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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Chapter
HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test A
Electrical Energy and Capacitance

MULTIPLE CHOICE On the line at the left of each statement, write the letter of
the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of electrical potential energy?

a. It is a form of mechanical energy.
b. It results from a single charge.
c. It results from the interaction between charges.
d. It is associated with a charge in an electric field.

2. When a positive charge moves because of a force, what occurs to the electrical
potential energy associated with the charges position in the system?
a. It increases. c. It remains the same.
b. It decreases. d. It sharply increases, then decreases.

3. Two positive point charges are initially separated by a distance of 2 cm. If their
separation is increased to 6 cm, the resultant electrical potential energy is what factor
times the initial electrical potential energy?
a. 3 c. 1/3
b. 9 d. 1/9

4. Charge build up between the plates of a capacitor stops when

a. there is no net charge on the plates.
Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

b. unequal amounts of charges accumulate on the plate.

c. the potential difference between the plates equals the potential difference between
the terminals of the battery.
d. the charge on both plates is the same.

5. When a capacitor discharges,

a. it must be attached to a battery.
b. charges move from one plate to another through the circuit until both plates are
uncharged.
c. charges move from one plate to another until equal and opposite charges
accumulate on the plates.
d. it cannot be connected to a material that conducts.

6. A capacitor consists of two metal plates; __________ is stored on one plate and
__________ is stored on the other.
a. negative charge; positive charge
b. potential energy; kinetic energy
c. potential difference; internal resistance
d. residual charge; induced charge
Chapter 18 137
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Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test A continued

7. Increasing the separation of the two charged parallel plates of a capacitor that are
disconnected from a battery will produce what effect on the capacitor?
a. It will increase the charge.
b. It will decrease the charge.
c. It will increase the capacitance.
d. It will decrease the capacitance.

8. A uniform electric field with a magnitude of 500 N/C is directed parallel to the
positive x-axis. If the potential at x = 5 m is 2500 V, what is the potential at x = 2 m?
a. 1000 V c. 4000 V
b. 2000 V d. 4500 V

9. A point charge of 3.0 mC is at the origin of a coordinate system, and a second point
charge of 6.0 mC is at x = 1.0 m. What is the electric potential at the x = 0.50 m point?
(kc = 8.99 109 Nm2/C2)
a. 1.62 105 V c. 1.08 105 V
b. 1.08 105V d. 5.4 104 V

10. A parallel-plate capacitor has a capacitance of C F. If the area of the plates is doubled
while the distance between the plates is halved, the new capacitance will be
a. 2 C. c. C/2.
b. 4 C. d. C/4.

11. What is the capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor made of two square aluminum
plates that are 4.0 cm in length on each side and are separated by 5.0 mm? (e0 = 8.85
1012 C2/Nm2)

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

a. 2.8 1010 F c. 2.8 1012 F
6
b. 1.0 10 F d. 2.0 105 F

SHORT ANSWER Write the answers to the following questions in the space
provided.

12. What is electrical potential energy?

138 Holt Physics Chapter Tests

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Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test A continued

13. Electrical potential energy is a result of what interaction?

14. What is electric potential?

15. What is potential difference?

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16. How are electric potential and electrical potential energy related?

Chapter 19 139
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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test A continued

17. What is capacitance?

18. List two ways to increase the electrical potential energy that can be stored in a capacitor.

PROBLEMS Write your answers to the questions on the line to the left and
show your work in the space provided.

19. A proton (q = 1.60 1019 C) moves 12 cm on a path parallel to the direction of a

uniform electric field of strength 6.0 N/C. What is the change in electrical potential
energy?

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

20. A 0.10 F capacitor is connected to a 4.0 V battery. How much energy is stored in the
capacitor?

140 Holt Physics Chapter Tests

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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Chapter
HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test B
Electrical Energy and Capacitance

MULTIPLE CHOICE On the line at the left of each statement, write the letter of
the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of electrical potential energy?

a. It is a form of mechanical energy.
b. It results from a single charge.
c. It results from the interaction between charges.
d. It is associated with a charge in an electric field.

2. When a positive charge moves because of a force, what occurs to the electrical
potential energy associated with the charges position in the system?
a. It increases. c. It remains the same.
b. It decreases. d. It sharply increases, then decreases.

3. Two positive point charges are initially separated by a distance of 2 cm. If their
separation is increased to 6 cm, the resultant electrical potential energy is what factor
times the initial electrical potential energy?
a. 3 c. 1/3
b. 9 d. 1/9

4. When comparing the net charge of a charged capacitor with a net charge of the same
capacitor when it is uncharged, the net charge is
Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

a. greater in the charged capacitor.

b. less in the charged capacitor.
c. equal in both cases.
d. greater or less in the charged capacitor, but never equal.

