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Chapter 14: Q2CP (page 552)

A student asked, "Since the positive nucleus of the atom is hidden inside a negative electron cloud, why doesn't all matter appear to be negatively charged?" Explain to the student the flaw in this reasoning.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The atom becomes neutral because of the polarization of both the positive and the negative charges. The electron is centrally located in the nucleus. However, if the electron is centrally positioned, the proton field will be canceled by the electrons and it will create its own field. Thus, the atom appears as a neutral atom rather than a negatively charged atom.

Step by step solution

01

Significance of the polarization

The polarization is described as the property of the electromagnetic radiations, that helps to relate specifically the magnitude and the direction of an electric field.

02

Explanation the student the flaw in this reasoning

The statement states that when a positive nucleus mainly hides inside a negative cloud of the electron, then the positive electron should also appear negatively but it works differently as in the atom, the nucleus and the electron cloud move to each other. However, the atom becomes neutral because of the polarization of both the positive and the negative charges. The electron is centrally located in the nucleus. However, if the electron is centrally positioned, the proton field will be canceled by the electrons and it will create its own field. Hence, the atom appears as a neutral atom rather than a negatively charged atom.

Thus, the atom becomes neutral because of the polarization of both the positive and the negative charges. The electron is centrally located in the nucleus. However, if the electron is centrally positioned, the proton field will be canceled by the electrons and it will create its own field. Hence, the atom appears as a neutral atom rather than a negatively charged atom.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

(a)The positively charged particle shown in diagram 1 in Figure 14.94 creates an electric field \({{\bf{\vec E}}_{\bf{p}}}\) at location A. Which of the arrows (a–j) in Figure 14.94 best indicates the direction of \({{\bf{\vec E}}_{\bf{p}}}\) at location A?

(b)Now a block of metal is placed in the location shown in diagram 2 in Figure 14.94. Which of the arrows (a–j) in Figure 14.94 best indicates the direction of the electric field \({{\bf{\vec E}}_{\bf{m}}}\) at location Adue only to the charges in and/or on the metal block?

(c)\(\left| {{{{\bf{\vec E}}}_{\bf{p}}}} \right|\)is greater than \(\left| {{{{\bf{\vec E}}}_{\bf{m}}}} \right|\). With the metal block still in place, which of the arrows (a–j) in Figure 14.94 best indicates the direction of the net electric field at location A?

(d)With the metal block still in place, which of the following statements about the magnitude of \({{\bf{\vec E}}_{\bf{p}}}\), the field due only to the charged particle, is correct?

(1) \(\left| {{{{\bf{\vec E}}}_{\bf{p}}}} \right|\)is less than it was originally, because the block is in the way.

(2) \(\left| {{{{\bf{\vec E}}}_{\bf{p}}}} \right|\)is the same as it was originally, without the block.

(3) \(\left| {{{{\bf{\vec E}}}_{\bf{p}}}} \right|\)is zero, because the electric field due to the particle can’t go through the block.

(e)With the metal block still in place, how does the magnitude of\({{\bf{\vec E}}_{{\bf{net}}}}\) at location Acompare to the magnitude of \({{\bf{\vec E}}_{\bf{p}}}\)?

(f)Which of the arrows (a–j) in Figure 14.94 best indicates the direction of the net electric field at the center of the metal block (inside the metal)?

Can you charge a piece of plastic by induction? Explain, using diagram. Compare with the amount of charging obtained when you charge a piece of metal by induction.

Metal sphere A is charged negatively and then brought near an uncharged metal sphere B (Figure 14.78). Both spheres rest on insulating supports, and the humidity is very low.

(a) Use +’s and −’s to show the approximate distribution of charges on the two spheres. (Hint: Think hard about both spheres, not just B.)

(b) A small, lightweight hollow metal ball, initially uncharged, is suspended from a string and hung between the two spheres (Figure 14.79). It is observed that the ball swings rapidly back and forth hitting one sphere and then the other. This goes on for seconds, but then the ball stops swinging and hangs between the two spheres. Explain in detail, step by step, why the ball swings back and forth and why it finally stops swinging. Your explanation must include good physics diagrams.

An electric field of magnitude 190  N/C is applied to a solution containing chloride ions. The mobility of chloride ions in solution is 7.91×10-8  (m/s)/(N/C).What is the average drift speed of the chloride ions in the solution?

Which of the following are true? Check all that apply. (1) If the net electric field at a particular location inside a piece of metal is zero, the metal is not in equilibrium. (2) The net electric field inside a block of metal is zero under all circumstances. (3) The net electric field at any location inside a block of copper is zero if the copper block is in equilibrium. (4) The electric field from an external charge cannot penetrate to the center of a block of iron. (5) In equilibrium, there is a net flow of mobile charged particles inside a conductor.
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