Relating final speed of electron to its charge mass and voltage difference

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around relating the final speed of an electron to its charge, mass, and the voltage difference it experiences, specifically in the context of electrons emitted from a filament and accelerated towards an anode through a voltage difference of 120 kV.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive an expression for the final speed of electrons using the equation v = √(2QΔV/m), but expresses confusion about the application and correctness of their calculations.
  • Some participants question the placement of the mass in the equation and emphasize the importance of unit consistency.
  • Others suggest clarifying the conversion of voltage units and the relationship between charge, voltage, and energy.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on unit conversions and the correct formulation of the equation. There is a recognition of the original poster's confusion, but no consensus has been reached regarding the correctness of the calculations or the approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of ensuring that units are consistent, particularly when converting kilovolts to volts and relating charge in coulombs to energy in joules.

franbella
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Assuming that the speed of the electrons is zero as they are emitted from the filament and that as they reach the anode it is v, find an expression relating the final speed v to the charge on an electron, the mass of an electron and deltaV, and hence calculate the speed v of the electrons after passing through a voltage difference of 120 kV.


I'm new to this, but the equation I have come up with is
v = √ 2QΔV
m

I then get this:

√ 2 x (1.602 x 10-19J) x (120-0 x 103eV) = √ 3.8448 x 10-14
8.2 x 10-14 J 8.2 x 10-14 J
√0.46887804 = 0.6847466977
To two significant figures and in scientific notation this is 6.8 x 10-1 eV s-1

I think I'm tying myself in knots - please help!
 
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You should divide by the mass under the square root, and do care about the units.
 
Sorry, my first post doesn't make it look like this because my m is not under the square root, but it should be - just an error with copy and paste. So I did do this, but I still feel lost. Is the equation I'm using applicable - the number's I've come up with don't seem right.
 
i noticed that in your original formula you put the m. What i meant was that when you put in the numbers i don't see you dividing by m.
 
franbella said:
of the electrons after passing through a voltage difference of 120 kV.


I'm new to this, but the equation I have come up with is
v = √ 2QΔV
m

I then get this:

√ 2 x (1.602 x 10-19J) x (120-0 x 103eV)

Little hard to see from post but remember to change kV into V and charge is in C. Therefore C x V = J, base units of J= kg m2 s-2.

kg m2 s-2
kg

= m2 s-2

square root of m2 s-2 = m s-1

Hope this helped.
 
Thank you - good reminder - I always forget. Think am getting somewhere now.
 

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