(a) 1) The field is in the direction of the electron's initial velocity
The electric field is in a direction opposite to the initial velocity of the electron.
Let's remind that, when an electric charge is immersed in an electric field:
- if the charge is positive, the charge experiences a force in the same direction as the electric field direction
- if the charge is negative, the charge experiences a force in the opposite direction to the electric field direction
In this case, we have an electron: so the electric force exerted on the electron will be in a direction opposite to the direction of the electric field. Since the electron is accelerated in a direction opposite to the electron's initial velocity, this means that the electric force is in a direction opposite to the initial velocity, and so the electric field must be in the same direction as the electron's initial velocity.
(b)

We have:
Electron's initial velocity:

Electric field magnitude:

Electron charge:

Mass of the electron:

The electric force exerted on the electron is:
(the negative sign means the direction of the force is opposite to its initial velocity)
The electron's acceleration is given by:

Now we can use the SUVAT equation:

where
v = 0 is the final speed (the electron comes to rest)
d is the total distance travelled by the electron
Solving for d,

(c)

We can use the following equation:

where we have
is the electron's acceleration
v = 0 is its final speed
is the initial speed
t is the time it takes for the electron to come at rest
Solving for t,

(d)

This part of the problem is symmetrical to the previous part. In fact, the force exerted on the electron is the same as before (in magnitude), but in the opposite direction. This also means that the acceleration is the same (in magnitude), but in the opposite direction.
So we have:
u = 0 is the initial speed of the electron

is the distance covered to go back
So we can use the following equation:

to find v, the new final speed:
