A small piece of dust of mass m = 4.1 µg travels through an electric air cleaner in which the electric field is 466 N/C. The electric force on the dust particle is equal to the weight of the particle.

(a) What is the charge on the dust particle?

C

(b) If this charge is provided by an excess of electrons, how many electrons does that correspond to?

electrons

Question

Lisa Beard

Physics

23 April, 23:50

A small piece of dust of mass m = 4.1 µg travels through an electric air cleaner in which the electric field is 466 N/C. The electric force on the dust particle is equal to the weight of the particle.

(a) What is the charge on the dust particle?

C

(b) If this charge is provided by an excess of electrons, how many electrons does that correspond to?

electrons

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Emily Walter · Answer 1

mass, m = 4.1 x 10^-6 g

Electric field, E = 466 N/C

Electric force = weight

(a) Electric force = q x E = m x g

where, q be the charge on the dust particle.

q x 466 = 4.1 x 10^-6 x 9.8

q = 8.62 x 10^-8 C

(b) Number of electron = charge / charge of one electron

n = 8.62 x 10^-8 / (1.6 x 10^-19)

n = 5.4 x 10^11