nckaytee said:An electron and a proton are initially very far apart (effectively an infinite distance apart). They are then brought together to form a hydrogen atom, in which the electron orbits the proton at an average distance of 5.43 * 10-11 m. What is EPEfinal - EPEinitial, which is the change in the electric potential energy?
I have no idea where to start
nckaytee said:In my notes I have [tex]\Delta E.P.E[/tex] of electron = q(Vb-Va) = (-e)(Vb-Va)
I am really not getting thisIm sorry, I might have something here... One minute..
Wikipedia said:e = –1.602176487(40) × 10–19C
p = 1.60217653(14)×10−19 C
nckaytee said:So, would it be...
(-1.6*10^19)(0 - 5.43 *10^-11)
nckaytee said:Okay, so I did PE = [(9*10^9)(-1.6*10^-19)(1.6*10^-19)] / 5.43*10^-11
My answer is right! -4.24 * 10^18
Thank you
Electric potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position in an electric field. It is the ability of an object to do work when placed in an electric field.
Electric potential energy is related to electron orbits because electrons have a negative charge and are attracted to the positive charge of the nucleus. As they move around the nucleus in their orbit, they have potential energy due to their position in the electric field.
The electric potential energy of an electron orbit is calculated using the formula U = -kQq/r, where U is the potential energy, k is Coulomb's constant, Q is the charge of the nucleus, q is the charge of the electron, and r is the distance between the nucleus and the electron.
The electric potential energy of an electron orbit is affected by the charge of the nucleus and the electron, as well as the distance between them. The greater the charge of the nucleus, the more potential energy the electron will have. Additionally, the closer the electron is to the nucleus, the higher its potential energy will be.
The electric potential energy of an electron orbit decreases as the electron moves closer to the nucleus, and increases as it moves farther away. This is because the closer the electron is to the nucleus, the stronger the electric field and the greater the potential energy. As it moves away, the electric field and potential energy decrease.