Electron Velocity Homework: Fnd Force to Determine Speed

  • Thread starter Thread starter jnbfive
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electron Velocity
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the speed of electrons emitted from an electron gun with a 3000-volt potential entering a magnetic field of 0.025 Tesla. The key equation for finding the speed is derived from the kinetic energy of the electrons, given by W = q(Delta V), leading to v = sqrt(2W/m), where W is the work done on the electrons. Participants clarify that the magnetic field does not influence the speed calculation directly, as it pertains to the Lorentz force, which is relevant for determining the radius of the electron's circular motion afterward. The confusion primarily lies in eliminating distance from the equation W = F*d, which is unnecessary for finding the velocity. Ultimately, the correct speed of the electrons is approximately 3.246 x 10^7 m/s, aligning with the expected results for a 3 keV beam.
jnbfive
Messages
46
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



An electron gun (applied voltage of 3000 volts) is emitting electrons. THe electrons enter a region of constant magnetic field (B=.025 Tesla.) The magnetic field is perpendicular to the velocity of the beam.

Homework Equations



W=Q(Delta V) = F*d

V=F/eB

The Attempt at a Solution



-1.6X10^-19 C (3000 (N*m/C)) = F*d
-4.8 x 10^-16 = F*d

I'm lost as to how to eliminate d. I'm almost positive it doesn't drop out due to the dot product, but I need to get rid of it to find F and no distance between the gun and the field is given. There's two more parts to this problem that I know how to do, my problem is I need the velocity for both those parts. So if I can be nudged in the proper direction of how to eliminate d so I can find force, that'd be great.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jnbfive said:

Homework Statement



An electron gun (applied voltage of 3000 volts) is emitting electrons. THe electrons enter a region of constant magnetic field (B=.025 Tesla.) The magnetic field is perpendicular to the velocity of the beam.

Homework Equations



W=Q(Delta V) = F*d

V=F/eB

The Attempt at a Solution



-1.6X10^-19 C (3000 (N*m/C)) = F*d
-4.8 x 10^-16 = F*d

I'm lost as to how to eliminate d. I'm almost positive it doesn't drop out due to the dot product, but I need to get rid of it to find F and no distance between the gun and the field is given. There's two more parts to this problem that I know how to do, my problem is I need the velocity for both those parts. So if I can be nudged in the proper direction of how to eliminate d so I can find force, that'd be great.

What are you asked to find? The radius of the circular path? Write the equation for the Lorentz force (which you have in your work above), and relate that to the centripital acceleration of uniform circular motion.
 
I need to find the force. Once I find that everything else isn't difficult.

Part I)
Find the speed of the electron:
v=F/(eB)
W=q(Delta V) = F*d, where W is -4.8*10^-16 N*m

Part II)
Find the distance between the been entering and exiting the field.
r=mv/(eB) where r is the radius so the distance is 2r

Part III)
Obtain the acceleration of the electrons in the magnetic field
F=veB=ma

Like I said, I'm having difficulty finding out how to eliminate distance in W=F*d since no distance is given.
 
jnbfive said:
I need to find the force. Once I find that everything else isn't difficult.

Part I)
Find the speed of the electron:
v=F/(eB)
W=q(Delta V) = F*d, where W is -4.8*10^-16 N*m

Part II)
Find the distance between the been entering and exiting the field.
r=mv/(eB) where r is the radius so the distance is 2r

Part III)
Obtain the acceleration of the electrons in the magnetic field
F=veB=ma

Like I said, I'm having difficulty finding out how to eliminate distance in W=F*d since no distance is given.

The speed is derived from the electron energy. All of the energy is kinetic energy. You don't need force * distance.
 
-4.8*10^-16 = .5*(9.109*10^-31)*(v^2)

So v = 3.246 * 10^7 m/s?
 
jnbfive said:
-4.8*10^-16 = .5*(9.109*10^-31)*(v^2)

So v = 3.246 * 10^7 m/s?

From google:

1 electron volt = 1.60217646 × 10-19 joules

What is on the lefthand side (LHS) of your first equation? Is that supposed to be 3keV converted to Joules? It helps in calculations like these to show units for each quantity, to be sure that you are doing the unit conversions correctly, and ending up with compatible units.
 
Last edited:
W=q(Delta V) = Change in kinetic energy, which is (-1.6*10^-19 C)(3000V) = -4.8*10^-16 N*m

-4.8*10^-16 N*m = .5*(9.109*10^-31 kg)*(v^2)

Since a Newton is kg*m/s^2, the kg's cancel and I am left with m^2/s^2

Sorry for the confusion.
 
jnbfive said:
W=q(Delta V) = Change in kinetic energy, which is (-1.6*10^-19 C)(3000V) = -4.8*10^-16 N*m

-4.8*10^-16 N*m = .5*(9.109*10^-31 kg)*(v^2)

Since a Newton is kg*m/s^2, the kg's cancel and I am left with m^2/s^2

Sorry for the confusion.

Okay, that looks right then. The answer you got for the electron velocity is about 1/10 of c, which sounds about right for a 3keV beam. So does the rest of the question ask you to figure out the radius of the circular motion of the electrons based on the Lorentz force?
 
For Part I, you wrote:

v=F/(eB)

Where did that come from? If you're trying to find out how much velocity the electric field added, the magnetic field doesn't matter; it can't affect the answer in any way.
 
  • #10
ideasrule said:
For Part I, you wrote:

v=F/(eB)

Where did that come from? If you're trying to find out how much velocity the electric field added, the magnetic field doesn't matter; it can't affect the answer in any way.

It came from the Lorentz force. The OP isn't confused about some electric field. The e in that equation is the charge on an electron.
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
It came from the Lorentz force. The OP isn't confused about some electric field. The e in that equation is the charge on an electron.

The equation is valid, but the OP (apparently that term isn't unique to Wikipedia) was trying to find the electron's speed in Part I. The magnetic force has nothing to do with finding the speed, which depends solely on the kinetic energy added to the electron.
 
  • #12
ideasrule said:
The equation is valid, but the OP (apparently that term isn't unique to Wikipedia) was trying to find the electron's speed in Part I. The magnetic force has nothing to do with finding the speed, which depends solely on the kinetic energy added to the electron.

That's why s/he correctly converted the 3keV energy to a velocity. Where is the electric field term that you allude to?
 
  • #13
The electric field is the field that applied the 3000V potential difference. The OP did indeed convert 3 keV to velocity correctly, without using v=F/eB; that's why I said v=F/eB is not relevant here.
 
Back
Top