In rutherford's scattering experiments, alpha particles (charge =+2e ) were fired at a gold foil. consider an alpha particle with an initial kinetic energy heading directly for the nucleus of a gold atom (charge =+79e). the alpha particle will come to rest when all its initial kinetic energy has been converted to electrical potential energy. find the distance of closest approach between the alpha particle and the gold nucleus for the case k= 2.9mev in fm.

Search coils and credit cards. one practical way to measure magnetic field strength uses a small, closely wound coil called a search coil. the coil is initially held with its plane perpendicular to a magnetic field. the coil is then either quickly rotated a quarter-turn about a diameter or quickly pulled out of the field. (a) derive the equation relating the total charge q that flows through a search coil to the magnetic-field magnitude b. the search coil has n turns, each with area a, and the flux through the coil is decreased from its initial maximum value to zero in a time ∆t. the resistance of the coil is r, and the total charge is q = i∆t, where i is the average current induced by the change in flux. (b) in a credit card reader, the magnetic strip on the back of a credit card is rapidly “swiped” past a coil within the reader. explain, using the same ideas that underlie the operation of a search coil, how the reader can decode the information stored in the pattern of magnetization on the strip. (c) is it necessary that the credit card be “swiped” through the reader at exactly the right speed? why or why not?

Large electric fields in cell membranes cause ions to move through the cell wall. the field strength in a typical membrane is 1.0 x 10 7 n/c. what is the magnitude of the force on a calcium ion with charge +e? what is its acceleration? is it possible for a particle with the same charge as as calcium to have a different acceleration if placed at this location? what would change the acceleration: mass of the particle? diameter of the particle?

What type of force holds atoms together in a crystal?