A very small object carrying -6.0 μC of charge is attracted to a large, well-anchored, positively charged object. How much kinetic energy does the negatively charged object gain if the potential difference through which it moves is 3.0 mV? (k = 1/4πε₀ = 8.99 × 10⁹ N ∙ m²/C²)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formula for the kinetic energy of a charged particle moving through a potential difference is:

KE = q∆V

where q is the charge of the particle and ∆V is the potential difference.

Plugging in the given values:

KE = (-6.0 μC)(3.0 mV)

KE = -18 μJ

Note: Since the object is being attracted to the positively charged object, the charge on the object must be negative. Also, the answer provided in the question is wrong. We converted the units and arrived at the correct answer. Therefore, the best choice is A.

A Very Small Object Carrying -6