Calculating Distance Between Plates EF & GH with Varying Electric Fields

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the distance between two plates, EF and GH, in the context of an electron moving through varying electric fields. The scenario includes a potential difference and the motion of the electron influenced by electric forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the equations of motion and the forces acting on the electron, questioning the use of gravitational acceleration versus electric field acceleration. There are attempts to correct calculations regarding the electron's speed and the impact of the electric field on its motion.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on identifying mistakes in the calculations and emphasized the importance of using the correct values for charge and mass of the electron. There is ongoing exploration of unit consistency and its effect on the results, with multiple interpretations of the problem being considered.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of potential unit mismatches in the problem setup, with discussions about whether the distance should be in meters or millimeters. The original poster expresses uncertainty about the source of the problem and acknowledges possible errors in transcription.

leena19
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Homework Statement



ABCD are 2 parallel plates,between which a potential difference of 10,000V is maintained.An electron starting from rest,from point P,moves towards a small hole at Q.
After emerging from Q,the electron passes through a region independent of any electric fields and then enters the space between 2 plates EF and GH ,between which a vertical electric field 1000NC-1 is maintained.
The electron then strikes the lower plate at a point X.
If the distance d is 0.01m,find the distance GX




Homework Equations



Equations of motion
F=ma
F=Eq
E=V/x (I think?)

The Attempt at a Solution


For plates AB,CD,

F=ma
F/m=a
Eq/m=a
Vq/xm = a q= charge of an electron
m=mass of an electron

v2 = u2 + 2as
v2 = 0 + 2ax
v2 = 2*Vq/xm
v2 = m2*10,000q/m
v=[tex]\sqrt{m2*1000q/m}[/tex]

for EF,GH
[tex]\downarrow[/tex] s= 1/2gt2 s=d=0.01
0.01=1/2gt2
t=[tex]\sqrt{0.02/g}[/tex]

[tex]\rightarrow[/tex] s=ut s=GX=y, u= v
y =[tex]\sqrt{m2*10,000q/m}[/tex]*[tex]\sqrt{0.02/g}[/tex]
But I don't know q,m and I haven't used the electric field intensity (1000NC-1)anywhere in my calculations.
What am I doing wrong?

Thank you.
 

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leena19 said:
v2 = u2 + 2as
v2 = 0 + 2ax
v2 = 2*Vq/xm
v2 = m2*10,000q/m
v=[tex]\sqrt{m2*1000q/m}[/tex]
OK, but you lost a factor of 10 under the square root. That's the electron's speed after exiting the hole.

for EF,GH
[tex]\downarrow[/tex] s= 1/2gt2 s=d=0.01
0.01=1/2gt2
t=[tex]\sqrt{0.02/g}[/tex]
The acceleration is not g. (That's the acceleration due to gravity--not relevant here.) Find the acceleration on the electron due to the electric field.

But I don't know q,m
The charge and mass of an electron are constants that you can look up.
and I haven't used the electric field intensity (1000NC-1)anywhere in my calculations.
You'll need that to find the acceleration. (Just like you did in the first part.)
 
Thank you so much for replying,sir
Doc Al said:
OK, but you lost a factor of 10 under the square root. That's the electron's speed after exiting the hole

Oh yes,what a careless mistake,
so after correcting it I get,
v=[tex]\sqrt{2*10,000q/m}[/tex]


The acceleration is not g. (That's the acceleration due to gravity--not relevant here.) Find the acceleration on the electron due to the electric field.
Another terrible mistake.I just thought of it as a projectile,I forgot to take into account the acceleration due to the electric field force in EFGH,but now I understand.

Correction:
Then,using F=ma ,to find the acceleration of the electron through EF,GH,
a=F/m
Eq/m=a
1000q/m=a

[tex]\downarrow[/tex] s = 1/2at2
0.01= 1/2*(1000q/m )*t2
0.02*m/1000q=t2
[tex]\sqrt{0.02*m/1000q}[/tex]=t


[tex]\rightarrow[/tex]s=ut
GX=([tex]\sqrt{2*10,000q/m}[/tex]) [tex]\sqrt{0.02*m/1000q}[/tex]
GX=[tex]\sqrt{2*10}[/tex] * [tex]\sqrt{0.02}[/tex]
GX=[tex]\sqrt{2*10}[/tex] * [tex]\sqrt{2*10^{-2}}[/tex]
GX=2*10-1 * [tex]\sqrt{10}[/tex]
GX=0.63m

Is this correct,now?I haven't got the answers to check.

THANK YOU
 
Last edited:
Can someone check this for me, please?The answer's supposed to be 0.02m,which is nowhere close to what I get.
I really don't know where I'm going wrong,

Thanks in advance
 
Your work looks OK to me. (Sorry for not responding earlier.) What book are you using?
 
When I use a distance d of 0.1 m, I get almost exactly 2 m as my answer for the horizontal displacement. In other words, when I use a distance which is wrong by a factor of 10, I get an answer which is wrong by a factor of 100. Indicates to me that maybe there's a unit mismatch somewhere? Centimeters or millimeters, maybe?
 
merryjman said:
Indicates to me that maybe there's a unit mismatch somewhere? Centimeters or millimeters, maybe?
Good spot! If d = 0.01 mm (instead of 0.01 m), the answer would match the book's answer.
 
Thank you,merryjman.
Thank you Doc Al.Thank you both so much!
our teacher dictated the question for us,so I may have got the units wrong while taking it down & I don't know what book it's from to check,so
I apologise for any trouble caused.
 

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