Question

A proton is located at ⟨0,0,−4.2×10−9⟩ m, and an alpha particle is located at ⟨3.9×10−9,0,2.5×10−9⟩ m. Calculate the force the proton exerts on the alpha particle. Calculate the force the alpha particle exerts on the proton. Q1=3.2×10−19, Q2=1.6×10−19, and the Constant = 9×109.

a. FProton on Alpha=1.2×10−11, FAlpha on Proton=1.2×10−11
b. FProton on Alpha=1.2×10−11, FAlpha on Proton=2.4×10−11
c. FProton on Alpha=2.4×10−11, FAlpha on Proton=1.2×10−11
d. FProton on Alpha=2.4×10−11, FAlpha on Proton=2.4×10−11

Answer 1

To calculate the force between the proton and alpha particle, we use Coulomb's Law and Newton's Third Law of Motion. The force that the proton exerts on the alpha particle is 1.2 x 10^-11 N, and the force that the alpha particle exerts on the proton is also 1.2 x 10^-11 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to calculate the force that the proton exerts on the alpha particle, we can use Coulomb's Law:

F = k * (|Q1| * |Q2|) / r^2 where F is the force, k is the electrostatic constant (9 x 10^9 Nm^2/C^2), Q1 and Q2 are the charges of the proton and alpha particle respectively (Q1 = 3.2 x 10^-19 C, Q2 = 1.6 x 10^-19 C), and r is the distance between the two particles. By plugging in the given values and the distance between the particles, we can find that the force the proton exerts on the alpha particle is: FProton on Alpha = 1.2 x 10^-11 N . To calculate the force that the alpha particle exerts on the proton, we can use Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction force. Therefore, the force the alpha particle exerts on the proton is also:

FAlpha on Proton = 1.2 x 10^-11 N