Electron and Proton Forces: Are They Opposite? Image Analysis

[stmartin]

On this picture there are electron and proton. As far as I know the forces should be opposite. Am I right?
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4079/epgl8.jpg

 

[neutrino]

No. The electron and proton have opposite charges.

 

[Danger]

The electrical charges attract, but they're not the only forces at play.

 

[ank_gl]

hey, electrical charges can also repel.

 

[Doc Al]

On this picture there are electron and proton. As far as I know the forces should be opposite. Am I right?

Yes, your diagram is correct (at least the upper one). The electrostatic force between two charges always points in opposite directions on each charge. In this case, the force is attractive, so the forces act inward; if the charges had the same sign, the force would be repulsive and act outward.

 

[neutrino]

Ah, so they weren't the direction of field lines...