Speed of the Electron

  • #1
6
3
Good evening!

The question states: 9. Electron in bound orbit about proton. Suppose that an electron moves in a circular orbit about a proton at a distance of 2 X l0^-8 cm. Consider the proton to be at rest. (a) Solve for the velocity of the electron by equating the centrifugal and electrostatic forces.

Considering that the elementary charge (charge of the electron is e = 4.8 x 10^-10 statcoloumbs), working on the cgs system, I equated the centrifugal force Fc=v²/r and the eletrostatic force Fe= e²/r². My way of solving the problem was:

Fc=Fe,
v²/r = e²/r²
v²= e²/r
v= (e²/r)¹/²
v= (2.3x10^-19/2x10^-8)¹/²
v = 11.5x10^-6 cm/s.

Which is clearly a way down from the correct value. Could anyone please help me?

Thanks!
 

Answers and Replies

  • #3
Also your last calculation step is wrong. v = (11.5x10-12)1/2 which is not 11.5x10-6. But see also Orodruin's comment.
 

Suggested for: Speed of the Electron

Replies
6
Views
317
Replies
2
Views
586
Replies
38
Views
971
Replies
8
Views
563
Replies
2
Views
356
Replies
19
Views
433
Replies
20
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
568
Replies
7
Views
402
Replies
1
Views
528
Back
Top