Question

EXAMPLE 4

a)
Estimate the electric field strength at a point X that is 10 nm from a gold nucleus, which
is assumed to be a point charge (Atomic number: gold, 79)​

Answer 1

E = 1.14 x 10⁹ V/m

Step-by-step explanation:

Given,

The atomic number of gold, A = 79

The number of protons present in the nucleus, p = 79

The charge of a proton, q = 1.602 x 10⁻¹⁹ C

Therefore the total charge is, Q = 79 x 1.602 x 10⁻¹⁹

= 1.26558 x 10⁻¹⁷ C

The distant from the point charge, x = 10 nm

The electric field strength at a distant x is given by,

`E=(1)/(4\pi\epsilon_(0))(Q)/(x^(2))` V/m

`(1)/(4\pi\epsilon_(0))` = 9 x 10⁹ Nm²C⁻²

Substituting the values in the above equation

E = (9 x 10⁹ X 1.26558 x 10⁻¹⁷) / (10 x 10⁻⁹)²

E = 1.14 x 10⁹ V/m

Hence, the electric field strength is, E = 1.14 x 10⁹ V/m