Fields in Physics assignment question about electron beams in a cathoe ray tube

[bry]

Homework Statement

Ok so we have been given a diagram of a cathoe ray tube, with relevant data on it. The second question asks to "calculate the speed of the electron, using data from the first question". I need to make sure the answer is correct as it leads into many different questions.

I am unable to attach the picture, but here are all details:
Distance between metal plates: 5cm
Length of metal plates: 10cm
Charge on upper plate: 500V
No charge on lower plate
Charge on anode: 1000V

Homework Equations

The first question was to calculate the kinetic energy gained by an electron traveling from cathode to anode. What i calculated was:

E_k=qV=C×V
-1.6×〖10〗^(-19)×1000
E_k=-1.6×〖10〗^(-16) N

The Attempt at a Solution

I used two different methods to work this out, but got two different answers:


F=E_k

E_k=1/2 mv^2

v=√((2×E_k)/m)

v=√((2×-1.6×〖10〗^(-16))/(9.11×〖10〗^(-31) ))

v=-1.87 〖ms〗^(-1)



OR


s=((2×C×V))/m

s=((2×-1.6×〖10〗^(-16)×500))/(9.11×〖10〗^(-31) )

s= -1.76 〖ms〗^(-48)

 

[Delphi51]

Welcome to PF!
The first speed calc is correct except it works out to 1.87 x 10^7 on my calculator.
I don't understand the second - what is C? I don't recognize the formula.

 

[bry]

Thank you!
I have put it into my calculator again a few times but still getting the same answer: 1.87x10^-24 ... I put it all in separately, so work out what 2x 1.6x10^-16 then divide it...then work out the square root. would doing this alter my answer?

In the second equation the C represents the charge on the electron. I found it on a website so I'm not totally sure it is suitable for this problem.

Also what do i do about the fact that the electron has a negative charge on it? because I'm unable to square root a negative number.

 

[Delphi51]

There is no negative number - the energy is positive. Technically, the polarity is oriented so the V is negative, too, so the qV is positive.

v=√((2×-1.6×10^(-16))/(9.11×10^(-31) ))
Say you separate the numbers and powers: 2x1.6/9.11 = 0.35
The power of 10 is -16-(-31) = 15. So under the square root, 0.35 x 10^15
Square root of that is 1.87 x 10^7.