Electric Potential Energy and Particle Charge

What happens to the electrical potential energy of a particle as it moves along an electric field?

The electrical potential energy of a particle decreases by 4.9 * 10 ^ - 16 * J as it moves 12m along an electric field of strength 76N/C. What is the particle's charge?

Answer

The charge of the particle is 5.37 x 10^-19 C.

When a particle moves along an electric field, its electrical potential energy can change. In this case, as the particle moves 12m along an electric field of strength 76N/C, its electrical potential energy decreases by 4.9 * 10 ^ - 16 * J.

To find the charge of the particle, we can use the formula for the change in potential energy of the system, which is given by: P = qEd, where q is the charge, E is the electric field strength, and d is the distance moved by the particle. By rearranging the formula, we get: q = P / Ed.

Plugging in the values, we find: q = 4.9 * 10^-16 / (76 * 12) = 5.37 x 10^-19 C. Therefore, the charge on the particle is 5.37 x 10^-19 C.