A 9.0 V potential difference exists between two metal plates which are 1.8 x 10^-3 m. apart. The acceleration of an electron that enters the region between these plates will be?
To find the acceleration of an electron between two metal plates with a given potential difference, we can use the equation for electric field strength, E, and the equation for acceleration, a, in an electric field.
The equation for electric field strength is:
E = V / d
where E is the electric field strength, V is the potential difference, and d is the distance between the plates.
In this case, the potential difference is 9.0 V and the distance between the plates is 1.8 x 10^-3 m. Plugging these values into the equation, we get:
E = 9.0 V / (1.8 x 10^-3 m) ≈ 5000 V/m
Now, the equation for acceleration in an electric field is:
a = qE / m
where a is the acceleration, q is the charge of the particle, E is the electric field strength, and m is the mass of the particle.
For an electron, the charge (q) is -1.6 x 10^-19 C and the mass (m) is 9.1 x 10^-31 kg. Plugging these values into the equation, we get:
a = (-1.6 x 10^-19 C)(5000 V/m) / (9.1 x 10^-31 kg) ≈ -8.79 x 10^13 m/s^2
Note that the negative sign indicates that the acceleration is in the opposite direction of the electric field.
Therefore, the acceleration of an electron that enters the region between the metal plates will be approximately -8.79 x 10^13 m/s^2.