Homework Problem Set #3
1. The cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) shown in Fig. 1 is used to measure the voltage
applied to the parallel deflection plates.
a) Assuming no breakdown in insulation, what is the maximum voltage that can be
measured if the distance of separation between the plates is h ?
b) What is the restriction on L if the diameter of the screen is D ?
c) What can be done with a fixed geometry to double the CRO's maximum
measurable voltage?
2. Two point charges, Q1 and Q2 , are located at (1, 2, 0 ) and ( 2, 0, 0 ) ,
respectively. Find the relation between Q1 and Q2 such that the total force on a
test charge at the point P ( −1,1, 0 ) will have:
a) no x -component,
b) no y -component.
3. Three uniform line charges— 1 , 2 , and 3 , each of length L —form an
equilateral triangle. Assuming that 1 = 2 2 = 2 3 , determine the electric field
intensity at the center of the triangle.
4. Two very small conducting spheres, each of a mass 1.0 10−4 (kg ) , are suspended
at a common point by very thin nonconducting threads of a length 0.2( m) in Fig.
2. A charge Q is placed on each sphere. The electric force of repulsion separates
the spheres, and an equilibrium is reached when the suspending threads make an
angle of 10 . Assuming a gravitational force of 9.80( N / kg ) and a negligible
mass for the threads, find Q .
5. A line charge of uniform density in free space forms a semicircle of radius b .
Determine the magnitude and direction of the electric field intensity at the center of
the semicircle.
6. Assuming that the electric field intensity is E = ax 100 x (V / m) , find the total
electric charge contained inside:
a) a cubical volume 100 (mm) on a side centered symmetrically at the origin,
b) a cylindrical volume around the z-axis having a radius 50 (mm) and a height
100 (mm) centered at the origin.
7. A spherical distribution of charge = 0 1 − ( R 2 / b 2 ) exists in the region
0 R b . This charge distribution is concentrically surrounded by a conducting
shell with inner radius Ri ( b ) , and outer radius Ro . Determine E everywhere.
8. Two infinitely long coaxial cylindrical surfaces, r = a and r = b ( b a ) , carry
surface charge densities sa and sb , respectively.
a) Determine E everywhere.
b) What must be the relation between a and b in order that E vanishes for
r b?
9. Three charges ( + q, - 2q, and + q ) are arranged along the z -axis at z = d / 2 ,
z = 0 , and z = −d / 2 , respectively.
a) Determine V and E at a distant point P ( R, , ) .
b) Find the equations for equipotential surfaces and streamlines.
c) Sketch a family of equipotential lines and streamlines.
(Such an arrangement of three charges is called a linear electrostatic quadrupole.)
10. A finite line charge of length L carrying uniform line charge density is
coincident with the x -axis.
a) Determine V in the plane bisecting the line charge.
b) Determine E from directly by applying Coulomb’s law.
c) Check the answer in part (b) with −V .
