Question

To study the properties of various particles, you can accelerate the particles with electric fields. A positron is a particle with the same mass as an electron but the opposite charge ( e). Express your answer in vector form. Do not enter units in your expression.

Required:
a. If a positron is accelerated by a constant electric field, find the acceleration of the positron.
b. Assuming the positron started from rest, find the velocity of the positron

Answer 1

a) a = + 1,758 10¹¹ m / s , b) = √ (2 1,758 10¹¹ E x)

Step-by-step explanation:

a) A charged particle is an electric field undergoing force given by the expression

F = qE

where q is the charge of the paticle and E electric field.

In this case we are told that the particle is positron

q = + 1.6 10⁻¹⁹ C

let's calculate the force

F = + 1.6 10⁻¹⁹ E

we write the positive sign, to show that the particle accelerates in the same direction of the electric field

let's write Newton's second law to find the acceleration

F = ma

a = F / m

a = + 1.6 10-19 / 9.1 10-31 E

a = + 1,758 10¹¹ m / s

b) the velocity of the particle starting from rest

v² = v₀² + 2 a x

v = √ (2 1,758 10¹¹ E x)