Inside a television picture tube there is a build-up of electrons (charge of 1.602 × 10–19 C) with an average spacing of 38.0 nanometers between electrons. Find the electric field inside the picture tube. (Round to three significant figures.)
To find the electric field inside the picture tube, we can use the formula for electric field due to a point charge:
E = k * q / r^2
where:
E = electric field
k = Coulomb's constant = 8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2
q = charge of the electron = 1.602 x 10^-19 C
r = spacing between electrons = 38.0 x 10^-9 m
Substitute the given values into the formula:
E = (8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2) * (1.602 x 10^-19 C) / (38.0 x 10^-9 m)^2
E = (8.99 x 1.602) / (38.0)^2
E = 14.405 / 1444
E = 0.00997 N/C
Therefore, the electric field inside the picture tube is approximately 0.00997 N/C.