Question

Inside a television picture tube there is a build-up of electrons (charge of 1.602 × 10–19 C) with an average spacing of 38.0 nanometers between electrons. Find the electric field inside the picture tube. (Round to three significant figures.)

Answer 1

To find the electric field inside the picture tube, we can use the formula for electric field due to a point charge:

E = k * q / r^2

where:
E = electric field
k = Coulomb's constant = 8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2
q = charge of the electron = 1.602 x 10^-19 C
r = spacing between electrons = 38.0 x 10^-9 m

Substitute the given values into the formula:

E = (8.99 x 10^9 N m^2/C^2) * (1.602 x 10^-19 C) / (38.0 x 10^-9 m)^2
E = (8.99 x 1.602) / (38.0)^2
E = 14.405 / 1444
E = 0.00997 N/C

Therefore, the electric field inside the picture tube is approximately 0.00997 N/C.