5. When a capacitor discharges,

a. it must be attached to a battery.
b. charges move from one plate to another through the circuit until both plates are
uncharged.
c. charges move from one plate to another until equal and opposite charges
accumulate on the plates.
d. it cannot be connected to a material that conducts.

6. Increasing the potential difference across the two plates of a capacitor will produce
what effect on the capacitor?
a. It will increase charge. c. It will increase the capacitance.
b. It will decrease charge. d. It will decrease the capacitance.

Chapter 18 141
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Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test B continued

7. What will be the electric potential at a distance of 0.15 m from a point charge of
6.0 mC? (kc = 8.99 109 Nm2/C2)
a. 5.4 104 V c. 2.4 106 V
5
b. 3.6 10 V d. 1.2 107 V

8. Two point charges with values of 3.4 mC and 6.6 mC are separated by 0.10 m. What is
the electric potential at the point midway between the two point charges? (kc = 8.99
109 Nm2/C2)
a. 1.8 106 V c. 0.9 106 V
6
b. 0.9 10 V d. 3.6 106 V

9. A parallel-plate capacitor has a capacitance of C F. If the area of the plates is doubled

while the distance between the plates is halved, the new capacitance will be
a. 2 C. c. C/2.
b. 4 C. d. C/4.

10. A 1.5 mF capacitor is connected to a 9.0 V battery. How much energy is stored in the
capacitor?
a. 1.7 103 J c. 7.5 103 J
5
b. 6.1 10 J d. 5.4 103 J

SHORT ANSWER Write the answers to the following questions in the space
provided.

11. What is electrical potential energy?

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

12. Electrical potential energy is a result of what interaction?

142 Holt Physics Chapter Tests

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NAME ______________________________________ DATE _______________ CLASS ____________________

Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test B continued

13. What is electric potential?

14. What is potential difference?

15. How are electric potential and electrical potential energy related?
Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

16. How does a capacitor store energy?

Chapter 19 143
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Chapter HOLT PHYSICS

18 Test B continued

17. Explain why there is a limit to the amount of charge that can be stored on a capacitor.

18. List two ways to increase the electrical potential energy that can be stored in a capacitor.

PROBLEM Write your answers to the questions on the line to the left and show
your work in the space provided.

19. A proton (q = 1.60 1019 C) moves 24 cm on a path parallel to the direction of a

uniform electric field of strength 5.0 N/C. What is the change in electrical potential

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

energy?

20. A 3.2 mF capacitor has a potential difference of 21.0 V between its plates. How much
additional charge flows into the capacitor if the potential difference is increased to
47.0 V?

144 Holt Physics Chapter Tests

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Chapter 18 Test Form A Chapter 18 Test Form B
1. B 1. B
2. B 2. B
3. C 3. C
4. C 4. C
5. B 5. B
6. A 6. A
7. D 7. B
8. C 8. A
9. D 9. B
10. B 10. B
11. C 11. Potential energy associated with a charge due to
12. Potential energy associated with a charge due to its position in an electric field.
its position in an electric field. 12. the interaction between two charged objects
13. the interaction between two charged objects 13. Electric potential is the electrical potential en-
14. Electric potential is the electrical potential en- ergy associated with a charged particle divided
ergy associated with a charged particle divided by the charge of the particle.
by the charge of the particle. 14. Potential difference is the change in electrical
15. Potential difference is the change in electrical potential energy associated with a charged parti-
potential energy associated with a charged parti- cle divided by the charge of the particle.
cle divided by the charge of the particle. 15. Electric potential is the electrical potential en-
16. Electric potential is the electrical potential en- ergy associated with a charged particle in an
ergy associated with a charged particle in an electric field divided by the charge of the parti-
electric field divided by the charge of the parti- cle.
cle. 16. Charges on a capacitor plate repel any additional
17. Capacitance is the measure of the ability of a de- charges that are brought up to the plate. The
vice to store charge for a given potential differ- work done on charges to place them on the
ence. plates is the energy that is stored in the capaci-
18. 1. Increase the area of the plates. 2. Place an in- tor.
sulating material between the plates. 17. The potential can become so great that a spark
19. 1.1 1019 J discharge or an electrical breakdown will occur.

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

20. 0.80 J 18. 1. Increase the area of the plates. 2. Place an in-
sulating material between the plates.
19. 1.9 1019 J
20. 8.3 105 C

218 Holt Physics Chapter Tests