Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

MOTION OF CHARGED PARTICLE IN E FIELD

L.O
1. Solve problems involving the use of W qV .
2. Convert energy from joules into electron volts and vise
versa.
3. Derive the expression E

V
for the magnitude of the
d

electric field (away from the edges) between two oppositely

charged parallel plates a distance d apart, where V is the
potential difference between the plates.
4. Solve problems involving the use of E

Potential Difference (V)

The potential difference between 2 points in an electric field or
circuit is the difference in values of the electric potentials at the
2 points i.e. it is the work done in moving a unit charge from
one point of the E field/circuit to the other.
P.d. between two points in an E field;
a)
B

V
.
d

E
V = VB VA

Electric Potential (V)

The energy required to bring a (+ve) unit electric charge from
infinity to the point in an electric field at which the potential is
being specified.
specified point

P.d. between 2 points in a circuit;

b)

infinity

A
B

V = VB VA

The equation for potential difference;

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

Consider 2 points (X & Y) separated a distance d between 2

oppositely charged parallel plates;

W
V
q

Where,

V = potential difference
W = work done
q = charge

Y
d
X

The electron-volt unit

A unit of energy equal to the work done on an electron in
moving it through a potential difference of one volt.

1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J
Earlier we mentioned that;
W = qV

-19

(1.6 x 10 )
x (1.6 x 10-19)

eV

Where;
W = work done
q = charge
V = potential difference
Another simple definition of work described mathematically is;
W = Fd
Where;

Deriving equation for E

W = work done
F = force
d = distance travel
But in an electric field, the force acting on a charge would be;

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

F = Eq

How much work is required to move a charge of +7C across a

potential difference of 150V?
[Answer: 1.05 x 10-3J]

So then combining both definition of work we obtain;

qV = Eqd
V = Ed
Hence;
E

V
d

where;
E = electric field
V = potential difference
d = distance traveled

Eg

L.O

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

1. Describe the motion of a charged particle in a uniform

electric field.
2. Perform calculations involving the movement of charged
particles parallel and anti-parallel to a uniform electric
field.

The force experienced by the charged particle due to the field

is;
F Eq

Where;
F = force
E = electric field strength
q = charge of the particle

Charges moving parallel to the field

Because the particle experiences a force from the electric field,

it will also experience acceleration.
F = ma = Eq
Hence;
a

Charges moving anti-parallel to field

Eq
m

where;
a = acceleration
E = electric field strength
q = charge of particle
m = mass of particle

As long as the charged particle is in the electric field, it will

experience a constant force (as long as the electric field stays

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

constant) that gives it a constant acceleration. Hence, we can

apply the equations of movement to describe how the particle
moves in the filed.
v = u + at

1 2
at
2

v2 = u2 + 2as

s = ut +

Formulae for a ve charge moving parallel to the field;

Where;
v = final velocity
u = initial velocity
a = acceleration due to electric field
t = time taken
s = distance traveled

Formulae for a +ve charge moving parallel to the field;

Formulae for a +ve charge moving anti-parallel to the field;

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

A 200eV electron passes through a hole in a screen into a

region where there is a uniform electric field of 800NC-1.
(1) What was the initial speed of the electron?
(2) If the initial velocity is in the direction of the field, how far
does the electron travel before it reverses its direction of
motion?
[A: (1) 8.38 x 106ms-1; (2) 0.25m]

Formulae for a ve charge moving anti-parallel to the field;

Eg
L.O

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

1. Compare the motion of a projectile in the absence of air

resistance with the motion of a charged particle in a
uniform electric field.
2. Calculate the time of flight and the deflection of a charged
particle that enters a uniform electric field at right angles to
the field.
Motion of charged particle perpendicular to E field:
Motion of a +ve & a -ve charged particle in a uniform electric
field;

Motion of a projectile (without air resistance);

Eg

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

A uniform electric field of intensity 2.00 x 104Vm-1 is set up

between two parallel horizontal plates of length 4cm. the lower
plate is at positive potential relative to the upper. An electron,
with initial velocity of 2.00 x 107ms-1, is projected horizontally
along an axis mid-way between the two plates. Calculate;
(1) The acceleration of the electron while it is in the field;
(2) The time it takes for the electron to traverse the field;
(3) How far down the electron has moved when it reaches the
end of the plates;
(4) The vertical velocity of the electron on leaving the plates;
(5) The final velocity of the electron on leaving the region
between the plates.
[A: (1) 3.51 x 1015ms-2; (2) 2.00 x 10-9s, (3) 7.03mm;
(4) 7.03 x 106ms-1, down; (5) 2.12 x 107ms-1, at 19.4 below
horizontal.]

