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Electric Charges And Fields

Question

Calculate the force between an alpha particle and a proton separated by 5.12 x 10^–15 m.

Solution

Charge on ana alpha particle is 2e.

∴ using Coulomb' s law, F = \frac{1}{4 {πε}_{\circ}} \frac{q_{1} q_{2}}{r^{2}} = \frac{1}{4 {πε}_{\circ}} \frac{2 \times 1.6 \times 10^{- 19} \times 1.6 \times 10^{- 19}}{(5.12 \times 10^{- 15})^{2}} = 9 \times 10^{9} \times 0.195 \times 10^{- 8} = 17.5 N