Calculating Electric Field at a Given Position Due to a π- Particle

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the electric field at a specific location due to a π- particle, which has a negative charge. The original poster presents their calculations and expresses confusion regarding the magnitude of the electric field obtained.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the electric field by determining the vector from the particle's location to the observation point and computing the distance squared. They express uncertainty about the resulting values and seek clarification on their approach.

Discussion Status

Some participants question the accuracy of the distance squared calculation and provide feedback on the original poster's results. There is a suggestion that reworking the distance leads to a more reasonable electric field value, indicating a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of using scientific notation and significant figures in the final answer, reflecting common conventions in physics problems.

Squall
Messages
53
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A π- ("pi-minus") particle, which has charge -e, is at location ‹ 5.00e-9, -5.00e-9, -6.00e-9 › m. What is the electric field at location < -5.00e-9, 3.00e-9, 5.00e-9 > m, due to the π- particle?
5e-9 is equivalent to 5*10^-9

Homework Equations


E=(k*q/r^2)r-hat


The Attempt at a Solution


So to find the Electric field created at the given position first I subtract the source from the observation, I am assuming the pi- particle is the source. When I do this is what I get
<-10e-9,8e-9,11e-9>

So next I compute the r^2 or the distance from source to observation location. To do this I square each entry in the vector above and add them up to get 8.5e-17

Now I compute the value to the left of the r-hat vector: 9e9*(-1.602e-19/8.5e-17), this gives me -16962352.94 N/C

Next I calculate the r-hat vector by dividing r by its magnitude which is sqrt(8.5e-17).
I get <-1.0846, .8677, 1.1931>

[-16962352.94 N/C *<-1.0846, .8677, 1.1931>]
Finally I multiply the two numbers together and get a vector with huge values, which doesn't seem right, can some one tell me where I am going wrong or maybe tell me the right way to approach this problem, because I seem to be stuck.
Thank You for your help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your value for |r|2 looks dubious. Better check it.
 
Yes the |r|^2 was dubious

After reworking that I got |r|=1.6882e-8

Plugging this back in I get
E=[9e9*(1.602e-19)/(1.6882e-8)^2]*< -0.5923, 0.4739, 0.6516>

=<2996700,-2397300,-3296300>

Is this a more reasonable answer?
 
The results look good.

You might want to use scientific notation and appropriate significant figures for your final answer.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
Replies
14
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K