Question

An electron of mass 9.1 x 10^-31 kilograms inside a special vacuum chamber at Caltech undergoes acceleration of 3 x 10^4 m/sec^2 caused by an electrostatic force. Determine the force applied to the electron.

Answer 1

An electron of mass $9.1 \times 10^{-31}$ kilograms inside a special vacuum chamber at Caltech undergoes acceleration of $3 \times 10^{-4} \, \text{m/sec}^{-2}$ caused by an electrostatic force. Determine the force applied to the electron.

Newton's second law of motion:

The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to, and in the same direction as, the net force acting on the body, and inversely proportional to its mass. Thus,

$$F = m a$$

where $F$ is the net force acting on the object,

$m$ is the mass of the object and $a$ is the acceleration of the object.

Therefore:

$$F = 9.1 * 10^{-31} * 3 * 10^4 \frac{m}{\text{sec}^2} = 2.73 * 10^{-26} \, N$$

Answer: $F = 2.73 * 10^{-26} \, N$