thildebr said:Homework Statement
an alpha particle (charge=+2.0e) is sent at high speed toward a gold nuclues Charge= +79e. What is the electrical force acting on the alpha particle when it is 2.0 times 10^ -14m away from the gold nucleus
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
its 91 N but i need the steps of how i got the answer
The electric force is a fundamental force of nature that is responsible for the interaction between charged particles. In the case of an alpha particle and gold nucleus, the electric force refers to the attraction or repulsion between the positively charged alpha particle and the positively charged gold nucleus.
According to Coulomb's law, the electric force between two charged particles is directly proportional to the product of their charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance between the alpha particle and gold nucleus decreases, the electric force increases, and vice versa.
The mass of the alpha particle and gold nucleus does not directly affect the electric force between them. However, the mass of the particles does play a role in determining their acceleration, which is related to the electric force through Newton's second law of motion.
If there are other charged particles or objects in the vicinity, they can also exert an electric force on the alpha particle and gold nucleus. This can either add to or cancel out the existing electric force between them, depending on the direction and magnitude of the other forces.
Understanding the electric force between particles is crucial in fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering. It is the basis for many technologies, including electronic devices, electric motors, and generators. Additionally, it plays a significant role in nuclear reactions and the behavior of atoms and molecules.