Physical Sciences Grade 11 &12 Spring school

SPRING SCHOOL 2024

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

GRADE 11 & 12

ELECTROSTATICS

Maths and Science Infinity 1

Physical Sciences Grade 11 &12 Spring school

Activity 1 (Jun 2021 EC)

The diagram below shows three point charges, A carrying a charge of -4 nC, B carrying a
charge of +8 nC and N carrying a charge of +2 nC. These point charges are placed at distance
apart from one another as shown in the diagram below.

1.1 State Coulomb’s law in words. (2)

1.2 Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net force around point charge N (5)
due to the presence of both point charges A and B.

[7]

Activity 2 (May/Jun 2021 DBE)

Two charged spheres, R and S, are both stationary on a smooth, insulated surface inclined at
an angle of 25° to the horizontal. Sphere S, of mass 0,01 kg and carrying a charge of –6 × 10−9
C, is connected to a 0,03 m long, light inextensible string attached to point P at the top of the
incline.

Sphere R, carrying a charge of +5 × 10−9 C, is held such that the distance between the centres
of the spheres is r, as shown in the diagram below.

Ignore the effects of friction.

Sphere R exerts an electrostatic force of magnitude 1,2 × 10−3 N on sphere S.

2.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

2.2 Calculate the distance r between the spheres. (3)

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2.3 Draw a labelled free-body diagram for sphere S. (4)

2.4 Calculate the:

2.4.1 Tension in the string (4)

2.4.2 Net electric field at point P (5)

[18]
Activity 3 (Sep 2021 EC)
3.1 A small sphere A carrying a charge of -5 μC hangs vertically from a ceiling by
means of an inextensible string. Point P is 100 mm to the right of sphere A as
shown on the Diagram 1 below.

3.1.1 Did charged sphere A LOSE or GAIN electrons to acquire a charge of

-5 μC? (1)

3.1.2 Calculate the number of electrons lost or gained by charged sphere A,

to acquire a charge of -5 μC. (3)

3.1.3 Calculate the electric field at point P, due to charged sphere A. (5)

3.2 An identical sphere B carrying an unknown charge placed on an insulated

stand is brought closer to sphere A. Charged sphere A swings to the right
and comes to rest so that the string makes an angle of 30° with the vertical
and the tension in the string is 25 N. The distance between the two charged
spheres is 50 mm as shown on Diagram 2 below.

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3.2.1 Is the charge on sphere B POSITIVE or NEGATIVE? Give a reason (2)

for your answer.

3.2.2 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere B. (6)

[17]
Activity 4 (Nov 2021 DBE)
4.1 A small neutral sphere acquires a charge of -1,95 × 10−6 C.

4.1.1 Were electrons ADDED TO or REMOVED FROM the sphere? (1)

4.1.2 Calculate the number of electrons which were added or removed. (3)

4.1.3 Define the term electric field at a point. (2)

4.1.4 Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at a point 0,5 m from the (3)
centre of the charged sphere.

4.2 Two point charges, 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐 , are fixed 0,02 m apart. The magnitude of (5)
charges 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐 is the same and 𝒒𝟏 is NEGATIVELY charged.
The small charged sphere with the charge of -1,95 × 10−6 C is placed at point
P, 0,03 m east of charge 𝒒𝟐 , as shown in the diagram below. The sphere at
point P experiences a net electrostatic force of 1,38 N west.

Calculate the magnitude of the charge on 𝒒𝟐 . (5)

[14]

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Activity 5 (Jun 2022 EC)

Two identical opposite point charges A and B each carry a charge of magnitude
4 × 10−6 C and are placed 75 cm from each other in a vacuum as shown in the
diagram below.

5.1 Draw the electric field pattern between charges A and B. (3)

5.2 Calculate the:

5.2.1 Force on charge A due to charge B (3)

5.2.2 Number of excess electrons on charge B (3)

Activity 6 (May/Jun 2022 DBE)
6.1 Two small, identical spheres, P and T, are placed a distance of 0,1 m apart, as
shown in the diagram below. P carries a charge of +3 × 10−6 C and T carries a
charge of -3 × 10−6 C.

6.1.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

6.1.2 Draw the resultant electric field pattern due to the charges on P and T.
(3)
A third charged sphere S of unknown charge 𝐐𝐬 is placed a distance of 0,15 m
from sphere T such that the three charged spheres are at the vertices of a right-
angled triangle.

