Question

. A vertical electric field is set up in space to compensate for the gravitational force on a point charge. What is the required magnitude and direction of the field when the point charge is: (a) an electron? (b) a proton? Comment on the obtained values.

Answer 1

(a) The required magnitude of the electric field when the point charge is an electron is 5.57 x 10⁻¹¹ N/C.

(b) The required magnitude of the electric field when the point charge is an proton is 1.02 x 10⁻⁷ N/C.

Magnitude of electric field

The magnitude of electric field is given by the following equation.

F = qE

But F = mg

mg = qE

E = mg/q

where;

• E is the electric field
• m is mass of the particle
• g is acceleration due to gravity
• q is charge of the particle

For an electron

E = (9.11 x 10⁻³¹ x 9.8)/(1.602 x 10⁻¹⁹)

E = 5.57 x 10⁻¹¹ N/C

For proton

E = (1.67 x 10⁻²⁷ x 9.8)/(1.602 x 10⁻¹⁹)

E = 1.02 x 10⁻⁷ N/C

Thus, the required vertical electric field is greater when the charge is proton.

Learn more about electric field here: brainly.com/question/14372859

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