucker, Edgar Schnebel, Denise Garlan, Rosie Soy and Marion Brisk. Used by permission of MacMillan, Inc.

For more information, go to http://www.novapress.net/mcat/books.html.

The Virtual Prof's Physics Study Guide for the MCAT. Copyright 1997 by Glen Terrell and RonJon Publishing, Inc. Used by permission of Glen Terrell. For more information, go to http://www.virtualprof.com.


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