The net electrostatic force on sphere T due to the other two charged spheres
has a magnitude of 10 N, as shown in the diagram below.

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6.1.3 Is charge 𝐐𝐬 POSITIVE or NEGATIVE? (1)

6.1.4 Calculate the number of electrons added to or removed from sphere S to (6)
give it a charge of 𝐐𝐬 .

6.2 P is a variable point in the electric field of charged sphere A and r is the
distance between point P and the centre of sphere A. See the diagram below.

A learner determines the magnitude of the electric field (E) at point P for
different values of r.

Sphere A is then replaced by another sphere, B, of a different charge. Another

set of results are obtained.

The graphs below are obtained from the results for sphere A and sphere B. 𝑬𝑨
is the magnitude of the electric field at a distance of 0,04 m from the centre of
charged sphere A.

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Use the graphs to answer the following questions.

6.2.1 State the proportionality between the magnitude of electric field E at a

1
point and 2
𝑟
(1)
6.2.2 Calculate 𝑬𝑨 if the numerical value of the gradient of the graph for
sphere A is 680. (4)

6.2.3 How does the magnitude of the charge on sphere B compare to the (3)
magnitude of the charge on sphere A?

Choose from GREATER THAN, SMALLER THAN or EQUAL TO. Give a

reason for the answer.
[20]

Activity 7 (Sep 2022 EC)

7.1 Define the electric field at a point in words. (2)

7.2 Draw the resultant electric field pattern due to two-point charges with identical (3)
positive charges.

Two identical spheres, S and T, are placed with their centres 0,5 m apart. Point A is
0,1 m to the right of sphere S, as shown in the diagram below. The charge on sphere
S is +10 μC while sphere T carries an unknown positive charge of similar magnitude.

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Physical Sciences Grade 11 &12 Spring school

7.3 The net electric field strength at point A is 4,70 × 106 N.𝐶 −1 to the left.
Calculate the unknown charge on sphere T. (6)

A third sphere P carrying a charge of -2 μC is now placed at point A as shown in the

diagram below.

7.4 Calculate the NET electrostatic force exerted on sphere P due to charged
spheres S and T. (4)

[15]

Activity 8 (Nov 2022 DBE)

A charged sphere M is suspended from a ceiling by a light inextensible, insulated string.

Another charged sphere N, of mass 2,04 × 10−3 kg and carrying a charge of

+ 8,6× 10−8 C, hangs STATIONARY vertically below sphere M. The centres of
the spheres are 0,3 m apart, as shown in the diagram below.

8.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

8.2 State whether the charge on sphere M is POSITIVE or NEGATIVE. (1)

8.3 Draw a labelled free-body diagram for sphere N. (2)

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8.4 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere M. (5)

8.5 How does the electrostatic force that sphere M exerts on sphere N compare to
that exerted by sphere N on sphere M with respect to:

8.5.1 Magnitude (1)

8.5.2 Direction (1)

Point X is 0,1 m vertically below the centre of sphere N, as shown below.

8.6 Calculate the net electric field at point X. (5)

[17]

Activity 9 (Jun 2023 EC)

Two identical negative point charges P and Q each carrying a charge of equal magnitude
are placed 60 cm from each other in a vacuum as shown in the diagram below. The
electrostatic force that the charges exert on each other is 4,55 × 10−2 N.

9.1 Draw the electric field pattern between charges P and Q. (3)

9.2 In which direction will charge Q experience a force due to charge P. (1)

9.3 State Coulomb’s Law in words. (2)

9.4 Calculate the:

9.4.1 Magnitude of the charges on P and Q (4)

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9.4.2 Number of excess charges on charge P (3)

[13]

Activity 10 (May/Jun 2023 DBE)

Two point charges, X and Y, are held 0,03 m apart, as shown in the diagram below. The
charge of X is -7,2 × 10−9 C, while the charge of Y is +7,2 × 10−9 C.

10.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

10.2 Draw the net electric field pattern due to the two point charges. (3)

10.3 Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force that Y exerts on X. (3)

A third point charge, Z, of unknown positive charge, is positioned 0,01 m to the left
of point charge X on the line joining point charges X and Y, as shown in the
diagram below.

