Question

If the electron has half the speed needed to reach the negative plate, it will turn around and go towards the positive plate. What will its speed be, in meters per second, when it reaches the positive plate in this case

Answer 1

Answer:

 v = -v₀ / 2

Explanation:

For this exercise let's use kinematics relations.

Let's use the initial conditions to find the acceleration of the electron

            v² = v₀² - 2a y

when the initial velocity is vo it reaches just the negative plate so v = 0

           a = v₀² / 2y

now they tell us that the initial velocity is half

          v’² = v₀’² - 2 a y’

          v₀ ’= v₀ / 2

at the point where turn v = 0              

          0 = v₀² /4  - 2 a y '

          v₀² /4 = 2 (v₀² / 2y)  y’

          y = 4 y'

          y ’= y / 4

We can see that when the velocity is half, advance only ¼ of the distance between the plates, now let's calculate the velocity if it leaves this position with zero velocity.

         v² = v₀² -2a y’

         v² = 0 - 2 (v₀² / 2y) y / 4

         v² = -v₀² / 4

         v = -v₀ / 2

We can see that as the system has no friction, the arrival speed is the same as the exit speed, but with the opposite direction.