Finding electric potential difference to stop a electron between 2 plates

AI Thread Summary
To determine the electric potential difference needed to stop an electron 25% of the way across a parallel plate apparatus, conservation of energy principles are applied. The initial kinetic energy of the electron, calculated using its velocity, must equal the work done by the electric field as the electron moves through the potential difference. The calculations provided suggest that the expected potential difference is 285 V, which aligns with the correct application of the equations. The user is advised to double-check their calculations for errors, as they initially obtained the correct potential difference but with a misunderstanding in their approach. Accurate computation is crucial for confirming the potential difference needed to halt the electron's motion.
mjolnir80
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Homework Statement



Question: an electron with a velocity of 5.0x10^{}6 m/s is injected into a parallel plate apparatus through a hole in the positive plate. it moves across the vacuum between the plates. what would the potential difference have to be in order to stop the electron 25% of the way across the gap?

Homework Equations


conservation of energy eqations and electromagnetic equations

The Attempt at a Solution


if we set the base line at the positive plate:
E_{}kinetic 1 + E_{}electric potential 1 = E _{}electric potential 2

Vq + 1/2 mV^{}2 = Vq(0.75) <---- (to account for the 25%)

V(-1.6 x 10^{}-19 ) + 1/2 (9.1 x 10^{}-31 )(5x10^{}6) ^{}2 = V(-1.6x10^{}-19)(.75)

when i do this my answer does not come out to what it is supposed to (which is 285 j/c)
what am i doing wrong
 
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I get 285V when I work through your numbers. Your doing the problem correctly, but you may have made an error in computing the numbers. Check your calculations for an error.
 
kewl thanks for confirming that
 
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