Electric field accelerated proton

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 11K views
SixPaperCups
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The electric field at a point in space is E= (200i+ 900j)N/C .
What is the magnitude of the proton's acceleration?


Homework Equations



a = F [tex]_{on q}[/tex] / m = (q/m) E


The Attempt at a Solution



I determined earlier that the x-component of the electric force on a proton was Fx = 3.20×10−17 N
Then
I found that the y-component of the electric force on a proton is Fy = 1.44×10−16 N
I know both of these are correct So
I added Fx and Fy together getting 1.76*10^-16
then I divided this net force by the mass of a proton: 1.67x10^-27 kg as the formula above suggest and got 1.05*10^11 as my answer...it's wrong but I have no idea wrong. Please help
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
SixPaperCups said:

Homework Statement



The electric field at a point in space is E= (200i+ 900j)N/C .
What is the magnitude of the proton's acceleration?


Homework Equations



a = F [tex]_{on q}[/tex] / m = (q/m) E


The Attempt at a Solution



I determined earlier that the x-component of the electric force on a proton was Fx = 3.20×10−17 N
Then
I found that the y-component of the electric force on a proton is Fy = 1.44×10−16 N
I know both of these are correct So
I added Fx and Fy together getting 1.76*10^-16
then I divided this net force by the mass of a proton: 1.67x10^-27 kg as the formula above suggest and got 1.05*10^11 as my answer...it's wrong but I have no idea wrong. Please help
The electric field strength and force are vectors. One does not simply add the magnitudes of the components of a vector to obtain the magnitude of the vector.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vect.html#vec4