Question

A Van de Graaff generator is charged so that the electric field at its surface is 88000 N/C . What is the magnitude of the electric force on a proton released at the surface of the generator? The mass of a proton is 1.6726 × 10−27 kg and the fundamental charge is 1.602 × 10−19 C. Answer in units of N.

Answer 1

Answer: 1.3617×10^-14 N

Explanation: The formulae that relates electric field intensity, magnitude of charge and force is given by the formulae below.

F = Eq

Where F = electric force =?

E = strength of electric field = 88000 N/c

q = magnitude of proton charge = 1.602×10^-19 c

By substituting the parameters, we have that

F = 88000 × 1.602×10^-19

F = 13.617×10^-15

F = 1.3617×10^-14 N