The diagram shows a charge moving into an electric field.

Question

Two horizontal parallel plates have equally spaced vectors going from the bottom plate to the top plate. A negatively charged sphere labeled Z in traveling horizontally in between the plates. A vector is pointing right. The top plate is labeled W. There is an X at the far end of the top plate and a Y at the far end of the bottom plate.
The charge will most likely leave the electric field near which letter?

W
X
Y
Z

Answer 1

In the situation described, a negatively charged sphere (Z) is moving horizontally in an electric field created by two parallel plates. The electric field lines go from the positively charged top plate (W) to the negatively charged bottom plate (Y).

Since the negatively charged sphere (Z) is repelled by the negatively charged plate (Y) and attracted to the positively charged plate (W), it will experience a force directed towards the top plate (W). However, it also moves horizontally.

As the charge moves to the right, it will likely continue to experience a force upwards toward the top plate (W) due to the electric field. As it approaches the edge of the top plate, it will leave the electric field.

Given this information, the charge will most likely leave the electric field near point X (the far end of the top plate).