10.4 Draw a labelled vector diagram to show the directions of the electric fields at
the point where X is positioned. (2)

10.5 The magnitude of the resultant electric field at the point where X is positioned
is 4,91 × 105 N∙𝐶 −1 .

Calculate the magnitude of charge Z. (5)

[15]

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Activity 11 (Sep 2023 EC)

Two-point charges, P and T, are placed 0,03 m apart. The charge on P is
+36 × 10−6 C while T carries a charge of 16 × 10−6 C of UNKNOWN SIGN.

11.1 State Coulomb’s law in words. (2)

11.2 Draw the electric field pattern around a positive charge. (3)

11.3 Calculate the magnitude of the force that charges P and T exert on each other.
(3)
When a test charge is placed at point X, a distance r m to the right of charge T as
shown in the diagram below, the test charge remains STATIONARY.

11.4 Write down the sign of the charge (POSITIVE or NEGATIVE) of T.

Explain your answer. (3)

11.5 Calculate the distance r. (5)

[16]

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Physical Sciences Grade 11 &12 Spring school

Activity 12 (Nov 2023 DBE)

Two point charges, A and B, each with a charge of +3 × 10−9 C, are stationary on a horizontal
surface. Point P is r metres from charge A and 2r metres from charge B, as shown in the
diagram below.

12.1 Define an electric field (2)

12.2 Draw the resultant electric field pattern due to charges A and B. (3)

The magnitude of the net electric field at point P is 27 N∙ 𝐶 −1

12.3 Calculate the value of r. (5)

12.4 Calculate the magnitude of the net electrostatic force that an electron would
experience if placed at point P. (3)

[13]

Activity 13 (Sep 2020 EC)

A small, charged sphere X carrying a charge of +2 × 10−6 C is placed in a vacuum. When

another small sphere Y of mass 5 mg carrying a negative charge is placed at point P, it
accelerates from rest to a velocity of 6,25 × 103 𝑚 ∙ 𝑠 −1 just before sphere Y touches sphere X.
The time taken for sphere Y to reach sphere X is 2 × 10−3 seconds.

13.1 Calculate the number of electrons that were removed from the sphere X to
obtain the charge on the sphere. (3)

13.2 Draw the electric field pattern around the charges while sphere Y is still at
point P. (3)

13.3 Calculate the:

13.3.1 Net electric field strength at point P due to the charged sphere X

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(6)

13.3.2 Distance between the charges before sphere Y moved (3)

13.3.3 Charge on sphere Y (4)

Activity 14 (Nov 2020 DBE)

Two small charged spheres, A and B, are placed on insulated stands, 0,2 m apart, as shown in
the diagram below. They carry charges of −4 × 10−6 C and +3 × 10−6 C respectively.

M is a point that is a distance of 0,1 m to the right of sphere B.

14.1 Calculate the number of electrons in excess on sphere A. (3)

14.2 Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by sphere A on

sphere B. (3)

14.3 Describe the term electric field. (2)

14.4 Calculate the magnitude of the net electric field at point M. (5)

Charged spheres A and B and another charged sphere D are now arranged along a rectangular
system of axes, as shown in the diagram below.

The net electrostatic force experienced by sphere A is 7,69 N in the direction as shown in the
diagram above.

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14.4 Is the charge on sphere D POSITIVE or NEGATIVE? (1)

14.5 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere D. (3)

[17]

Activity 15 (Jun 2019 EC)

Two point charges of +6 μC and +4 μC are placed 200 mm apart in a vacuum.

15.1 Define electric field at a point in words. (2)

15.2 Calculate the value of x when the net electric field at point P is
1,88 × 106 N∙ 𝐶 −1 to the left. (6)

[8]

Activity 16 (May/June 2019 DBE)

Two point charges, 𝒒𝟏 and 𝒒𝟐 , are placed 30 cm apart along a straight line. Charge 𝒒𝟏
−9
= −3 × 10 C. Point P is 10 cm to the left of 𝒒𝟏 , as shown in the diagram below. The net
electrostatic field at point P is zero.

16.1 Define the term electric field at a point. (2)

16.2 State, giving reasons, whether point charge 𝒒𝟐 is positive or negative. (3)

16.3 Calculate the magnitude of charge 𝒒𝟐 . (4)

16.4 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

16.5 Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force exerted by charge 𝒒𝟏 on (3)
charge 𝒒𝟐 .

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16.6 The two charges are now brought into contact with each other and are then
separated. A learner draws the electric field pattern for the new charges 𝒒𝟑
and 𝒒𝟒 after contact, as shown below.

