Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Exam
- Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
- Subject
- Physics
- Chapter
- Gauss's Law
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · Gauss's Law
Consider a very rough model of a beryllium atom. The nucleus...
Consider a very rough model of a beryllium atom. The nucleus consists of four protons and four neutrons, confined to a small volume of radius . The two electrons form a spherical charge cloud at an average distance of from the nucleus, while the two electrons form another spherical cloud at an average distance of from the nucleus. Determine the electric field at a point just inside the cloud.
Options
- A
- B
- C
- D
Correct answer
D.
Step-by-step solution
By Gauss's law, the electric field at a distance from the center of a spherically symmetric charge distribution depends only on the net charge enclosed within a sphere of radius .
For a point just inside the cloud, the distance from the nucleus is . Since the point is just inside the electron cloud, the sphere of radius encloses only the nucleus. The electron clouds are outside this radius and do not contribute to the enclosed charge.
The beryllium nucleus contains protons, so the enclosed charge is .
The electric field is given by:
Substituting the given values:
For a point just inside the cloud, the distance from the nucleus is . Since the point is just inside the electron cloud, the sphere of radius encloses only the nucleus. The electron clouds are outside this radius and do not contribute to the enclosed charge.
The beryllium nucleus contains protons, so the enclosed charge is .
The electric field is given by:
Substituting the given values: