What is the displacement of a particle in a constant electric field?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the displacement of a charged particle in a constant electric field. The particle has a charge of +14.5 µC and a mass of 5.09 × 10^-5 kg, and it is released from rest in an electric field of +328 N/C over a time of 4.40 × 10^-2 s. Participants confirm that the acceleration is constant and discuss using kinematic equations to find displacement. They suggest using the formula that relates displacement, initial velocity, acceleration, and time for a more straightforward solution. The conversation emphasizes understanding the relationship between acceleration and displacement in the context of constant acceleration.
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Homework Statement


A particle of charge +14.5http://edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs6407/art/qb/qu/c18/lower_mu.gifC and mass 5.09 × 10-5 kg is released from rest in a region where there is a constant electric field of +328 N/C. What is the displacement of the particle after a time of 4.40 × 10-2 s?

http://edugen.wileyplus.com/edugen/courses/crs6407/art/qb/qu/c18/w1706-chap18prob49.gif

Homework Equations


electric force= qE
Elecrtic force= ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I have found the force and the acceleration from above equations. hoe do I use that information to go further.
 
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Hint: Is the acceleration constant?
 
TSny said:
Hint: Is the acceleration constant?[

I believe so yes.
 
If you know the acceleration and the time, how do you get displacement? You would have studied this early in your coverage of mechanics.
 
TSny said:
If you know the acceleration and the time, how do you get displacement? You would have studied this early in your coverage of mechanics.
but the velocity is changing, the picture of it wouldn't load.
 
Yes, the velocity is changing.

Suppose a particle starts at rest and moves with constant acceleration, a, for a time, t. Can you express the final velocity, vf, in terms of a and t? If you can do that, then you can use the result for vf to help get the displacement.
 
ta + v(initial)
 
Melssssss said:
ta + v(initial)
OK. For this problem the initial velocity is 0. So, the final velocity is vf = at. What would be the average velocity during the time t?
 
in this case, 4.1128.
so then I would plug all this into this equation
x= vf2-vo2/2a?
 
  • #10
Melssssss said:
in this case, 4.1128.
so then I would plug all this into this equation
x= vf2-vo2/2a?
On the formatting toolbar there is an icon for superscripts. So, your equation is x= (vf2-vo2)/(2a). Note the parentheses that I added to make the equation correct according to the rules of "order of operations".

This is one of the well-known formulas for constant acceleration that I was referring to in post #4. This equation will get to the answer if you first calculate vf.

However, if you are familiar with those constant acceleration equations, there is one that would be more convenient for this problem. Do you know of a formula that relates x, vo, a, and t?
 
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