(2)

Is the diagram CORRECT? Give a reason for the answer.

[16]

Activity 17 (Sep 2019 EC)

Two identical spheres, carrying equal charges, are held in a vertical position by
means of an inextensible string as shown in FIGURE 1. When the spheres are
released, they repel each other and come to rest with their centres 200 mm apart as
shown in FIGURE 2.

17.1 Write down the magnitude of angle, θ. (1)

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17.2 State Coulomb’s law in words. (2)

The tension in each string in FIGURE 2 is 480 N.

17.3 Calculate the charge on each sphere. (5)

17.4 An electron placed at point X experiences an acceleration as shown in

FIGURE 3.

Calculate the:

17.4.1 Net electric field at point X, 50 mm from 𝐐𝐁 (5)

17.4.2 Acceleration of the electron (5)

[18]

Activity 18 (Nov 2019 DBE)

18.1 A small sphere, Y, carrying an unknown charge, is suspended at the end of a
light inextensible string which is attached to a fixed point. Another sphere, X,
carrying a charge of +6 × 10−6 C, on an insulated stand is brought close to
sphere Y.

Sphere Y experiences an electrostatic force and comes to rest 0,2 m away

from sphere X, with the string at an angle of 10° with the vertical, as shown
in the diagram below.

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18.1.1 What is the nature of the charge on sphere Y? Choose from

POSITIVE or NEGATIVE. (1)

18.1.2 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere Y if the magnitude

of the electrostatic force acting on it is 3,05 N. (3)

18.1.3 Draw a labelled free-body diagram for sphere Y. (3)

18.1.4 Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the string. (3)

18.2 Two small charged spheres, A and B, on insulated stands, with charges +2
× 10−5 C and -4 × 10−5 C respectively, are placed 0,4 m apart, as shown in
the diagram below. M is the midpoint between spheres A and B.

18.2.1 Define the term electric field at a point. (2)

18.2.2 Calculate the net electric field at point M. (6)

[18]

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Activity 19 (Mar 2015 DBE)

Two identical negatively charged spheres, A and B, having charges of the same
magnitude, are placed 0,5 m apart in vacuum. The magnitude of the electrostatic
force that one sphere exerts on the other is 1,44 × 10−1 N.

19.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

19.2 Calculate the:

19.2.1 Magnitude of the charge on each sphere (4)

19.2.2 Excess number of electrons on sphere B (3)

19.3 P is a point at a distance of 1 m from sphere B.

19.3.1 What is the direction of the net electric field at point P? (1)
19.3.2 Calculate the number of electrons that should be removed from
sphere B so that the net electric field at point P is 3 × 104 N·𝐶 −1 to
the right. (8)

[18]

Activity 20 (Sep 2015 EC)

A -3 nC charge Q1 is placed 10 cm away from a +3 nC Q 2 charge as shown in
the diagram below.

20.1 Draw the electric field pattern formed between the two charges. (3)

20.2 A -2 nC charge Q 3 is placed 5 cm away from Q 2 as indicated in the

diagram below.

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Draw a force diagram showing the electrostatic forces exerted on Q 2 by (2)

Q1 and Q 3 respectively.

20.3 Calculate the net force exerted on Q 2 by Q1 and Q 3 respectively. (8)

20.4 An unknown point charge R is placed 3 cm away from point P as

shown in the sketch below.

Calculate the charge on R if the net electric field strength at point X is

zero. (5)

[18]

Activity 21 (Nov 2015 DBE)

A very small graphite-coated sphere P is rubbed with a cloth. It is found that the sphere acquires
a charge of + 0,5 μC.

21.1 Calculate the number of electrons removed from sphere P during the
charging process. (3)

Now the charged sphere P is suspended from a light, inextensible string. Another
sphere, R, with a charge of – 0,9 μC, on an insulated stand, is brought close to
sphere P. As a result, sphere P moves to a position where it is 20 cm from sphere
R, as shown below. The system is in equilibrium and the angle between the string
o
and the vertical is 7 .

