Electric Potential Energy

A tiny sphere carrying a charge of 6.5 µC sits in an electric field, at a point where the electric potential is 240 V. What is the sphere’s potential energy?

• 2.7 x 10^-8 J 
• 6.5 x 10^-6 J 
• 1.6 x 10^-3 J
• 240 J 

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-1

An electron moves from point i to point f, in the direction of a uniform electric field.  During this motion:

• the work done by the field is positive and the potential energy of the electron-field system increases
• the work done by the field is negative and the potential energy of the electron-field system increases
• the work done by the field is positive and the potential energy of the electron-field system decreases
• the work done by the field is negative and the potential energy of the electron-field system decreases

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

If 500 J of work are required to carry a 40-C charge from one point to another, the potential difference between these two points is: 

• 12.5 V 
• 20,000 V 
• 0.08 V 
• depends on the path 

The potential difference between two points is 100 V. If a particle with a charge of 2 C is transported from one of these points to the other, the magnitude of the work done is: 

• 200 J
• 100 J
• 50 J
• 2 J

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-1

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

During a lightning discharge, 30 C of charge move through a potential difference of 1.0 x 10⁸ V in 2.0 x 10^–2 s. The energy released by this lightning bolt is: 

• 1.5 x 10¹¹ J

• 3.0 x 10⁹ J 

• 6.0 x 10⁷ J 

• 3.3 x 10⁶ J

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-1

A particle with mass m and charge –q is projected with speed v₀ into the region between two parallel plates as shown. The potential difference between the two plates is V and their separation is d. The change in kinetic energy of the particle as it traverses this region is:

• –qV/d
• 2qV/mv²
• qV
• 1/2 mv²

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-PS3-1

Three particles having charges of +q, +Q, and -Q are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side a, as shown below. The potential energy of the particle with charge +q due to the other two charges is _____.

• zero

• −2𝑘𝑄 /𝑎

• −𝑘𝑄 𝑎

• 𝑘𝑄 𝑎

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Two protons and an electron are assembled along a line, as shown below. The distance between the electron and each proton is 𝑎. What is the work done by an external force in assembling this configuration of charges?

• −𝑘𝑒²/𝑎

• −3𝑘𝑒²/2𝑎

• −𝑘𝑒²/2𝑎

• 𝑘𝑒²/2𝑎

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Three particles each with charge positive Q are placed on three corners of a square, as shown below. The sides of the square have length s. Point C is at the center of the square.

What is the direction of the electric field at point C?

• ↘

• ↙

• →

• ←

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

If𝑎=30𝑐𝑚, 𝑏=20𝑐𝑚, 𝑞=+2.0𝑛𝐶, and𝑄= −3.0 𝑛𝐶 in the figure, what is the potential difference

𝑉_A−𝑉_B?

• - 20 V

• - 48 V

• +60 V

• +80 V

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4