Question

A proton is on the left and an electron is on the right and are separated by 4.0 E-6 m apart.

a. Find the magnitude and direction of the force on the proton.

b. Find the magnitude and direction of the force on the electron.

c. Find the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the proton.

d. Find the magnitude and direction of the acceleration of the electron.

Answer 1

The charge of proton is q(p) = 1.6 x 10^-19C and that of the electron is q(e) = -1.6 x 10^-19C. Given the seperation between them is r = 4 x 10^-6m.

(a) The magnitude force on the proton due to electron is,

So the magnitude of force on the proton is 1.44 x 10^-17N.

Since proton has positive charge and electron has negative charge, this force is towards the electron.

(b) The magnitude force on the electron due to proton is,

So the magnitude of force on the electron is 1.44 x 10^-17N.

Since proton has positive charge and electron has negative charge, this force is towards the proton.

(c) If m(p) is the mass of the proton and a(p) is the acceleration of the proton, then the force on the proton is,

We know that m(p) = 1.67 x 10^-27kg. Therefore,

So the magnitude of the acceleration of the proton is 8.62 x 10^9 m/s^2.

The direction of the acceleration is the direction of the force. That means the direction of acceleration of the proton is towards the electron.

(d) If m(e) is the mass of the electron and a(e) is the acceleration of the electron, then the force on the electron is,

We know that m(e) = 9.1 x 10^-31kg. Therefore,

So the magnitude of the acceleration of the proton is 1.58 x 10^13 m/s^2.

The direction of the acceleration is the direction of the force. That means the direction of acceleration of the electron is towards the proton.