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21.2 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting on sphere
P. (3)

21.3 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

21.4 Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the string. (5)

Activity 22 (Jun 2016 EC)

Two point charges of magnitudes +4 nC and -6 nC are placed at points A and C
respectively. These charges are respectively 20 mm and 25 mm away from
point R as shown in the diagram below:

22.1 Draw the electric field pattern formed between the two point charges
(A and C). (3)

22.2 Calculate the net electric field at R due to the two point charges. (7)
22.3 If the distance between the two charges (A and C) is reduced by 15 mm,
calculate the electrostatic force that charge A exerts on charge C. (5)

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Activity 23 (May/June 2016 DBE)

-9
A small sphere, Q1, with a charge of + 32 x 10 C, is suspended from a light string secured to a
-9
support. A second, identical sphere, Q2, with a charge of – 55 x 10 C, is placed in a narrow,
cylindrical glass tube vertically below Q1. Each sphere has a mass of 7 g. Both spheres come to
equilibrium when Q2 is 2,5 cm from Q1, as shown in the diagram. Ignore the effects of air friction.

23.1 Calculate the number of electrons that were removed from Q1 to give it a charge
-9
of + 32 x 10 C. Assume that the sphere was neutral before being charged.
(3)
23.2 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing all the forces acting on sphere Q1.
(3)
23.3 Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the string. (5)

[11]

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Activity 24 (May/June 2016 DBE)

24.1 Define electric field at a point in words. (2)

24.2 Draw the electric field pattern for two identical positively charged spheres placed (3)
close to each other.

24.3 A – 30 μC point charge, Q1, is placed at a distance of 0,15 m from a

+ 45 μC point charge, Q2, in space, as shown in the diagram below.
The net electric field at point P, which is on the same line as the two charges, is
zero.

(5)
Calculate x, the distance of point P from charge Q1.
[10]

Activity 25 (Mar 2016 DBE)

Two identical spherical balls, P and Q, each of mass 100 g, are suspended at the same point
from a ceiling by means of identical light, inextensible insulating strings. Each ball carries a
charge of +250 nC. The balls come to rest in the positions shown in the diagram below.

25.1 In the diagram, the angles between each string and the vertical are the
same. Give a reason why the angles are the same. (1)

25.2 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

25.3 The free-body diagram, not drawn to scale, of the forces acting on ball P is
shown below.

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Calculate the:

25.3.1 Magnitude of the tension (T) in the string (3)

25.3.2 Distance between balls P and Q (5)

[11]

Activity 26 (Mar 2016 DBE)

A sphere Q1, with a charge of -2,5 μC, is placed 1 m away from a second sphere Q2, with a
charge +6 μC. The spheres lie along a straight line, as shown in the diagram below. Point P is
located a distance of 0,3 m to the left of sphere Q1, while point X is located between Q1 and Q2 .
The diagram is not drawn to scale.

26.1 Show, with the aid of a VECTOR DIAGRAM, why the net electric field at point X (4)
cannot be zero.

26.2 Calculate the net electric field at point P, due to the two charged spheres Q1 and
Q2. (6)

[10]

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Activity 27 (Sep 2016 EC)

Two metal spheres, M and N, on insulated stands carry charges +Q M and -6 nC respectively.
The distance between the two charges is 20 mm and P is a point at
10 mm from sphere N as shown below. The NET ELECTRIC FIELD at point P due to
presence of M and N is 5,2 × 105 N∙𝐶 −1 westwards.

27.1 Define the term ELECTRIC FIELD at a point. (2)

27.2 Calculate the magnitude of charge Q M on sphere M. (7)

27.3 The two spheres were allowed to make contact and moved back to their
original positions.

27.3.1 Draw the electric field pattern due to the two charges. (3)

27.3.2 Calculate the …

(a) number of electrons transferred from one sphere to another

sphere after separation. (4)

(b) magnitude and the direction of the force that sphere M exerts
on sphere N after contact. (3)

[19]

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Activity 28 (Nov 2016 DBE)

28.1 In an experiment to verify the relationship between the electrostatic force, FE,
and distance, r, between two identical, positively charged spheres, the
graph below was obtained.

28.1.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

28.1.2 Write down the dependent variable of the experiment. (1)

28.1.3 What relationship between the electrostatic force FE and the square
2
of the distance, r , between the charged spheres can be deduced (1)
from the graph?

28.1.4 Use the information in the graph to calculate the charge on each
sphere. (6)

28.2 A charged sphere, A, carries a charge of – 0,75 μC.

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28.2.1 Draw a diagram showing the electric field lines surrounding sphere
A. (2)
Sphere A is placed 12 cm away from another charged sphere, B, along a
straight line in a vacuum, as shown below. Sphere B carries a charge of
+0,8 μC. Point P is located 9 cm to the right of sphere A.

