Relationships Between Force, Field, Energy, Potential Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: Large electric fields in cell membranes cause ions to move through the cell wall. The field strength in a typical membrane is 1.0 x 107 N/C.(a) What is the magnitude of the force on a calcium ion with charge +e? (b)What is its acceleration?(c) Is it possible for a particle with the same charge as as calcium to have a different acceleration if placed at this location?(d) What would change the acceleration: mass of the particle? diameter of the particle?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Electric force:

$\overline{){\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{q}}{\mathbf{E}}}$

Newton's second law:

$\overline{){\mathbf{\Sigma }}{\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{m}}{\mathbf{a}}}$

(a)

q = +e = 1.6 × 10-19 C

|F| = |q|•|E| = (1.6 × 10-19)(1.0 x 107) = 1.6 × 10-12 N

86% (332 ratings)
###### Problem Details

Large electric fields in cell membranes cause ions to move through the cell wall. The field strength in a typical membrane is 1.0 x 107 N/C.

(a) What is the magnitude of the force on a calcium ion with charge +e?

(b)What is its acceleration?

(c) Is it possible for a particle with the same charge as as calcium to have a different acceleration if placed at this location?

(d) What would change the acceleration: mass of the particle? diameter of the particle?