Prove this result Electrostatics

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The discussion revolves around proving the relationship (q1/m1)/(q2/m2)=3/4 for two charged balls projected in a uniform electric field. The first ball experiences a change in velocity direction by 60° and a reduction in speed to half, while the second ball's velocity changes by 90° under the same initial conditions. Participants emphasize using vector formalism instead of coordinates to simplify the problem and clarify the meaning of the angle "θ." Newton's second law is referenced to relate mass, charge, and velocity changes in the electric field. The conversation highlights the importance of correctly interpreting the angles and applying the dot product to find the necessary relationships between the variables.
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Homework Statement


A ball of mass m1 and charge q1 is projected at an angle ? in a uniform electric field for some time T. The direction of the velocity of the ball changes by 60° and the magnitude of velocity is reduced to half. After removing this ball second ball of mass m2 and charge q2 is projected at the same angle ? and for time T. The initial velocity of both the balls is same. The direction of velocity of second ball changes by 90°. Prove that (q1/m1)/(q2/m2)=3/4

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


I assume the electric field to be in the +ve X direction as Ex and in the +ve Y direction as Ey.

For q1
v_x = u_0 cos \theta + k_1 E_x T=u_0/4 \\<br /> v_y=u_0 sin \theta + k_1 E_y T= \sqrt{3}u_0/4

For q2
v_x = u_0 cos \theta + k_2 E_x T=0 \\<br /> T=\dfrac{-u_o cos \theta}{E_x k_2}

But there are too many variables and its seems impossible to me to get rid of them.
 
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What is meant with the angle "?"?

I guess that gravity is not considered, and that you chose x to be the direction of the initial motion (write that down please).
What is θ?

Did you draw a sketch? Initial motion, additional motion due to the electric field, resulting motion?
 
I would not use coordinates in this problem. Staying in the vector formalism leads to the solution quite naturally.
 
mfb said:
What is meant with the angle "?"?

I guess that gravity is not considered, and that you chose x to be the direction of the initial motion (write that down please).
What is θ?

Did you draw a sketch? Initial motion, additional motion due to the electric field, resulting motion?

That was a typing mistake. The "?" means θ.
 
voko said:
I would not use coordinates in this problem. Staying in the vector formalism leads to the solution quite naturally.

Can you give me some hints?
 
A body with mass ##m## and charge ##q## and initial velocity ##\vec{u}## spending time ##T## in uniform electric field ##\vec{E}##, leaves it with velocity ##\vec{v}##. Newton's second law: ## m\vec{v} = m\vec{u} + qT\vec{E}##, or ## \vec{v} = \vec{u} + k \vec{p}##, where ## k = \frac q m ## and ## \vec{p} = T\vec{E}##. Now you can use the dot product to find out the magnitude of ##\vec{u}## and its angle with ##\vec{v}##.
 
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voko said:
A body with mass ##m## and charge ##q## and initial velocity ##\vec{u}## spending time ##T## in uniform electric field ##\vec{E}##, leaves it with velocity ##\vec{v}##. Newton's second law: ## m\vec{v} = m\vec{u} + qT\vec{E}##, or ## \vec{v} = \vec{u} + k \vec{p}##, where ## k = \frac q m ## and ## \vec{p} = T\vec{E}##. Now you can use the dot product to find out the magnitude of ##\vec{u}## and its angle with ##\vec{v}##.

Dot product of which two vectors??
 
Depends on what you want to find out. Recall the equation relating the dot product with the magnitudes of and the angles between vectors.
 
voko said:
Depends on what you want to find out. Recall the equation relating the dot product with the magnitudes of and the angles between vectors.

In the question what is meant by the term 'changes by 60'? Does it mean that the angle which the final velocity vector makes with the horizontal is 60° or is it just the angle between initial and final vectors?
 
  • #10
Why would that be "horizontal", and not "vertical" or perhaps some other fixed direction?

For me, "changes by" implies that the comparison is made between the initial and the final velocities.
 
  • #11
voko said:
Why would that be "horizontal", and not "vertical" or perhaps some other fixed direction?

For me, "changes by" implies that the comparison is made between the initial and the final velocities.

Multiplying u to both sides of the equation you just gave me I get
k_1 = \dfrac{\vec{v}.\vec{u}-1}{\vec{p}.\vec{u}} \\<br /> k_2 = \dfrac{\vec{v&#039;}.\vec{u}-1}{\vec{p}.\vec{u}}

Dividing both equations
\frac{k_1}{k_2} = \dfrac{\vec{v}.\vec{u}-1}{\vec{v&#039;}.\vec{u}-1}

Now the dot product of v' and u is zero and that of v and u is u^2/4. But plugging these data won't give me the answer
 
  • #12
You seem to assume that ## \vec {u} \cdot \vec {u} = 1 ##. Why?
 
  • #13
voko said:
You seem to assume that ## \vec {u} \cdot \vec {u} = 1 ##. Why?

Oh! I later realized that it would be u^2. It was a silly mistake from my side. Anyway, thanks for helping.
 

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