Chapter 33, Problem 28A

Imagine an electron and a proton held midway between the plates of a charged parallel plate capacitor. If they are released, how do their accelerations and directions of travel compare? (Ignore their attraction to each other.) Which reaches a capacitor plate first?

To determine

Out of electron and proton which reaches a capacitor plate first.

Answer to Problem 28A

  $\left(B\right)>\left(A\right)>\left(C\right)$

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A basic and common device that is used to store electrical energy is called a capacitor. A simplest form of a capacitor can be described as a pair of conducting plates which are separated by a very small distance, but not in contact to each other.

Since, the proton is a positively charged particle, so it will travel in the direction of electric field which is towards the negative plate. But the electron will travel towards the positively charged plate and opposite to the direction of proton. Out of proton and electron, mass of electron is less than the mass of proton. So, the acceleration of electron will be greater due to less mass. Hence, electron reaches a capacitor plate first.

Conclusion:

Acceleration of electron is greater than the proton; both proton and electron have opposite directions to each other. And, the electron reaches the capacitor plate first.