Final answer:
The escape speed of an electron from a charged glass sphere can be calculated using the formula derived from equating electrostatic force to kinetic energy, considering the given charge on the sphere, the charge of the electron, and the sphere's radius.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the escape speed of an electron from the surface of a charged glass sphere, we must consider the electrostatic force of attraction between the electron and the sphere. The escape speed is the minimum velocity required for an electron to overcome this electrostatic attraction and move off to infinity without further acceleration.
The charge on the electron is e = -1.60 × 10^-19 C, and the charge on the sphere is Q = 7.0 nC (which is 7.0 × 10^-9 C). The radius of the sphere r is half of its diameter, so r = 0.55 cm (which is 0.0055 m). Using Coulomb's law for the electrostatic force and equating it to the kinetic energy of the electron, we can derive the formula for escape speed, v = sqrt(2kQ/r), where k is the Coulomb's constant (8.99 × 10^9 Nm^2/C^2).
Escape speed = sqrt(2 * 7.0 × 10^-9 / (0.0055 * 0.0055 * 8.85 × 10^-12))
Simplifying this equation gives us the escape speed of the electron launched from the surface of the glass sphere.