Electric Field: Practice Problem & Solution
An electron falls from rest through a vertical distance h in a uniform and vertically upward directed electric field E. The direction of electric field is now reversed, keeping its magnitude the same. A proton is allowed to fall from rest in it through the same vertical distance h. The time of fall of the electron, in comparison to the time of fall of the proton is (2018)
Solution Explained:
To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Electric Field. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:
The time of fall is given by $t = \sqrt{\frac{2h}{a}} = \sqrt{\frac{2hm}{qE}}$. Since the mass of an electron $m_e$ is much smaller than the mass of a proton $m_p$, the time of fall for the electron will be smaller.
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