An electron (mass: 9.11 * 10^-31 kg)and a proton (mass: 1.67 * 10^-27 kg)are each accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 15 V that spans 15 cm.Which one takes less time to cover the 15 cm distance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time taken by a charged particle to travel a certain distance depends on its mass and charge. The formula for the time taken is given by t = (m*d^2)/(2*q*V), where m is the mass of the particle, d is the distance traveled, q is the charge of the particle, and V is the potential difference. Since both particles are accelerated through the same potential difference and distance, we can compare their times using m/q.
(m/q)_electron = (9.11*10^-31)/(1.602*10^-19) = 5.68*10^-12 kg/C
(m/q)_proton = (1.67*10^-27)/(1.602*10^-19) = 1.05*10^-7 kg/C
As we can see, the electron has a much smaller m/q ratio than the proton, which means it will take less time to travel the distance. Therefore, the electron beats the proton.

An Electron (Mass: 9