An electric field of 2.0x10^4N/C is directed along the positive x-axis.
a. What is the electric force on an electron in the field?
b. What is the electric force on a proton in the field?
To find the electric force on a charged particle in an electric field, you can use the formula:
Electric force (F) = charge (q) × electric field (E)
where:
- F is the electric force,
- q is the charge of the particle, and
- E is the electric field.
a. For an electron, the charge (q) is -1.6x10^-19 Coulombs (C) since the electron has a negative charge. The given electric field (E) is 2.0x10^4 N/C.
Plugging these values into the formula:
F = (-1.6x10^-19 C) × (2.0x10^4 N/C)
F = -3.2x10^-15 N
Therefore, the electric force on the electron is -3.2x10^-15 Newtons.
b. For a proton, the charge (q) is +1.6x10^-19 C since the proton has a positive charge (opposite to that of an electron). The electric field (E) is the same as before, 2.0x10^4 N/C.
Using the formula:
F = (1.6x10^-19 C) × (2.0x10^4 N/C)
F = 3.2x10^-15 N
Therefore, the electric force on the proton is 3.2x10^-15 Newtons.
Note: The negative sign for the electron's force indicates that it is directed opposite to the positive x-axis, while the positive sign for the proton's force indicates that it is directed along the positive x-axis.