How Many Excess Electrons or Protons Does a Suspended Water Drop Have?

In summary, a small drop of water with a mass of 3.99 x 10^-9 kg is suspended in air by an upward directed electric field with a magnitude of 10800 N/C. The force from gravity and the force from the electric field must be equal for the drop to stay motionless. To find the number of excess protons or electrons, you will need to solve for the net charge on the drop, which can be found using the charge of a single proton or electron.
  • #1
arod2812
25
0

Homework Statement


A small drop of water is suspended motionless in air by a uniform electric field that is directed upward and has a magnitude of 10800 N/C. The mass of the water drop is 3.99 x 10-9 kg. How many excess electrons or protons reside on the drop?


Homework Equations


which equation do i use? Do i need to use the mass of a proton to find the number of excess protons?


The Attempt at a Solution



F=ma; E=F/q
 
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  • #2
The force from gravity acting on the rain drop, Fg=mg, will need to equal the force from the electric field, F=E*q, for the drop to stay motionless
 
  • #3
And how do I solve for how much protons are present?
 
  • #4
(Or electrons)

Well you're going to solve for q, so you'll know the NET charge on the raindrop. You know the charge of a SINGLE proton or electron
 

What is an electric field?

An electric field is a physical quantity that describes the influence that an electric charge has on other charges in its surrounding area. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

How is an electric field calculated?

The electric field is calculated by dividing the force exerted on a test charge by the magnitude of the test charge. It can also be calculated by dividing the voltage by the distance between the charges.

What are the units of electric field?

The units of electric field are newtons per coulomb (N/C) in the SI system, or volts per meter (V/m) in the CGS system.

What is the difference between an electric field and an electric potential?

An electric field is a vector quantity that describes the strength and direction of the force exerted on a charged particle, while electric potential is a scalar quantity that describes the energy per unit charge at a given point in an electric field.

Why is the concept of an electric field important?

The concept of an electric field is important because it helps us understand and explain the behavior of electrically charged particles. It also plays a crucial role in many real-world applications, such as electric motors, generators, and electronic devices.

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