kim (hk9297) HW3-a li (55120)

This print-out should have 11 questions.

Multiple-choice questions may continue on
the next column or page find all choices
before answering.
001 10.0 points
An electron and a neutral carbon atom of
polarizability are at a distance r apart (r
is much greater than the diameter d of the
atom). Due to polarization of the atom by
the electron, there is a force F between the
electron and the carbon atom. If we change r
F
to 3r, what will be the ratio of
where F
F
is the new force between the two? Hint: To
find the r-dependence of the force, first find
the induced polarization (dipole moment) of
the atom as a function of r. Then find the
force exerted by this induced dipole on the
electron.
Correct answer: 0.0041152.
Explanation:
The force will be proportional to r 5 and
F
hence the correct answer will be
=
F
0.0041152 . The calculation is as follows.
The magnitude of electric field due to the
electron at the location of the carbon atom
will be given by
Ee =

1 e
40 r 2

From this, the magnitude of the induced

dipole moment of the carbon atom can be
written down as p = Ee . This dipole moment will be pointing towards the electron,
and hence the electron will lie on the axis of
this dipole. The magnitude of the electric
field due to this dipole at the location of the
electron will be given by
1 2p
Ep =
40 r 3
Here, we have used the fact that r >> d. The
magnitude of force on the electron due to the
dipole (and vice versa) can be obtained as
F = Ep e. Combining all the equations, we

get
1 2Ee e
F = Ep e =
=
40 r 3

1
40

2

2e2
r5

This implies that when r to 3r, the electric

field field, and consequently the force, is decreased by a factor of (3)5 = 0.0041152, and
hence the answer is
F
= (3)5 = 0.0041152
F
002 10.0 points
Polarizability is defined by the relation ~p =
~ ext , where is polarizability and E
~ ext
q~s = E
is the external electric field that induces the
polarization. We can obtain an estimate of
for a typical neutral atom by making a few
simple assumptions:
~ ext is evaluated at the center of the
1: E
dipole, i.e., the original location of the
unpolarized atom.
2: The separation distance s is on the order of atomic dimensions use s = 2R,
where R 1 1010 m is on the order
of an atomic radius. This is a reasonable
maximum estimate, as polarization beyond an atomic diameter typically results in ionization of the atom.
~ ext + E
~ dip = 0 at the center of the in3: E
duced dipole.
Based on these assumptions, calculate an
order-of-magnitude estimate for . Since we
are only interested in order of magnitude, you
will obtain an answer of the form 1 10A .
What is the value of A?
Correct answer: 40.
Explanation:
The basic relation we must use to solve this
problem is
~ ext .
q~s = q2R = E
~ ext , but we are given a
We do not know E
~ ext = E
~ dip at the
relation that tells us E
center of the induced dipole, so


q
~
|Eext | = 2 k 2 ,
R

B
+

I
+



q
q2R = 2 k 2
R
3
R
=
1 1040 .
k

where we are only concerned with magnitude

~ ext and ~s point in the same direction.
since E
Substituting this into the polarizability equation, we obtain

kim (hk9297) HW3-a li (55120)

VIII

VII

J
Other

II
III

VI

IV
V

So A = 40 is the correct answer.

003 (part 1 of 8) 10.0 points

Plastic block

A dipole consisting of two oppositely

charged balls connected by a wooden stick
is located as shown in the following figure. A
block of plastic is located nearby, as shown.
Assume each of the molecules throughout the
block has the same polarizability. Locations
B, C, and D all lie on a line perpendicular
to the axis of the dipole, passing through the
midpoint of the dipole.

Which of the arrows (I-VIII) best indicates

the direction of the electric field at location D
due only to the dipole?
1. III correct
2. VIII
3. II
4. VII
5. V

+
B

Before selecting answers to the following

questions, you might want to draw your own
diagram of this situation, showing all the
fields and charge distributions requested.
Answer the following questions by selecting
either a direction (I-VIII) or an orientation of
a polarized molecule (A-J) from the following
two diagrams.

6. IV
7. I
8. VI
Explanation:
The electric field along the perpendicular
bisector of the dipole is opposite its dipole
moment. Also, if you drew your own picture
complete with field lines, which begin on positive charges and end on negative charges, you
should have found that in the vicinity of point
D, the field lines would point to the right.
The field lines would look like those of a bar
magnet.

kim (hk9297) HW3-a li (55120)

004 (part 2 of 8) 10.0 points
Which of the diagrams (A-J) best indicates
the polarization of a molecule of plastic at
location D?
1. Diagram H
2. Diagram A correct
3. Diagram J
4. Diagram I
5. Diagram C

C
Correct answer: D.
Explanation:
Polarization is directly proportional to the
strength of the dipole field. Since at D the
field strength is weaker, so the polarization is
less. So statement D is the correct answer.
006 (part 4 of 8) 10.0 points
Which of the arrows (I-VIII) best indicates
the direction of the electric field at location B
due only to the dipole?

