Help, with finding electron radius for a given condition

[tnutty]

Homework Statement

A classical view of the electron pictures it as a purely electric entity, whose Einstein rest mass energy,E = mc^2 is the energy stored in its electric field.


If the electron were a sphere with charge distributed uniformly over its surface, what radius would it have in order to satisfy this condition? Note: Your answer for the electron's "size" isn't consistent with modern quantum mechanics or with experiments that suggest the electron is a true point particle.



Equations :

E = mc^2
F = qE
F = ma
E_sphere = Q/ (2*pi*r*epsilon_0);
U = 1/2CV^2
U = qV


I am not sure what to equate with E = mc^2 ?

 

[Delphi51]

Do you know calculus? If so you could calculate the work needed to move charge dq in from infinity to the sphere that already has charge q against the electric force repelling dq from q. Then you could integrate that to find the total work done in bringing charge q together. I think it will be W = Q^2/(4*pi*epsilon*r). This is what you set equal to m*c^2.

 

[tnutty]

If I do that then :

r = ke^2 / (m * c^2 );

r = 2.8 fm

But its not correct.

 

[Delphi51]

Quite a discussion of this problem over at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_electron_radius

 

[tnutty]

So the answer seems to be right according to wiki, but masteringPhysics, my online h.w
is not accepting it.

The answer should be in form ____ fm, but its not correct? Any ideas.

 

[tnutty]

Anyone got a clue ?