# Homework Help: Electric Fields/potential

1. Sep 24, 2007

### jamespetrovitch

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
In the Bohr Model of a hydrogen atom, a single electron revolves around a single proton in a circle of radius r. Assume that the proton remains at rest.
(a) what is the kinetic energy of the electron?
(b) what is the electrical potential energy?
(c) show that the electron's kinetic energy is equal to half of the electric potential energy.
(give answers in terms of e, Me, Mp, and r)

2. Relevant equations
KE = 1/2mv^2
F = Ma(centripetal accel.)
a(centripetal accel.) = v^2/r
F = (mv)^2/r = (kqq)/r^2

KE = -1/2U
U = GMm/r^2 = (kqq)/r
v(orbit) = $$\sqrt{}GM/r$$
1/2mv^2 = GMm/2r
F = q|E|
|E| = F/q = kq/r^2

3. The attempt at a solution
a)KE = ke^2/2r

b) I am having trouble finding a way to say that KE = -1/2U because I keep getting that...
KE = ke^2/2r
and that
U = GMm/2r even though U should be equal to something like...
U = -GMm/4r

c)cannot find a way to relate them...

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1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
1. The earth has a net electric charge that causes an electric field at its surface equal to 150N/C and directed inward to the center of the Earth.
(a) What magnitude (and sign) of charge would a 60kg person have to acquire to overcome the weight of the force exerted by the earth's electric field?
(b) What would be the force of repulsion between two people, each with the charge calculated above and separated by 100m?

r = 6.37 x 10^6 m
Me = 5.98 x 10^24 kg
E = 150 N/C
Mp = 60 kg
d = 100m

2. Relevant equations

i) E = f/q = (ma)/q

ii) E = (kq)/r^2

iii) F = q|E| = (kqq)/d^2

3. The attempt at a solution

1a)
using eq. i,
150 = 60(-9.81)/q
q = -3.924 C

1b)
using eq. iii,
F = [(9 x 10^9)(-3.924)^2]/(100)^2
F = 1.39 x 10^7 N

2. Sep 24, 2007

### dynamicsolo

I think your life is going to be easier here if you look at the first problem first (the second ought to have been submitted in a separate thread.

You're going to find the units for this result don't check. You have the equation for KE, which involves v^2 . The equation for centripetal acceleration *also* involves v^2 . What physical force provides the centripetal force that keeps the electron on its circular orbit? What would be the expression for the centripetal force then? Solve that for v^2 and substitute it into the equation for KE. What do you find? (Remember which quantities we want the results expressed in.)

Since we are finding the *electric* potential energy between the electron and proton, we probably don't want G in there. What is U for a pair of charges?

We'll come back to the second problem later...