Two horizontal charged metal plates are positioned parallel to each other. The upper plate is negatively charged and the lower plate is positively charged. Point Y marks the central position in the space between the plates.
Describe the shape and direction of the electric field lines in the region between the two plates.
Describe the effect on a positively charged proton placed at point Y.
During a severe thunderstorm, a lightning bolt discharges a current of 35 000 A35\,000\text{ A}35000 A for a duration of 0.0015 s0.0015\text{ s}0.0015 s between a cloud and the ground.
Calculate the charge that flows during this discharge.
The lightning bolt transfers 2.1×108 J2.1 \times 10^8\text{ J}2.1×108 J of energy. Calculate the potential difference between the cloud and the ground.
452 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 4.2 Electrical quantities, covering 4.2.1a Positive and negative charge, 4.2.1b Charging by friction and detecting charge, 4.2.1c Electrical conductors and insulators, 4.2.1d Electric fields and electric field patterns, 4.2.2a Electric current, charge and measuring current, 4.2.2b Conduction in metals and the direction of current, 4.2.2c Direct current and alternating current, 4.2.3a Electromotive force, 4.2.3b Potential difference and voltmeters, 4.2.4a Resistance, 4.2.4b Resistance of a metallic wire, 4.2.4c Current–voltage graphs, and 4.2.5 Electrical energy and electrical power. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.