Homework Help: Does this question make sense?

I would just like someone to please read this question below and tell me if it makes any sense. [This question is in my exam]


(I've already solved this problem -- but the next question is a continuation)
So the FIRST QUESTION (which I've solved):
If a Van de Graaff generator is charged to 50,000 volts, how much energy does it take to add an additional electron to the charge on the sphere?
*my answer: 8.0 x 10^-15 joules*


NOW THE SECOND QUESTION is the one I don't understand.
How would the voltage of the generator in Part (A) compare to the voltage of a larger Van de Graaff generator with the same amount of charge? To which generator could an electron be added with the least expenditure of energy?


......"How would the voltage.. [50,000V] ..compare to the generator of a larger VdG generator WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF CHARGE?"
---what does that mean?---

I know that the larger generator can be charged to a higher voltage...
is that the answer??


Thanks in advance!!!



1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data



2. Relevant equations



3. The attempt at a solution

 

"How does that voltage compare with the voltage needed to charge the larger one to the same charge?"


So... the answer to that would be -- A higher voltage is needed to charge the larger generator to the same charge. -?

 

man..... this is hard...

let me think about it. =)

 

*sigh*

i'm really having a hard time here... don't know where to start! hehe =)
(I'm homeschooled and so I don't have a Physics teacher)

So about "the same amount of charge" ... does that mean 50,000 volts? But volts is not a measure of charge, correct? Coloumb is the unit of charge!

And about charging a sphere.. a sphere becomes negatively charged when there are more electrons than protons, correct?

 

someone please share their thoughts?

Doc Al?

 

....It would be harder to add electrons to a small sphere than a large one with the same amount of charge simply because there is less space in the small sphere.

 

'OlderDan' also made a comment about the charge of the generator [in 2005]

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=79131

 

Okay... so now going back to the original question... How would the voltage compare?

"The voltage required for the larger generator to have the same amount of charge is less than 50,000 volts because the electrons in the larger sphere would not be as compressed as in the smaller sphere."

--sound good? =) So electrons in a sphere are basically the same as air in a balloon?

the second question in the same problem... To which generator could an electron be added with the least expenditure of energy?

answer: "Adding an electron to the larger generator would take less energy."

 

Doc Al:
"Yep. Same problem. (Same error!)
What book are you using?"

REPLY:

What do you mean same error?
Should the 8.0 x 10^-15 C be positive or negative?
At first I kept it positive... But then I changed it to Negative because the question adds: "The charge on an electron is given in Question 26 above." So with that info, I decided to make in Negative because the charge shown in the question above is -1.6 x 10^-19 C.


I'm enrolled in American School (correspondence school)
and the Physics book they gave me is the Conceptual Physics by Paul G. Hewitt.
It's a great book overall...

 

Doc Al! you're back Online!

please check my answer.
thanks!

 

Thanks a lot!

pretty behind in my HighSchool.... I need to finish this year.
argh!!!!!

================

Yes, I copied the problem word for word.

Thanks again!

but I might need some help again in the future... haha