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💡AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
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💡AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

FRQ 2 – Translation Between Representations
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Unit 8: Electric Charges, Fields, and Gauss's Law
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Practice FRQ 1 of 11/1

2. A thin, nonconducting spherical shell of inner radius a=0.10 ma = 0.10\ \text{m}a=0.10 m and outer radius b=0.20 mb = 0.20\ \text{m}b=0.20 m is centered at the origin, as shown in Figure 1. The material of the shell has a uniform volume charge density ρ=+3.0×10−6 C/m3\rho = +3.0\times10^{-6}\ \text{C/m}^3ρ=+3.0×10−6 C/m3 throughout the region a≤r≤ba ≤ r ≤ ba≤r≤b. A point charge q=−2.0 μCq = -2.0\ \mu\text{C}q=−2.0 μC is fixed at the center of the shell. The space inside and outside the shell is vacuum with permittivity ε0=8.85×10−12 F/m\varepsilon_0 = 8.85\times10^{-12}\ \text{F/m}ε0​=8.85×10−12 F/m. Neglect gravitational interactions unless explicitly stated.

Figure 1. Thin nonconducting spherical shell (inner radius a = 0.10 m, outer radius b = 0.20 m) with a central point charge q = −2.0 μC, showing three spherical Gaussian surfaces at r = 0.05 m, 0.15 m, and 0.30 m.

Figure 1

Figure 2. Bar chart of electric-field magnitude |E| at three radii (0.05 m, 0.15 m, 0.30 m). The r = 0.30 m bar is provided as the reference; students complete the other bars.

Figure 2
A.

In Figure 2, draw bars to represent ∣E∣|E|∣E∣ at r=0.05 mr = 0.05\ \text{m}r=0.05 m and r=0.15 mr = 0.15\ \text{m}r=0.15 m relative to the bar shown at r=0.30 mr = 0.30\ \text{m}r=0.30 m. If ∣E∣=0|E| = 0∣E∣=0, write a "0" in that column. The electric field magnitude at a distance r from the center is |E(r)|. The partially completed bar chart in Figure 2 shows a bar that represents |E| at r = 0.30 m.

B.

Derive an expression for the electric field E(r)E(r)E(r) (including sign/direction using the radial unit vector r^\hat{\mathbf{r}}r^) for the region a<r<ba < r < ba<r<b in terms of ρ\rhoρ, qqq, aaa, rrr, ε0\varepsilon_0ε0​, and physical constants, as appropriate. Begin your derivation by writing a fundamental physics principle or an equation from the reference information.

Figure 3. Axes for electric flux Φ_E through a spherical Gaussian surface versus radius r for 0 ≤ r ≤ 0.35 m; sketch must show sign and slope changes at r = a and r = b.

Figure 3
C.

On the axes shown in Figure 3, sketch a graph of the electric flux ΦE(r)\Phi_E(r)ΦE​(r) through a spherical Gaussian surface of radius rrr, for 0≤r≤0.35 m0 ≤ r ≤ 0.35\ \text{m}0≤r≤0.35 m. Your graph must indicate the sign of ΦE\Phi_EΦE​ and any changes in curvature or slope at r=ar=ar=a and r=br=br=b.

D.

Indicate whether the magnitude of the particle's initial acceleration is greater than, less than, or equal to ggg. Briefly justify your answer by comparing the magnitudes of the electric and gravitational forces at r0r_0r0​ using Fe=∣Q∣ ∣E(r0)∣F_e = |Q|\,|E(r_0)|Fe​=∣Q∣∣E(r0​)∣ and Fg=mgF_g = mgFg​=mg. A small test particle of mass m=1.0×10−6 kgm = 1.0\times10^{-6}\ \text{kg}m=1.0×10−6 kg and charge Q=+1.0×10−9 CQ = +1.0\times10^{-9}\ \text{C}Q=+1.0×10−9 C is released from rest at r0=0.30 mr_0 = 0.30\ \text{m}r0​=0.30 m and moves radially under the influence of the electric force from the charge distribution and the gravitational force from Earth. Take g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8\ \text{m/s}^2g=9.8 m/s2 downward. At the release point, the radial direction is horizontal, so the gravitational force is perpendicular to the radial electric force. Use the electric field at r0r_0r0​ due to the total enclosed charge at that radius.

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Free Response Question Practice

This practice environment simulates the AP AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Free Response Questions section. Here are some guidelines:

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