charge magnitude

[gre]

How is it known the proton and electron have equal charge magnitudes?

[Klaynos]

Experimentation.

 

Take a hydrogen atom, measure it's charge. Remove an electron, they are now both charged, the only way this is possible is if they are equal.

[gre]

Well, how is an electron, proton, or hydrogen atom's charge measured?

[Klaynos]

Well you can tell if something is charged, and whether it is positive or negative charge by passing it threw a magnetic field and seeing what its path is.

 

Charged particles will curve. So if you detect them afterwards you will get distinct regions based on mass and charge.

 

You can also measure the charge of an electron independently of mass using an oil drop experiment:

 

http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/millikanoildrop.html

[ydoaPs]

Well you can tell if something is charged, and whether it is positive or negative charge by passing it threw a magnetic field and seeing what its path is.

 

Charged particles will curve. So if you detect them afterwards you will get distinct regions based on mass and charge.

 

[math]F=q(B{\times}V)[/math] where F is force, q is charge, B is magnetic field, and V is velocity. Right?

[swansont]

[math]F=q(B{\times}V)[/math] where F is force, q is charge, B is magnetic field, and V is velocity. Right?

 

All except a sign. It's v X B

[gre]

When you apply F = q(v x B) to say the hydrogen atom..

 

What is the V, Since electrons don't actually fly around the proton?

[Klaynos]

When you apply F = q(v x B) to say the hydrogen atom..

 

What is the V, Since electrons don't actually fly around the proton?

 

You apply it to the bound system as a whole so the whole atom moving through the field.

Edited January 4, 2009 by Klaynos

[gre]

You apply it to the bound system as a whole so the whole atom moving threw the field.

 

I got a little off topic.

 

But how does "V" in the Lorentz force apply to the hydrogen atom.... ?

 

 

 

Well you can tell if something is charged, and whether it is positive or negative charge by passing it threw a magnetic field and seeing what its path is.

 

Charged particles will curve. So if you detect them afterwards you will get distinct regions based on mass and charge.

 

http://www.juliantrubin.com/bigten/millikanoildrop.html

 

 

 

Don't magnetic fields accelerate or decelerate particles as they pass through?

[Klaynos]

I got a little off topic.

 

But how does "V" in the Lorentz force apply to the hydrogen atom.... ?

 

The v is the velocity of the atom relative to the field.

 

Don't magnetic fields accelerate or decelerate particles as they pass through?

 

Yes, that is why the particle curves, the acceleration is perpendicular to the direction of movement ([math]\bold{ v \times B}[/math]).

[gre]

The v is the velocity of the atom relative to the field.

 

How is the movement (velocity) of the electron described?

 

 

Yes, that is why the particle curves, the acceleration is perpendicular to the direction of movement ([math]\bold{ v \times B}[/math]).

 

 

Thanks.