1. An electron is placed at rest in a location with various scenarios. In each s
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Question
1. An electron is placed at rest in a location with various scenarios. In each scenario, determine which way the electron would move? (Each answer is one of the following: left, right, nowhere, not enough information) If not enough information" is the answer, then please write what information is missing. Scenario Direction electron will move Adecreasing electric potential to the right A decreasing electric potential energy to the right Lef A positive charge is to the left An increasing potential energy if moving to the left Surrounded by a spherically uniform distribution of negative chargeExplanation / Answer
Decreasing electric potential to the right
Electric field lines point in the direction of decreasing potential. Thus the electric field is to the right. Therefore there is a force on the electron due to this field (-eE) to the right. So the electron moves to the right.
Decreasing electric potential energy to the right
If a charge is moving in the direction that it would normally move, its electric potential energy is decreasing. If a charge is moved in a direction opposite to that of it would normally move, its electric potential energy is increasing. Thus the electron moves to the right.
A positive charge is to the left
The electric field due to the positive charge points radially outward in all directions. The electric field due to electron is radially inwards. On the line joining the two charges, the electric field is towards right. But it depends upon the magnitude of the positive charge, how much force will be applied on the electron. Thus there is not eneough information.
An increasing potential energy if moving to the left
That means the potential energy is decreasing to the right. Thus it is same a second scenario. The electron will move to the right.
Surrounded by a spherically uniform distribution of negative charge
The net force acting on the electron will be zero in this case thus the electron will move nowhere.
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