28.2.2 Calculate the magnitude of the net electric field at point P. (5)

[17]
Activity 29 (Jun 2018 EC)
A charge of -2 μC is positioned 10 cm from point P, as shown below.

29.1 Define in words electric field at a point. (2)

29.2 Draw the electric field lines associated with this charge. (2)

29.3 Another charge of magnitude +3 μC is placed 6 cm on the right hand side of

point P in line with the other charge as shown in the diagram below.

Calculate the:

29.3.1 Force that the -2 μC charge exerts on the +3 μC charge (4)

29.3.2 Net electric field strength experienced at point P as a result of the two
charges (5)

[13]

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Activity 30 (May/Jun 2018 DBE)

-6
A particle, P, with a charge of + 5 x 10 C, is located 1,0 m along a straight line from particle V,
-6
with a charge of +7 x 10 C. Refer to the diagram below.

A third charged particle, Q, at a point x metres away from P, as shown above, experiences a net
electrostatic force of zero newton.

30.1 How do the electrostatic forces experienced by Q due to the charges on P and V (2)
respectively, compare with each other?

30.2 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

30.3 Calculate the distance x. (5)

[9]
Activity 31 (May/Jun 2018 DBE)
-6
A small metal sphere Y carries a charge of + 6 x 10 C.

31.1 Draw the electric field pattern associated with sphere Y. (2)

31.2 If 8 x 1013 electrons are now transferred to sphere Y, calculate the electric field
at a point 0,5 m from the sphere. (7)

Activity 32 (Mar 2018 DBE)

Two point charges, P and S, are placed a distance 0,1 m apart. The charge on P is +1,5 × 10−9
C and that on S is -2 10−9 C.
A third point charge, R, with an unknown positive charge, is placed 0,2 m to the right of point
charge S, as shown in the diagram below.

32.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

32.2 Draw a labelled force diagram showing the electrostatic forces acting on R
due to P and S. (2)

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32.3 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on R, if it experiences a net

electrostatic force of 1,27 × 10−6 N to the left.
Take forces directed to the right as positive. (7)

Activity 33 (Mar 2018 DBE)

P is a point 0,5 m from charged sphere A. The electric field at P is 3 × 107 N∙𝐶 −1 directed
towards A. Refer to the diagram below.

33.1 Draw the electric field pattern due to charged sphere A. Indicate the sign of
the charge on the sphere in your diagram. (2)

33.2 Calculate the magnitude of the charge on sphere A. (3)

Another charged sphere, B, having an excess of 105 electrons, is now placed at

point P.

33.3 Calculate the electrostatic force experienced by sphere B. (6)

Activity 34 (Sep 2018 EC)

In FIGURE, below two identical point charges, placed a distance X apart, exert a
force of 1 920 N on each other.

In FIGURE 2, the charges are separated a further 6 m. The force exerted by one
charge on the other is 120 N.

34.1 State Coulomb’s law in words. (2)

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34.2 Calculate the:

34.2.1 Distance X in metres (5)

34.2.2 Magnitude of the charges (4)

34.3 The charges are returned to their original positions as in FIGURE 1. An

electron is located at point P, a distance of 0,2 m to the right of charge Q2.

Calculate the net:

34.3.1 Electric field at point P due to the two charges (5)

34.3.2 Force experienced by the electron at point P due to the two charges
(3)

Activity 35 (Nov 2018 DBE)

Three small identical metal spheres, P, S and T, on insulated stands, are initially neutral. They
are then charged to carry charges of -15 × 10−9 C, Q and +2 × 10−9 C respectively, as shown
below.

The charged spheres are brought together so that all three spheres touch each other at the
same time, and are then separated. The charge on each sphere, after separation, is -3 × 10−9C.

35.1 Determine the value of charge Q. (2)

35.2 Draw the electric field pattern associated with the charged spheres, S and T,
after they are separated and returned to their original positions.
(3)
The spheres, each with the new charge of -3 × 10−9C, are now placed at points on
the x-axis and the y-axis, as shown in the diagram below, with sphere P at the origin.

