Calculating the Force Between Two Electrons at a Distance of 2 Angstroms

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1101
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Electrons Force
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the force between two electrons positioned 2 Angstroms apart using Coulomb's law. The formula applied is F(r) = (q1*q2)/(4*(pi)*e*r^2), with the charge of electrons set as e^2. Participants calculate the force and consistently arrive at approximately 5.76 nN, while the textbook claims the answer is 7.1999 nN. This discrepancy leads to the conclusion that the textbook may contain an error, as multiple users confirm the same result. Overall, the consensus is that the calculations are correct, suggesting the textbook's answer is flawed.
1101
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Okay so I'm working on a question for practice and I'm sure I'm getting the right answer but the answer they give me is something different. Anyway the exact question is:

An electron is located at the origin of the coordinates, and a second electron is brought to a position 2 Angstroms from the origin. Calculate the force between the two electrons.

I'm guessing I need to use the equation:

F(r) = (q1*q2)/(4*(pi)*e*r2)

Where q1 and q2 are the magnitude of the charge of the electrons, which I'm taking to be e2 or (1.602E-19)2

Where pi is pi, ie 3.14159...etc

Where e is the vacuum permittivity constant, 8.854E-12

Where r is the distance between the two electrons in meters which I'm taking to be 2E-10 since 1 angstrom is 10-10 meters

Anyways I do the calculations and I'm getting 5.7666E-9 Newtons but in the back of the problem book it says the answer is 7.1999E-9 Newtons

It's close but I'm wondering if there's some trick to the problem or something I missed. Can someone confirm or dispute if I'm doing this correctly?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I get 5.75. Used Coulomb's constant k = 8.99 x 10^9 instead of your 4*pi*ε.
 
Delphi51 said:
I get 5.75. Used Coulomb's constant k = 8.99 x 10^9 instead of your 4*pi*ε.

both k and 1/4*pi*ε are same ...

and i am also getting same answer i.e. 5.76 nN
so it seems the book is wrong somewhere
 
same answer here.
 
Well I entered the question exactly as it appears in the book so if we're all getting a different answer I guess it is just a problem with the book. Let's hear it for crummy 137$ textbooks.
 
sue the writer :smile:
 
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'
TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
Thread 'Correct statement about a reservoir with an outlet pipe'
The answer to this question is statements (ii) and (iv) are correct. (i) This is FALSE because the speed of water in the tap is greater than speed at the water surface (ii) I don't even understand this statement. What does the "seal" part have to do with water flowing out? Won't the water still flow out through the tap until the tank is empty whether the reservoir is sealed or not? (iii) In my opinion, this statement would be correct. Increasing the gravitational potential energy of the...
Back
Top