PHYS 2002 – Midterm Exam Study
Guide | Louisiana State University |
2026–2027
200 Multiple-Choice Questions for Comprehensive Revision
Description: This revision set covers electromagnetism, circuits, waves, optics, and
modern physics topics typically included in PHYS 2002. Each question includes four
options with the correct answer marked ✅. Answers are intentionally mixed so they
do not follow a predictable pattern.
Keywords: Coulomb’s law, electric field, Gauss’s law, electric potential, capacitance,
dielectrics, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, DC circuits, Kirchhoff’s rules, magnetic fields,
Ampère’s law, Faraday’s law, inductance, AC circuits, electromagnetic waves, reflection,
refraction, lenses, mirrors, interference, diffraction, polarization, relativity, photons,
photoelectric effect, Bohr model, quantum mechanics.
Section 1: Electric Charge and Coulomb’s Law
1. The SI unit of electric charge is the:
A. Volt
B. Coulomb ✅
C. Ampere
D. Ohm
2. Coulomb’s law states that the force between two point charges is proportional
to:
,A. The product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
✅
B. The sum of the charges and proportional to the distance
C. The product of the charges and proportional to the distance
D. The difference of the charges and inversely proportional to the distance
3. Two positive charges will:
A. Attract each other
B. Repel each other ✅
C. Have no force between them
D. Always cancel each other
4. If the distance between two charges is doubled, the electric force becomes:
A. Twice as large
B. Four times as large
C. One-half as large
D. One-quarter as large ✅
5. The direction of the electric force on a positive test charge is:
A. Opposite to the electric field
B. Along the electric field ✅
C. Perpendicular to the electric field
D. Always zero
6. Charge is quantized, meaning charge comes in:
A. Continuous amounts
B. Integer multiples of e ✅
C. Half-integer multiples of e
D. Arbitrary fractions
7. A neutral object can become charged by:
A. Friction only
B. Conduction only
,C. Induction only
D. Friction, conduction, or induction ✅
8. The elementary charge e is approximately:
A. 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C ✅
B. 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ C
C. 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ C
D. 3.00 × 10⁸ C
9. Coulomb’s constant k is approximately:
A. 8.99 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² ✅
B. 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²
C. 3.00 × 10⁸ N·m²/C²
D. 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ N·m²/C²
10. If two charges are separated by a distance r, the force is F. If the distance is
tripled, the force becomes:
A. F/3
B. F/9 ✅
C. 3F
D. 9F
Section 2: Electric Fields
11. The electric field E at a point is defined as:
A. Force per unit charge ✅
B. Charge per unit force
C. Energy per unit charge
D. Charge per unit area
, 12. The SI unit of electric field is:
A. N/C ✅
B. C/N
C. J/C
D. V·m
13. Electric field lines point:
A. From negative to positive charges
B. From positive to negative charges ✅
C. Always clockwise
D. Always counterclockwise
14. The electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is:
A. Maximum
B. Zero ✅
C. Infinite
D. Uniform but nonzero
15. For a point charge Q, the electric field at distance r is:
A. kQ/r² ✅
B. kQ/r
C. kQ²/r²
D. kQ/r³
16. The electric field due to a dipole at a far distance falls off as:
A. 1/r
B. 1/r²
C. 1/r³ ✅
D. 1/r⁴
17. A uniform electric field is one in which:
A. Magnitude and direction are constant ✅
B. Magnitude is constant but direction varies
Guide | Louisiana State University |
2026–2027
200 Multiple-Choice Questions for Comprehensive Revision
Description: This revision set covers electromagnetism, circuits, waves, optics, and
modern physics topics typically included in PHYS 2002. Each question includes four
options with the correct answer marked ✅. Answers are intentionally mixed so they
do not follow a predictable pattern.
Keywords: Coulomb’s law, electric field, Gauss’s law, electric potential, capacitance,
dielectrics, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, DC circuits, Kirchhoff’s rules, magnetic fields,
Ampère’s law, Faraday’s law, inductance, AC circuits, electromagnetic waves, reflection,
refraction, lenses, mirrors, interference, diffraction, polarization, relativity, photons,
photoelectric effect, Bohr model, quantum mechanics.
Section 1: Electric Charge and Coulomb’s Law
1. The SI unit of electric charge is the:
A. Volt
B. Coulomb ✅
C. Ampere
D. Ohm
2. Coulomb’s law states that the force between two point charges is proportional
to:
,A. The product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
✅
B. The sum of the charges and proportional to the distance
C. The product of the charges and proportional to the distance
D. The difference of the charges and inversely proportional to the distance
3. Two positive charges will:
A. Attract each other
B. Repel each other ✅
C. Have no force between them
D. Always cancel each other
4. If the distance between two charges is doubled, the electric force becomes:
A. Twice as large
B. Four times as large
C. One-half as large
D. One-quarter as large ✅
5. The direction of the electric force on a positive test charge is:
A. Opposite to the electric field
B. Along the electric field ✅
C. Perpendicular to the electric field
D. Always zero
6. Charge is quantized, meaning charge comes in:
A. Continuous amounts
B. Integer multiples of e ✅
C. Half-integer multiples of e
D. Arbitrary fractions
7. A neutral object can become charged by:
A. Friction only
B. Conduction only
,C. Induction only
D. Friction, conduction, or induction ✅
8. The elementary charge e is approximately:
A. 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C ✅
B. 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ C
C. 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ C
D. 3.00 × 10⁸ C
9. Coulomb’s constant k is approximately:
A. 8.99 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² ✅
B. 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N·m²/kg²
C. 3.00 × 10⁸ N·m²/C²
D. 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ N·m²/C²
10. If two charges are separated by a distance r, the force is F. If the distance is
tripled, the force becomes:
A. F/3
B. F/9 ✅
C. 3F
D. 9F
Section 2: Electric Fields
11. The electric field E at a point is defined as:
A. Force per unit charge ✅
B. Charge per unit force
C. Energy per unit charge
D. Charge per unit area
, 12. The SI unit of electric field is:
A. N/C ✅
B. C/N
C. J/C
D. V·m
13. Electric field lines point:
A. From negative to positive charges
B. From positive to negative charges ✅
C. Always clockwise
D. Always counterclockwise
14. The electric field inside a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium is:
A. Maximum
B. Zero ✅
C. Infinite
D. Uniform but nonzero
15. For a point charge Q, the electric field at distance r is:
A. kQ/r² ✅
B. kQ/r
C. kQ²/r²
D. kQ/r³
16. The electric field due to a dipole at a far distance falls off as:
A. 1/r
B. 1/r²
C. 1/r³ ✅
D. 1/r⁴
17. A uniform electric field is one in which:
A. Magnitude and direction are constant ✅
B. Magnitude is constant but direction varies
