Electron scattering find acceleration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the acceleration of an electron due to the electric field of a lead nucleus, characterized by its charge and radius. The participants are exploring the implications of the distance from the nucleus on the calculations involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Coulomb's law to find the force on the electron and subsequently its acceleration. There is uncertainty regarding the appropriate values for the charges involved and how to handle different distances from the nucleus.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the values for the charges and the implications of distance on the calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of how the situation changes when the electron is at different distances relative to the nucleus, particularly at 4R versus R/4.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity of the electric field when the electron is within the nucleus compared to when it is outside, indicating a need to consider different physical models for these scenarios.

fishys182
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Lead nucleus has charge = +82e
and raadius R = 7.10*10^(-15) m
permittivity of free space = 8.85*10^(-12) C^2/Nm^2
magnitude of charge on electron e = 1.60*10^(-19) C
mass of electron = 9.11*10^(-31) kg

find the acceleration 4R from the center of the lead nucleus.

how do i do this?

F = kqQ/(r^2) then a = F/m doesn't work out. I am not sure if I am using the correct values for the q and Q though.
 
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a = F/m should work.

What values are you using for Q (nucleus) and q (electron)?

For electron q = e = -1.60*10^(-19) C

For the nucleus, it depends if one is considering the shielding of the electrons or not. Q on the nucleus = Ze = +82e = 82*1.60*10^(-19) C.

At 4R, where R is the effective radius of the nucleus, the electron probably experiences the full coulombic field of the nucleus.

And in the denominator, r2 would be (4R)2
 
thank you.

i got to this point, but now i am confused about how it would be different if it were R/4 instead of 4R.

the equation is different i think, but i can't figure out what it would be.
 
If r = 4R, then r2 = 16R2, and 1/r2 = 1/(16R2)

If r = R/4, then r2 = R2/16, and 1/r2 = 16/R2.
 
hmm
i entered that in before though, and it said my answer was incorrect.

isnt there a difference for when r>=R and r<R?
 
fishys182 said:
hmm
i entered that in before though, and it said my answer was incorrect.

isnt there a difference for when r>=R and r<R?
Well, yes. When r < R, then the electron is within the nucleus and it would be interacting with a completely different and more complex charge field than outside the nucleus.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/elescat.html

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/scatele.html

Have you solved the classical EM problem for an electric field in a sphere of uniformly distributed charge and compared to the E-field outside? The nucleus is more complex.
 
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