A proton and an electron are placed in an electric field. Which undergoes the greater acceleration?
A)the electron
B)the proton
C)both equally
D)neither

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The acceleration of a charged particle in an electric field depends on the magnitude and sign of the charge and the strength of the field. The electron and proton have opposite charges and will experience forces in opposite directions, but the magnitude of the force on each particle is the same (since they have the same magnitude of charge). However, since the mass of the electron is much smaller than that of the proton, the electron will have a greater acceleration (F=ma, where a=F/m). Therefore, the electron will undergo the greater acceleration in this scenario.

A Proton and an Electron Are Placed in an Electric