During a particular thunderstorm, the electric potential difference between a cloud and the ground is Vcloud-Vground= 1.3x10^8, with the cloud being at the higher potential. What is the change in an electron's electric potential energy when the electron moves from ground to the cloud?
wouldn't it be the charge of the electron times the change in potential?
7600e5
(EPE)=q0 V=(-1.60x10^-19C)(1.3x10^8)
=-2.1x10^-11J
To find the change in an electron's electric potential energy when it moves from the ground to the cloud, we need to use the formula:
ΔPE = q ΔV
Where ΔPE represents the change in electric potential energy, q is the charge, and ΔV is the change in electric potential.
In this case, the charge of an electron is negative (-e), and we are dealing with a change in electric potential of Vcloud - Vground.
Let's calculate the change in electric potential energy:
ΔPE = (-e) (Vcloud - Vground)
= (-1.6 x 10^-19 C) (1.3 x 10^8 V)
To compute this, we multiply the charge of an electron (-e = -1.6 x 10^-19 C) by the difference in electric potential (Vcloud - Vground = 1.3 x 10^8 V).
Evaluating the expression, we find:
ΔPE ≈ -2.08 x 10^-11 J
Therefore, the change in an electron's electric potential energy when it moves from the ground to the cloud is approximately -2.08 x 10^-11 J. The negative sign indicates a decrease in the electron's electric potential energy as it moves to the higher potential cloud.