danielatha4
Jan23-10, 10:41 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
SLAC, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Collider, located at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, accelerates electrons through a vacuum tube two miles long (it can be seen from an overpass of the Junipero Serra freeway that goes right over the accelerator). Electrons which are initially at rest are subjected to a continuous force of 1.2×10-12 newton along the entire length of two miles (one mile is 1.6 kilometers) and reach speeds very near the speed of light.
Determine how much time is required to increase the electrons' speed from 0.89c to 0.97c.
Approximately how far does the electron go in this time? (What is approximate about your result?)
2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution
I figured the acceleration of the electron would be equal to the force, 1.22x10^-12, divided by the mass of an electron, 9.1x10^-31. Then I used Vf=Vo+at to solve for time. However, this was not correct.
SLAC, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Collider, located at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, accelerates electrons through a vacuum tube two miles long (it can be seen from an overpass of the Junipero Serra freeway that goes right over the accelerator). Electrons which are initially at rest are subjected to a continuous force of 1.2×10-12 newton along the entire length of two miles (one mile is 1.6 kilometers) and reach speeds very near the speed of light.
Determine how much time is required to increase the electrons' speed from 0.89c to 0.97c.
Approximately how far does the electron go in this time? (What is approximate about your result?)
2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution
I figured the acceleration of the electron would be equal to the force, 1.22x10^-12, divided by the mass of an electron, 9.1x10^-31. Then I used Vf=Vo+at to solve for time. However, this was not correct.