Electric fields and acceleration

AI Thread Summary
To find the initial acceleration of a proton above a charged wire, the electric field (E) generated by the wire is calculated using the formula E = 2*k*charge density/distance. Substituting the given values, E is determined to be approximately 1.199*10^7 N/C. The acceleration (a) of the proton is then found using the equation a = q*E/m, where q is the charge of the proton and m is its mass. The calculations indicate that the initial acceleration of the proton should indeed yield the expected result of 1.199*10^7 m/s². Clarification on the electric field equation for a linear charge distribution is suggested for accurate results.
eltel2910
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Consider a long horizontal conducting wire with charge density
= 5.70*10^-12 C/m. A proton (mass = 1.67*10^-27 kg) is placed and
released 0.820 m above the wire. What is the magnitude of initial
acceleration of the proton?

My thought is: a=q*E/m

and E is: 2*k*charge density/distance to the proton or 2*8990000000*5.7*10^-12/.820m

but I can't get the right answer, which I know to be: 1.199*10^7.

Any thoughts??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sounds like you are on the right track, but I don't have my E&M books at home (where I am now). What is the equation that you are using for the electric field from a uniform linear charge distribution?
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top