Final answer:
The direction of the electric field that supports the weight of a free electron near the surface of Earth is upward, with a magnitude of 9.8 N/C. This suggests that the gravitational force is much stronger than the electrostatic force on the electron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The direction of an electric field that supports the weight of a free electron near the surface of Earth is upward. The magnitude of this electric field is 9.8 N/C, which is equivalent to the acceleration due to gravity.
This small value for the electric field implies that the gravitational force is much stronger than the electrostatic force acting on the electron. The electron's weight is primarily determined by gravity, while the electric field only has a minor effect on its motion near Earth's surface.