How Do You Calculate Electron Velocity in a Hydrogen Atom?

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    Electron Velocity
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To calculate the velocity of an electron in a hydrogen atom, the centripetal force is provided by the Coulomb force between the electron and proton. The radius of the electron's orbit is given as 5.29 x 10^-11 meters. The relevant formulas include Coulomb's law and the equation for centripetal force. By determining the Coulomb force using the known mass of the electron, the velocity can be calculated using the formula v = √(F * r / m). The final answer for the electron's velocity is 2.19 x 10^6 m/s.
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Homework Statement


What is the velocity of an electron in the hydrogen atom if the centripetal force is supplied by the Coulomb's force between the electron and proton?


Homework Equations


The radius of the electron orbit is 5.29 X 10^-11


The Attempt at a Solution


The answer in the back of the book is 2.19 X 10^6 m/s. I am not really sure how to start this problem since it only gives me the radius. Please help!
 
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Do you know the formula for centripetal force F, on a mass m, moving with velocity v, in a circle of radius r? (v is what you must calculate so you must know all the other quantities.)
You need to know the mass of the electron. Is it given?
You also need to know the formula for the coulomb force F. Do you know it?
 
Wildcatfan said:

Homework Equations


The radius of the electron orbit is 5.29 X 10^-11

You will also need

F=\frac{Q_1Q_2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^2}

F=\frac{mv^2}{r}

Start by first finding the Coloumb's force.
 
Thanks for the help! I went back in the chapter and found the mass of the electron (don't know why this was not presented in the problem), used Coulomb's law to get the force, then found the velocity solving the square root of force x radius/mass. Thanks again!
 
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