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35.3 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

Calculate the magnitude of the:

35.4 Net electrostatic force acting on sphere P (5)

35.5 Net electric field at the origin due to charges S and T (3)

35.6 ONE of the charged spheres, P and T, experienced a very small increase in
mass after it was charged initially.

35.6.1 Which sphere, P or T, experienced this very small increase in mass? (1)

35.6.2 Calculate the increase in mass by the sphere in Activity 36.6.1. (3)

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Activity 36 (Jun 2017 EC)

36.1 Three point charges are in a straight line. Their charges are
𝑄1 = +4 × 10−9 C, 𝑄2 = +2 × 10−9 C and 𝑄3 = −6 × 10−9 C. The distance
between 𝑄1 and 𝑄2 is 2 × 10−2 m and the distance between 𝑄2 and 𝑄3 is
4 × 10−2m.

36.1.1 Define Coulomb’s Law in words (2)

36.1.2 What is the net electrostatic force on Q2 due to the other two charges? (7)

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Activity 37 (Mar 2017 DBE)

37.1 A metal sphere A, suspended from a wooden beam by means of a non-
conducting string, has a charge of +6 μC.

37.1.1 Were electrons ADDED TO or REMOVED FROM the sphere to

obtain this charge? Assume that the sphere was initially neutral. (1)

37.1.2 Calculate the number of electrons added to or removed from the

sphere. (3)

37.2 Point charges 𝐐1 , 𝐐2 and 𝐐3 are arranged at the corners of a right-angled

triangle, as shown in the diagram below.

The charges on 𝐐1 and 𝐐2 are + 2 μC and – 2 μC respectively and the

magnitude of the charge on 𝐐3 is 6 μC.

The distance between 𝐐1 and 𝐐3 is r. The distance between 𝐐2 and 𝐐3 is

also r.

The charge 𝐐3 experiences a resultant electrostatic force of 0,12 N to the

west.

37.2.1 Without calculation, identify the sign (positive or negative) on the

charge 𝐐3 . (1)

37.2.2 Draw a vector diagram to show the electrostatic forces acting on 𝐐3

due to charges 𝐐1 and 𝐐2 respectively. (2)

37.2.3 Write down an expression, in terms of r, for the horizontal

component of the electrostatic force exerted on 𝐐3 by 𝐐1 (3)

37.2.4 Calculate the distance r. (4)

37.3 The magnitude of the electric field is 100 N·𝐶 −1 at a point which is 0,6 m
away from a point charge Q.

37.3.1 Define the term electric field at a point in words. (2)

37.3.2 Calculate the distance from point charge Q at which the magnitude
of the electric field is 50 N∙ 𝐶 −1 . (5)

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Activity 38 (Sep 2017 EC)

Two metal spheres, J and L placed on wooden stands, carry charges +3 μC and +2 μC
respectively. The diagram is not drawn according to scale.

38.1 State Coulomb’s Law in words. (2)

38.2 Calculate the electrostatic force experienced by sphere L as a result of

sphere J. (4)

38.3 Sphere L is now placed 12 cm away from sphere J. Another sphere M with a
charge of -8 μC is brought into contact with sphere L. After contact, sphere M
is placed on a wooden stand P, 8 cm from sphere L, as shown in the diagram.

38.3.1 What is the charge (Q) of sphere M after contact with sphere L?
(1)

38.3.2 Calculate the number of electrons transferred between sphere L and

sphere M after contact. (3)

38.3.3 Draw the electric field pattern due to the charge of sphere J and
sphere L after contact. (3)

38.4 Calculate the net electric field strength on sphere L due to sphere J and
sphere M after contact. (6)

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Activity 39 (Nov 2017 DBE)

-6 -6
Two small spheres, X and Y, carrying charges of +6 x 10 C and +8 x 10 C respectively, are
placed 0,20 m apart in air.

39.1 State Coulomb's law in words. (2)

39.2 Calculate the magnitude of the electrostatic force experienced by charged (4)
sphere X.

A third sphere, Z, of unknown negative charge, is now placed at a distance of 0,30

m below sphere Y, in such a way that the line joining the charged spheres X and Y
is perpendicular to the line joining the charged spheres Y and Z, as shown in the
diagram below.

39.3 Draw a vector diagram showing the directions of the electrostatic forces and (3)
the net force experienced by charged sphere Y due to the presence of
charged spheres X and Z respectively.
39.4 The magnitude of the net electrostatic force experienced by charged sphere
Y is 15,20 N. Calculate the charge on sphere Z. (4)

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