Velocity of an electron and Conservation of energy

AI Thread Summary
A pair of charged conducting plates creates a uniform electric field of 12,000 N/C, with a separation of 40 mm, affecting an electron projected from plate A at an initial velocity of 2.0 x 10^7 m/s. The discussion centers on calculating the electron's final velocity as it strikes plate B, with the expected answer being 1.5 x 10^7 m/s. Participants emphasize using the conservation of energy principle, specifically the relationship between work done (W) and the change in kinetic (KE) and potential energy (PE). The correct approach involves equating work done to the change in energy, clarifying that the equation W = KE + PE is essential for solving the problem. Misunderstandings about the problem's parameters and equations are addressed, leading to corrections in the calculations.
kevnm67
Messages
43
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A pair of charged conducting plates produces a uniform field of 12,000 N/C directed to the right, between the plates. The separation of the plates is 40 mm. In the figure, an electron is projected from plate A, directly toward plate B, with an initial velocity of 2.0 x 10^7 m/s.
A) The velocity of the electron as it strikes plate B is closest to:

Homework Equations



Conservation of energy

The Attempt at a Solution


Equation: qV= 1/2mv2 My answer: 1.3x10^7m/s
I tried the equation above based on what I gathered from my book but I am suppose to get 1.5x107 How do I use the conservation of energy to get this answer? Thanks for your help
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
kevnm67 said:
How do I use the conservation of energy to get this answer?
If no external work were done, there would be no change in total energy. But work is being done, which increases the total energy. Set the work done equal to the change in total energy (which is the sum of PE and KE).
 
kevnm67 said:
So Work=qED or (1.6x10-19)(12000)(.04)= 7.68x10-17?
Not relevant. (And I have no idea where you're getting the numbers from--they weren't in your problem statement.)
and W= KE+PE
This is the only one you need.
PE= kqq/r
Not relevant.

kevnm67 said:
I tried the equation above based on what I gathered from my book but I am suppose to get 1.5x107
FYI, this answer is not correct. Why do you think it is?
 
kevnm67 said:
I got the first one saying W = qED and plugged it in being you mentioned work being done and I thought that's what you use. 12000 is the charged produced and 1.6x10^-19 is the charge of an electron.
Are you sure you haven't mixed up this problem with a different one? See your first post.

W = KE + PE
Again, for this problem (the one in your first post) this is all you need. You are given W and KE, just solve for PE. (That really should be W = ΔKE + ΔPE.)
 
I copied the wrong problem..sorry. I am going to edit and delete my previous posts.
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
Back
Top