Charged Projectiles HW
1.
The figure below shows an electron entering a parallel-plate capacitor with a speed of
5.45 x 106 m/s. The electric field of the capacitor deflects the electron downward by a
distance of 0.618 cm at the point where the electron exits the capacitor. The plates are
square-shaped with dimensions of 2.25 cm by 2.25 cm. Neglect gravitational effects and
find:
(a) the electron’s time of flight through the region between the charged plates,
(b) acceleration (magnitude & direction) of the electron while in the electric field,
(c) the magnitude of the electric field between the plates of the capacitor,
(d) the velocity (magnitude & direction) of the electron when it exits the capacitor, and
(e) the charge stored on each plate. Qtop = _____ , Qbottom = _____
2.
Suppose the particle launched into the electric field above was a proton instead of an
electron. Its trajectory would look much different than that of the electron. Assuming the
same initial horizontal velocity of 5.45 x 106 m/s for a proton, the same charge on the plates,
and the same electric field in the region between the plates, determine:
(a) how the trajectory would be different (describe 2 distinct ways),
(b) the acceleration (magnitude & direction) of the proton while in the electric field,
(c) the proton’s vertical displacement while in the electric field, and
(d) the velocity (magnitude & direction) of the proton when it exits the capacitor.