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[Grade 12 Electric Fields] How can I solve for acceleration here?
'What is the initial acceleration on an alpha particle when it is placed at a point in space where the electric field strength is 7.60*10^4 N/C?"
According to the book, the answer is 3.66*10^12 m/s^2, but I don't understand how to reach that answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1 Answer
- hfshawLv 74 years agoFavorite Answer
The electric field is defined as the force per unit charge, so the force on a particle with charge q in an electrinc field, E, is:
F = q*E
From Newton's second law, F = m*a, so:
a = q*E/m
An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, so it has a +2 charge, which is equal to 3.204*10^(-19) C.
The rest mass of an alpha particle is 6.64424*10^(-27) kg, so:
a = (3.204*10^(-19) C)*(7.60*10^4 N/C)/(6.64424*10^(-27) kg)
a = 3.66*10^12 m/s^2
