Calculating Electron Count and Mass in a Charged System

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a system consisting of 1525 particles, which are either electrons or protons, and has a net charge of -5.456 x 10^-17. Participants are tasked with determining the number of electrons in the system and calculating the total mass based on the given information about the mass and charge of electrons.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the net charge and the number of excess electrons. Questions arise regarding the arithmetic needed to find the total number of electrons and how to calculate the mass of the system based on the number of particles identified.

Discussion Status

Some participants have suggested methods for calculating the number of excess electrons and the total number of electrons in the system. There is ongoing exploration of how to find the mass based on the identified quantities, with various interpretations of the problem being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with the constraints of the problem, including the total number of particles and the net charge, while also considering the implications of the charge distribution on the particle types involved.

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1. A system of 1525 particles, all of which are electrons or protons, has a net charge of -5.456 x 10^-17. a) how many electrons are in the system? b) what is the mass of the system



2. mass of electrons is 9.11 x 10^-31.
charge of electron is 1.60 x 10^-19



3. i have no clue, can someone help
 
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Since there is a net negative charge, there must be excess electrons. Use the magnitude of the excess charge to determine how many excess electrons there are. Now the remainder of the particles must be equally split between electrons and proton. You know how many of each. Simple arithmetic from there.
 
so do i divide the excess by the charge of an electon?
 
anybody help please
 
if they are equally split then that means the net force is zero.. which i don't think it is
 
ok, found that there are 341 extra electrons which makes the total electrons to be 933. now how do u find the mass?
 
Find the number of protons. Then total mass = no. of protons*Mp + no.of electrons*Me
 

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