Chapter 23, Problem 23.74AP

Why is the following situation impossible? An electron enters a region of uniform electric field between two parallel plates. The plates are used in a cathode-ray tube to adjust the position of an electron beam on a distant fluorescent screen. The magnitude of the electric field between the plates is 200 N/C. The plates are 0.200 m in length and are separated by 1.50 cm. The electron enters the region at a speed of 3.00 × 10⁶ m/s, traveling parallel to the plane of the plates in the direction of their length. It leaves the plates heading toward its correct location on the fluorescent screen.