Question 871: [Electric field]

(a) Define electric field strength.

(b) Two flat parallel metal plates, each of length 12.0 cm, are separated by a distance of 1.5 cm,
as shown in Fig.1.

Space between the plates is a vacuum.

The potential difference between plates is 210 V. The electric field may be assumed to be
uniform in the region between the plates and zero outside this region.
Calculate magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates.

(c) An electron initially travels parallel to plates along a line mid-way between the plates, as
shown in Fig.1. Speed of the electron is 5.0 × 107 m s–1.
For the electron between the plates,
(i) determine magnitude and direction of its acceleration,
(ii) calculate time for the electron to travel a horizontal distance equal to the length of the plates.

(d) Use answers in (c) to determine whether the electron will hit one of the plates or emerge from
between the plates.

Reference: Past Exam Paper – June 2007 Paper 2 Q2

Solution 871:
(a) Electric field strength is defined as the force per unit positive charge (on a small test charge)

(b) Electric field strength, E = (210 / {1.5 × 10-2} =) 1.4 ×104 N C-1

(c)
(i)
{Electric force = Eq. Resultant force = ma. Eq = ma}
Acceleration, a = Eq / m = (1.4×104 × 1.6×10-19) / (9.1×10-31) = 2.5×1015 m s-2 (2.46×1015)
The acceleration is towards the positive plate / upwards (and normal to the plate)

(ii)
{s = ut + ½ at2 giving s = ut + 0 since acceleration is vertical – it has no horizontal component}
Time, t = (s / u = 12×10-2 / 5.0×107 =) 2.4×10-9 s 

(d)
EITHER
{In this method, we are comparing the distance the electron would travel vertically in the amount
of time calculated above.}
The vertical displacement after the acceleration for 2.4×10-9 s is
{Initial vertical velocity, u = 0. Using s = ut + ½ at2,}
Displacement = 0 + [½ × 2.46×1015 × (2.4×10-9)2] = 7.1 × 10-3 m (= 0.71cm)
{Since the vertical displacement is less than half the separation [= 1.5cm / 2 = 0.75cm] of the
plates.
(Note that we are referring to half the separation since the electron is initially incident midway
between the plates, so it only needs to move a distance of 0.75cm vertically to reach one of the
plates).}
(Since 0.71cm < 0.75cm,) The electron will pass between the plates

OR
{In this method, we try to compare the time the electron takes to travel halfway across
(vertically) the plates to the time it takes to travel (horizontally) a distance equal to the length of
the plate. If the electron has already travelled the horizontal distance of the plates before moving
a distance of 0.75cm vertically, then it will not hit the plate.}
0.75 × 10-2 = ½ × 2.46 × 1015 × t2
{Vertical distance to travel, s = 0.75 × 10-2 m. Consider the vertical motion: s = ut + ½ at2 = 0 +
½ × 2.46 × 1015 × t2 where t is the time to travel the 0.75m distance vertically.}
Time to travel ‘half-way across’ the plates, t = 2.47×10-9 s
{Since the time to travel a distance equal to the length of the plates is less than the time travel
‘half-way across’ the plates, the electron will pass between the plates before hitting one of the
plates.}
(Since 2.4ns < 2.47ns,) The electron will pass between the plates