How Do Electric Fields Affect Electron Motion Between Charged Plates?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the motion of an electron in a uniform electric field between two charged parallel plates. The original poster presents a problem involving the calculation of the electron's speed upon striking the positively charged plate and the magnitude of the electric field between the plates, along with additional queries regarding charge per unit area and the electrical force between the plates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various equations related to motion and electric fields, questioning the setup and assumptions made in the calculations. There is discussion about the correct use of time in calculations and the method for determining the force between the plates.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on how to approach the calculation of the force between the plates and have pointed out potential errors in the original poster's calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between charge, electric field, and force, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are addressing potential typos and clarifying the assumptions regarding the charge and electric field calculations. The original poster's approach to finding the charge per unit area and the force is under scrutiny, indicating a need for further clarification on the relationships involved.

patrickmoloney
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Homework Statement



A uniform electric eld exists in a region between two oppositely charged parallel metal plates.
An electron is released from rest at the surface of the negatively charged plate and strikes the surface of the positively charged plate, 2.00 cm away, in a time 1.8 * 10^{-8} s

(i) What is the speed of the electron as it strikes the second plate?
(ii) What is the magnitude of the electricfield between the plates?

If the plates are circular with r = 15.0 cm find,

(i) The magnitude of the charge per unit area on the surface of either plate
(ii) the electrical force of attraction between two plates

Homework Equations



\Delta x = v_{avg} t = \frac{vt}{2}

\Delta x = \frac{1}{2} at^2

E = \frac{F}{q_e}

The Attempt at a Solution



B.

(i) \Delta x = v_{avg} t = \frac{vt}{2}

v = \frac{2\Delta x}{t} = \frac{2(2x10^{-2})}{1.8 *10^{-8}}\frac{m}{s} = 2.7*10^6 \frac{m}{s}

(ii) \Delta x = \frac{1}{2} at^2 and E = \frac{F}{q_e} = \frac {ma}{q_e}

E = \frac{ma}{q_e} = \frac{2 \Delta x m}{et^2} = \frac{2(2.0*10^{-2})(9.11*10^{-31})}{(1.6*10^{-19})(1.8*10^{-8})} = 1*10^3 N/C

C.

(i) \sigma = \frac{q}{2 \pi r^2} = \frac{1.6*10^{-19}}{2 \pi (15.0*10^{-2})^2} = 1.8*10^{-19} C/m^2

(ii) I'm sure the force equation is \vec{F} = k \frac{q_1q_2}{r^2} where,

k = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0}

How do I find C. (ii) since I only have one charged particle ## q_e ##
 
Last edited:
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The question is what's the force between the plates. First calculate the charge of the plates than calculate the force on that charge due to the field produced by the other plate (that's half of the total field between the plates).
 
Your question says time = 1.8∗10-8s, you used time = 1.5∗10-8s
 
Yeah sorry that was a typo. Could I say -

## E = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0} = \frac{1.8*10^{-19}}{8.85*10^{-12}} = 2.03*10^{-8} NC^{-1} ##
 
patrickmoloney said:
Yeah sorry that was a typo. Could I say -

## E = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0} = \frac{1.8*10^{-19}}{8.85*10^{-12}} = 2.03*10^{-8} NC^{-1} ##

No, that σ is wrong. Did you use the electric charge to find it? Why would you do that?
 

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