6. Diagram E

1. IV

7. Diagram G

2. II

8. Diagram F

3. VII

9. Diagram B

4. VI

10. Diagram D

5. I

Explanation:
As in the first part of this problem, if you
drew your own picture, you should have found
that in the vicinity of point D, the field lines
would point to the right. A molecule of plastic
at location D will align itself with these field
lines when it polarizes, with positive charges
moving in the direction of the field lines, and
negative charges moving opposite. Therefore
diagram A is the correct choice.

6. III correct

005 (part 3 of 8) 10.0 points

Which of the following statements is correct?
Enter all the apply, separated by commas.
A. A molecule located at C would not be
polarized at all.
B. The polarization of a molecule located at
D would be the same as the polarization
of a molecule located at C.
C. A molecule located at D would be polarized more than a molecule located at
C
D. A molecule located at D would be polarized less than a molecule located at

7. VIII
8. V
Explanation:
Notice the dipole field pattern is symmetric
with respect to a reflection about the line
which passes through the axis of the dipole.
By inspection one sees that the dipole field
direction at B is the same as that at D. From
part 1 we know that the field direction at D
is to the right. The same direction (towards
right) also applies to C by the same argument.
007 (part 5 of 8) 10.0 points
Which of the arrows (I-VIII) best indicates
the direction of the electric field at location B
due only to the plastic block? The magnitude
o the electric field at B due to the plastic is
less than the magnitude of the electric field at
B due to the dipole.
1. II

kim (hk9297) HW3-a li (55120)

2. VIII
3. VII correct
4. III
5. V
6. I
7. VI
8. IV
Explanation:
Remember than the molecules in the plastic
block, and therefore in a sense the block itself,
are polarized oppositely to the dipole. This
means that the field lines due to the plastic
block will point in the opposite direction from
those due to the dipole, and at location B, the
electric field due only to the plastic block will
point to the left.
008 (part 6 of 8) 10.0 points
Which of the arrows (I-VIII) best indicates
the direction of the net electric field at location B?
1. I

009 (part 7 of 8) 10.0 points

Which of the following statements is correct?
Enter all that apply, separated by commas.
A. The net electric field at B would be larger
if the plastic block were not there.
B. The net electric field at B would be the
same if the plastic block were not there.
C. The net electric field at B would be
smaller if the plastic block were not
there.
D. The net electric field at B would be zero
if the plastic block were not there.
Correct answer: A.
Explanation:
Since the plastic block is polarized in such
a way that its field lines at B point to the
left, it diminishes the electric field there, since
these lines point in the opposite direction from
those due to the dipole at B. So without the
plastic block, the net electric field at B would
be stronger. Statement A is correct.
010 (part 8 of 8) 10.0 points
Using the diagrammatic conventions discussed in the text, a student drew the diagram in the following figure to help answer the
questions asked above. Which of the following statements about the students diagram
are true? Enter all that apply, separated by
commas.

3. VII
4. VI
5. III correct

Plastic block

2. II

+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+

6. IV
7. V
8. VIII
Explanation:
The net electric field is slightly less than
the electric field due to the dipole.

A. The direction of polarization of the plastic block is wrong.

B. The diagram is correct; this is just a
different way of drawing the polarization.
C. The diagram shows mobile charges; this
is wrong because an insulator does not

kim (hk9297) HW3-a li (55120)

have mobile charged particles.
Correct answer: C.
Explanation:
Conductors have mobile charges, insulators
do not. Plastic is an insulator and therefore
does not have mobile charges. This is what
is wrong with the diagram, since it shows
charges accumulated on the left and right surfaces of the block.
011

10.0 points

A very thin spherical plastic shell of radius

R = 13 cm carries a uniformly distributed
negative charge of Q = 9 nC on its outer
surface. An uncharged solid metal block is
placed nearby. The block is w = 12 cm thick
and is 12 cm away from the surface of the
sphere. Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the exact center of the conductor
generated only by the polarization of the conductor. In other words, do not include the
electric field generated by the sphere.
Correct answer: 842.872 N/C.
Explanation:
The key to this problem is noting that the
net electric field inside the conductor is 0
the charges in the conductor arrange themselves so that this is the case. Therefore, at
the center of the conductor, we must have
~ sphere + E
~ induced = 0
E
~ induced must be equal
and the magnitude of E
~ sphere . Noting that the
to the magnitude of E

distance from the center of the sphere to the

center of the conductor is R +(3/2)w, we have
1
Q


40 R + 3 w 2
2
= 842.872 N/C

~ ind | =
|E