Electricity: Static Electricity



We have 17 ready-to-use problem sets on the topic of Static Electricity. These problem sets focus on the use of Coulomb's Law and electric field equations to analyze a variety of scenarios involving charged objects.


Click a link to open a publicly-available problem set.  If you are a Task Tracker student, open the assignment using the link on the Task Tracker assignment board.


Problem Set SE1: The Quantity of Charge 1
Information is given about the number of excess protons or electrons. The quantity and type of charge must be calculated. Includes 5 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE2: The Quantity of Charge 2
Information is given about the number of electrons and the number of protons. The quantity and type of charge must be calculated. Includes 5 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE3: Coulomb's Law 1
Use Coulombs Law to calculate the force of attraction or repulsion between two objects if given the separation distance and the quantity of charge on the objects. Includes 8 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE4: Coulomb's Law 2
Use Coulomb's Law to calculate either the quantity of charge on an object, the separation distance between the two objects, or the force of attraction/repulsion between two objects. Includes 9 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE5: Coulombs Law as a Guide to Thinking
Use Coulomb's Law to predict how a variation in the quantity of charge or the separation distance would effect the amount of force between two objects. Includes 7 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE6: Coulombs Law – a Desmos Activity (not yet ready)
Manipulate a Coulomb's Law graph (rather than a Coulomb's Law equation) in order to answer questions regarding the relationship between the quantities force, charge, and separation distance. Includes 8 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE7:  Coulomb's Law Analysis 1
Combine Coulomb's Law and Newton's Laws to analyze an electrostatic situation. All questions are restricted to one dimensional forces. Includes 7 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE8:  Coulomb's Law Analysis 2
Use Coulomb's Law to determine the net electric force for a variety of one-dimensional situations. Includes 6 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE9:  Coulomb's Law Analysis 3
Use Coulomb's Law to solve two types of problems: (1) an orbiting electron problem and (2) a problem involving finding the location along an axis populated by two charges where the net electric force on a third charge is 0 N. Includes 4 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE10:  Coulomb's Law Analysis 4
Combine Coulomb's Law with Newton's Laws and trigonometry to analyze a problem involving two like-charged balloons hanging by strings from a point on the ceiling. Includes 4 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE11:  Coulomb's Law Analysis 5
Combine Coulomb's Law with Newton's Laws and trigonometry to analyze a problem involving three charged objects. Includes 4 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE12:  Electric Field 1
Use one of the two electric field equations to calculate the electric field strength at some location surrounding a source charge. Includes 7 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE13:  Electric Field 2
Use one of the two electric field equations to calculate either the electric force on a test charge or the electric field strength at some location surrounding a source charge. Includes 7 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE14:  Electric Field 3
Use one of the two electric field equations to calculate the quantity of charge on either the source or the test charge or to calculate the distance between a test charge and a source charge. Includes 4 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE15 – Electric Field Challenges 1
Use electric field equations to analyze some complex situations. Includes 5 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE16 – Electric Field Challenges 2
Use electric field equations to analyze some complex situations involving the alignment of two charges along a line.  Most problems require some sophisticated algebraic manipulations. Includes 4 problems.

 
 
Problem Set SE17 – Electric Field Challenges 3
Use electric field equations to analyze some complex situations involving the alignment of two charges along a line.  All problems require the reliance upon trigonometry. Includes 5 problems.