Chapter 25: Q. 9 (page 709)

A water molecule perpendicular to an electric field has $1.0 \times 10^{- 21} J$ more potential energy than a water molecule aligned with the field. The dipole moment of a water molecule is $6.2 \times 10^{- 30} Cm$ . What is the strength of the electric field?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The electric field's magnitude is $1.61 \times 10^{8} N / C$ .

Step by step solution

Given Information

Given:

The potential energy of a water molecule perpendicular to an electric field is $1.0 \times 10^{- 21} J$ higher than that of a water molecule aligned with the field.
Dipole moment, $P = 6.2 \times 10^{- 30} C - m$

Determine the electric field strength

A water molecule aligned with the field has $1.0 \times 10^{- 21} J$ more potential energy than a water molecule perpendicular to the field.

$U_{perpendicular} - U_{parallel} = 1 \times 10^{- 21} J \dots . . (1)$

Compute the water molecule's potential energy perpendicular to the electric field.

$\begin{array}{rcl} U_{perpendicular} & = & - P E \cos 90 \\ = & 0 \end{array}$

Estimate the water molecule's potential energy when it is aligned with the electric field.

$U_{parallel} = - P E \times \cos 0$

Plugging the values in the above equation

$U_{parallel} = - 6.2 \times 10^{- 30} E \times 1$

Insert the values in the above equation

$0 - (- 6.2 \times 10^{- 30} E \times 1) = 1 \times 10^{- 21} E = 1.61 \times 10^{8} N / C$

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A water molecule perpendicular to an electric field has $1.0 \times 10^{- 21} J$ more potential energy than a water molecule aligned with the field. The dipole moment of a water molecule is $6.2 \times 10^{- 30} Cm$ . What is the strength of the electric field?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Given Information

Determine the electric field strength

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A water molecule perpendicular to an electric field has 1.0×10-21J more potential energy than a water molecule aligned with the field. The dipole moment of a water molecule is 6.2×10-30Cm. What is the strength of the electric field?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Given Information

Determine the electric field strength

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Solid State Physics

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Electricity and Magnetism

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Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

A water molecule perpendicular to an electric field has $1.0 \times 10^{- 21} J$ more potential energy than a water molecule aligned with the field. The dipole moment of a water molecule is $6.2 \times 10^{- 30} Cm$ . What is the strength of the electric field?