How far should an electron be fired so it stops before reaching the plate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fontseeker
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electron Plate
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
3 replies · 2K views
Fontseeker
Messages
30
Reaction score
4
Homework Statement
In the figure below an electron is shot directly toward the center of a large metal plate that has surface charge density -1.20 × 10^-6 C/m2. If the initial kinetic energy of the electron is 1.60 × 10^-17 J and if the electron is to stop (due to electrostatic repulsion from the plate) just as it reaches the plate, how far from the plate must the launch point be?
Relevant Equations
F=ma
E=(1/2)mV^2
I am trying to solve the following problem:

Screen Shot 2019-09-09 at 9.07.22 PM.png

My attempt at the problem:

$$m = 9.11 * 10^{-31}kg$$
$$q = 1.6 * 10^{-19} C$$

$$V_0 = \sqrt{\frac{2KE}{m}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 * 1.6 * 10^{-17}}{1.6 * 10^{-19}}} = 5,926,739 m/s$$
$$F_{net} = -F_{e} = ma$$
$$a = \frac{-F_{e}}{m} = ma$$
$$E = \frac{\phi}{2\epsilon_0}$$
$$F_e = \frac{E}{q} = \frac{\phi}{2\epsilon_0q}$$
$$a = -\frac{q\phi}{2m\epsilon_0} = \frac{1.6 * 10^{-19} * -1.20 * 10^{-6}}{2 * 9.11 * 10^{-31} * 8.85 * 10^{-12}} = -1.191 * 10^{16} m/s^2$$
$$V_f^2 = V_0^2 + 2ad$$
$$V_f = 0$$
$$-2ad = V_0^2$$
$$d = \frac{V_0^2}{2a} = -\frac{5,926,739}{2 * -1.191 * 10^{16}} = 0.001475m$$

I got that the answer is 0.001475m, but this is not correct. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What is ##\frac{10^{-17}}{10^{-19}}##?
But you are making work for yourself in finding the velocity. Just deal with energy.
 
haruspex said:
What is ##\frac{10^{-17}}{10^{-19}}##?
But you are making work for yourself in finding the velocity. Just deal with energy.
that's a typo, should be:
$$\sqrt{\frac{2 * 1.6 * 10^{-17}}{9.11 * 10^{-31}}} = 5,936,739$$

I've dealt with energy and I get the same thing. Either way, it should work with velocity.
 
Fontseeker said:
that's a typo, should be:
$$\sqrt{\frac{2 * 1.6 * 10^{-17}}{9.11 * 10^{-31}}} = 5,936,739$$

I've dealt with energy and I get the same thing. Either way, it should work with velocity.
Yes, I'm getting the same answer.
Do you know what the supposed answer is?