The crate’s acceleration is gravity= 9.81m/s^2
The ball’s acceleration is also gravity=9.81m/s^2
Answer:
-611.32 N/C
0.43723 m
Explanation:
k = Coulomb constant = 
q = Charge = -4.25 nC
r = Distance from particle = 0.25 m
Electric field is given by

The magnitude is 611.32 N/C
The electric field will point straight down as the sign is negative towards the particle.

The distance from the electric field is 1.71436 m