Solving Work & Velocity Problem: Proton & Electric Field

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a proton moving through an electric field. The original poster attempts to calculate how far the proton will penetrate the field before stopping, given its initial velocity and the strength of the electric field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of kinetic energy and the force exerted by the electric field. There are questions about the correctness of the calculations and the interpretation of the problem setup.

Discussion Status

Some participants are verifying calculations and suggesting that errors may lie in the arithmetic. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, with some participants arriving at the same numerical result as the original poster.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted discrepancy between the original poster's answer and the book's answer, prompting questions about the setup and calculations. The discussion highlights the importance of double-checking the problem statement and calculations.

Ry122
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Problem: A proton moving at 6.5x10^6 m/s encounters an electric field of 4500 volt/meter.
How fall will the proton penetrate the field before stopping. (Electric field and proton are moving in opposite directions)

My attempt:
First I found the kinetic energy of the proton, then I found the force that the electric field exerted on the proton with F=Eq. The force would do the sane amount of work on the proton as the kinetic energy the proton had to make it stop so I used w=fs with w=kinetic energy and solved for s. The answer was 49m but the answer in the book is 10.49m.
Can someone tell me where I went wrong?
 
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Your idea is right... must have been your calculations that went wrong... can you show your steps?
 
Mass of proton = 1.67 x 10^-27
q of proton = 1.6 x 10^19
using ke = 1/2mv^2 kinetic energy = 3.527875 x 10^14
using F=Eq, F=7.2 x 10^16
W=f x s
W/F = S
 
I'm also getting 49m. Double check to make sure you have the question right...
 

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