[Working space]

L.O

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

1. Describe how hydrogen atoms can be given a negative

charge or a positive charge in an ion source of a cyclotron.
2. Describe the following parts of a cyclotron:
-Semicircular metal containers (dees).
-Evacuated outer container.
3. Explain why there is no electric field inside the dees.

Creates/Produces +ve or -ve ions for acceleration.

Cyclotron
A cyclic particle accelerator in which charged particles fed into
the center of the device are accelerated in an outward spiral
path inside two hollow D-shaped conductors placed to form a
split circle.

To create negative hydrogen ions: The H ions used for

acceleration are obtained from Hydrogen gas. The gas is
pumped into a chamber where it is heated by passing a large
current of electrons through it. On passing through the
chamber, the electrons collide with the Hydrogen gas,
producing a large number of H ions. The H ions are then
injected into the vacuum chamber by the application of another
voltage. A large collection of ions injected into the accelerating
chamber forms an ion beam, otherwise known as the cyclotron
beam.

A magnetic field is applied at right-angles to the plane of the

dees (to make them follow curved/circular paths) and an
alternating potential difference is applied between them.
The frequency of the alternating potential difference is
arranged so that the particles are accelerated each time they
reach the evacuated gap between the dees.

To create positive hydrogen ions: The ion source in a

cyclotron is usually a heated wire where hydrogen atoms gain
energy by interacting with the wire, becoming excited and
eventually ionised where the electron escapes leaving the
proton (nucleus) hence a positive ion.
-

Semicircular metal containers (dees)

Hollow semi-cylindrical metal chambers; opened at the
diameter.
They are called dees because of their shape.
Because the dees are hollow, there is no E field inside the dees;
all charges are on the surface of the conductor.

Ion source

L.O.

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

1. Describe how an electric field between the dees can

transfer energy to an ion passing between them.
2. Describe how ions could be accelerated to high energies if
they could be made to move in a circular path in side the
dees so that they repeatedly move across the electric field,
the direction of which was reversing every half-revolution.
3. Calculate the energy transferred to an ion each time it
passes between the dees.
4. Explain why the cyclotron must be evacuated.
The dees act as two parallel plates (or electrodes) to accelerate
the ions from one dee to another.

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The ion gets accelerated across a potential difference (that

alternates according to the AC) and the work done to accelerate
the ion is transformed into kinetic energy (hence we say the ion
has gained kinetic energy);

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

The process continues as the ions reverse direction inside the

dees and re-enter the gap between the dees (where the E field is
present) and are accelerated to high energies (meaning high
kinetic energy since the velocity would be huge).

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Each time an ion passes through the gap between the dees,
work is turned into kinetic energy:
W K
qV

1
mv 2
2

Evacuated Outer Container/Tank

The entire components are contained in the vacuum chamber.
The accelerated ions will not lose any of its kinetic energy
through collisions with air molecules.

Physics_Electricity & Magnetism_Motion of Charged Particle in E Field

SUMMARY
1 Electric Potential Difference
The electric potential difference V between two points is the
work W done per unit charge q on a small positive test charge
moved between the points, provided that all other charges remain
undisturbed: V = W/q.
The unit of potential difference, the volt (V), is equal to a joule
per coulomb (J C1).
The electronvolt (eV) is the work done when a charge of one
electron moves through a potential difference of 1 V.

2 Acceleration in a Constant Electric Field

The force on a charged particle moving in a uniform electric
field is constant in magnitude and direction, thus producing a
constant acceleration.

3 Motion of a Charged Particle in a Constant Electric

Field
When a charged particle moves across a uniform electric field
the component of the velocity perpendicular to the field remains
constant.

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