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Find the magnitude and direction of an electric field that exerts a (4.80 X 10¹7 N) westward force on an electron.

a) (1.60 X 10¹1 N/C) eastward
b) (1.60 X 10¹1 N/C) westward
c) (3.20 X 10¹1 N/C) eastward
d) (3.20 X 10¹1 N/C) westward

User Gaspar
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The magnitude of the electric field is 3.00 × 10^2 N/C, and its direction is eastward. The force on a proton in this field would be westward. The correct answr is d) (3.20 X 10¹1 N/C) westward.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electric field is defined as the force per unit charge experienced by a test charge placed in the field.

The equation to calculate the magnitude of the electric field is given by:

E = F/q

where E is the electric field, F is the force exerted on the charge, and q is the charge.

In this case, the magnitude of the force on the electron is given as 4.80 × 10-17 N, and the charge of an electron is 1.60 × 10-19 C. Plugging these values into the equation, we get:

E = (4.80 × 10-17 N) / (1.60 × 10-19 C) = 3.00 × 102 N/C

Therefore, the magnitude of the electric field is 3.00 × 102 N/C.

Since the force is westward, the direction of the electric field will be in the opposite direction, which is eastward, option a.

For a proton, which has a positive charge, the force would be in the opposite direction to that experienced by the electron.

Therefore, the direction of the force on a proton would be westward.

Therefore, the correct answr is d) (3.20 X 10¹1 N/C) westward.

User Yatish Mehta
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