How Does Electron Deflection Occur in a Charged Plate Setup?

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Electrons moving in a circular path are deflected between two charged plates with a 40V potential difference. The initial velocity was calculated using the formula for circular motion, but the deflection requires separating the x and y components of motion. The time taken to cross the plates is determined by the x component, while the y component uses the calculated acceleration from the electric field to find deflection. Clarifications were made regarding the equations used and the potential for negative deflection based on the electric field direction. Understanding the correct application of these principles is crucial for accurately determining the deflection of the electrons.
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Electrons traveling in a circular path of a radius 2m at a rate of 1.0*10^6 revolutions per second are diverting into a region between two charged plates iwth a potential difference of 40V. These plates are 3.2cm long and are separated by 8mm. As the electrons emerge from the region between the plates, what is the amount of deflection from the original path? (If you want a diagram i'll sketch one up really quick)

Anyways, to start..

I tried to caluclate the velocity of the electron by using v = (2)(pi)(r) / T. I then took that velocity into the formula Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad, and found out its final velocity. Before I did that though, I found out the electric field between the plates, then found the electric force using that formula. Then, using F = ma, I found the acceleration. I took everything I got into Ei = Ef, which is Kinetic Inital = Potential Final + Kinetic Final.

I keep getting a negative "h" (which I planned to use for "d"), so I must be doing something wrong... can someone help me out? Thanks!
 
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Drevin said:
Electrons traveling in a circular path of a radius 2m at a rate of 1.0*10^6 revolutions per second are diverting into a region between two charged plates iwth a potential difference of 40V. These plates are 3.2cm long and are separated by 8mm. As the electrons emerge from the region between the plates, what is the amount of deflection from the original path? (If you want a diagram i'll sketch one up really quick)

Anyways, to start..

I tried to caluclate the velocity of the electron by using v = (2)(pi)(r) / T. I then took that velocity into the formula Vf^2 = Vi^2 + 2ad, and found out its final velocity.

Hold on a minute...:wink:
You realize that this equation must be applied separately for x and y components, right? It is really an equation for *components* of the velocity, NOT for the speed! It should be V_{yf}^2 = V_{yi}^2 + 2 a_y (\Delta y) and similarly for the x direction. If we use an axis where the E field is vertical and the particle has an initial veloicity to the right (along x), then in that equation V_{iy} is *zero*.

Before I did that though, I found out the electric field between the plates, then found the electric force using that formula. Then, using F = ma, I found the acceleration. I took everything I got into Ei = Ef, which is Kinetic Inital = Potential Final + Kinetic Final.
this is true (at the condition of setting the electric potential at the initial position to be zero) BUT that will *not* help you because, again, the Vs appearing in the previous equation are *not* speed.


The way to do this is : notice that v_x will not change since there is no acceleration along x. Find the time that it takes to get across the plate, using v_x. Now, use this time in the y direction and the value of a_y to find the total deflection, using y_f =y_0 +V_{iy} t + {1 \over 2} a_y t^2 (notice that you may set y_0 =0 and that v_{iy} is zero).

And btw, there is nothing wrong in getting a negative value of y_f, depending on the direction of the E field, the particle could be deflected downward. They probably want the absolute value of this anyway.

Patrick

EDIT: a typo that prevented an equation to show up was corrected
 
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nrqed said:
The way to do this is : notice that v_x will not change since there is no acceleration along x. Find the time that it takes to get across the plate, using v_x. Now, use this time in the y direction and the value of a_y to find the total deflection, using [otex] y_f =y_0 +V_{iy} t + {1 \over 2} a_y t^2 [/itex] (notice that you may set y_0 =0 and that v_{iy} is zero).


Patrick

The section in bold confuses me... what were you trying to say there?
Also, I may be missing something, but how would you find the acceleration in the y direction? I'm a little confused from your explanation... :frown:
 
Drevin said:
The section in bold confuses me... what were you trying to say there?
Also, I may be missing something, but how would you find the acceleration in the y direction? I'm a little confused from your explanation... :frown:
Well, you said yourself in your first post that you had already found the acceleration! Since you know the potential difference between the plates and their separation, you can find the electric field. Then you can calculate the electric force on an electron and then the acceleration is the force over the mass. I thought that's what you said you had calculated in your first post.

I made a typo so my equation did not show up properly. Sorry I will correct it. You will recognize the equation, it's a basic equation of Mechanics

Pat
 
nrqed said:
Well, you said yourself in your first post that you had already found the acceleration! Since you know the potential difference between the plates and their separation, you can find the electric field. Then you can calculate the electric force on an electron and then the acceleration is the force over the mass. I thought that's what you said you had calculated in your first post.

I made a typo so my equation did not show up properly. Sorry I will correct it. You will recognize the equation, it's a basic equation of Mechanics

Pat
Ah, yes you're right. Some of your terms confused me I believe. Thanks for the help!
 
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