Electric Field Homework: Rank Protons by Acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves five protons launched in a uniform electric field, requiring participants to rank the protons based on the magnitude of their accelerations. The context is rooted in electric fields and forces acting on charged particles.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the electric field and the acceleration of protons, questioning whether initial velocities affect acceleration. There is uncertainty about the implications of the uniform electric field and its effect on the ranking of accelerations versus velocities.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. Some suggest that all protons experience the same acceleration in the uniform electric field, while others consider the possibility of ranking velocities instead. Guidance has been offered regarding the nature of uniform electric fields and the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may be conceptual rather than computational, and there is a mention of constraints related to the submission format being paper-based. The relevance of distance in the context of a uniform electric field is also debated.

  • #31
gneill said:
That's not a problem, it's a bonus and a clear result! You now now that the acceleration does not depend upon direction or speed or distance; It only depends on the charge, the mass, and the electric field. So what can you conclude for the different cases presented?
Their accelerations are the same?? That just doesn't seem like him. (professor)
 
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  • #32
Philip KP said:
Their accelerations are the same?? That just doesn't seem like him. (professor)
Yes, the accelerations are all identical. It is the correct result for the question in the form it was given.

The question may seem like a trick, or perhaps it is incorrect due to a typo or otherwise, yet even so it got you to think about the physics of the situation.
 
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  • #33
Ok thanks gneill and berkeman. I guess you guys had said their accelerations were same in the beginning but it definitely helped figuring out why. I''ll talk to my professor tomorrow and I think it's actually due Tuesday so if there's something I'm missing I'll bring it up tomorrow?

Thanks!
 
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  • #34
Philip KP said:
Ok thanks gneill and berkeman. I guess you guys had said their accelerations were same in the beginning but it definitely helped figuring out why. I''ll talk to my professor tomorrow and I think it's actually due Tuesday so if there's something I'm missing I'll bring it up tomorrow?
That would be fine!
Thanks!
You're very welcome.
 

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