How Do You Calculate Electric Forces and Fields in AP Physics Problems?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating electric forces and fields in AP Physics problems, specifically addressing the electric force on an electron in a hydrogen atom, the required vertical electric field to support a proton and an electron, and the electric field at the center of a square configuration. Key equations include Coulomb's Law (F = k * q1 * q2 / r²) for determining electric force and the relationship between force, speed, and acceleration for circular motion. The problems emphasize the application of these principles in various contexts, highlighting the importance of understanding both electric forces and rotational dynamics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Coulomb's Law for electric force calculations
  • Concept of centripetal acceleration in circular motion
  • Understanding of electric fields and their direction
  • Basic principles of forces acting on charged particles
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation and applications of Coulomb's Law in various scenarios
  • Learn about centripetal acceleration and its relationship with electric forces
  • Explore the concept of electric fields and how to calculate them in different configurations
  • Investigate the behavior of charged particles in electric fields, including motion and equilibrium
USEFUL FOR

AP Physics students, educators teaching electric forces and fields, and anyone preparing for physics exams focused on electromagnetism concepts.

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Hi, my name is Cory. I need a little help with one of my AP physics assignments, dealing with Electric Charge, Forces and Fields.

I got most of the problems, however here are a few I could use some help / be walked through on.

Problem 36)
On average, the electron and proton in a hydrogen atom are separated by a distance of (5.3 x 10 -11 m), assuming the orbit of the electron to be circular,
(a) what is the electric force on the electron? and (b) WHat is the electrons orbital speed? and (c) What is the magnitude of the electrons entripetal acceleration in units of (g).
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I'm guessing I need to use fe = kqq
----
r^2
however, I'm not sure where rotational comes into play, nor how to do the rotational portion.
--------------------------------------------

Problem 55)
What would be the magnitude and the direction of a vertical electric field that would just support the weight of a proton on the surface of the Earth? of an Electron?


and lastly,

Problem 61)
What is the electric field at the center of the sqaure in the following figure:

 

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For problem 36, you do need to use the equation listed to figure out the force on the electron for part a. Once you have the force, how can you relate that to the electrons speed and acceleration?
 

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