A charged particle moves between two electrically charged plates, as shown here.

(a) What is the sign of the electrical charge on the particle?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the direction of the electric field between the plates. The electric field points from the positive plate to the negative plate.
2. Observe the direction of the particle's movement. The particle is deflected towards the positive plate.
3. Recall that opposite charges attract and like charges repel. Since the particle is moving towards the positive plate, it must have a negative charge.
4. Conclude that the sign of the electrical charge on the particle is negative.

Key Concepts

Electric Charge

Electric charge is a fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric charges: positive and negative. Like charges repel each other, while opposite charges attract. Understanding the nature of electric charge is essential for analyzing the behavior of charged particles in electric fields.

Electric Field

An electric field is a region around a charged particle where other charged particles experience a force. The direction of the electric field is defined as the direction a positive test charge would move. In the context of the question, the electric field is created by the positively and negatively charged plates, influencing the motion of the charged particle between them.

Force on a Charged Particle

The force acting on a charged particle in an electric field can be described by Coulomb's law, which states that the force is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The direction of the force depends on the sign of the charge: a positive charge moves toward the negative plate, while a negative charge moves toward the positive plate. This principle is crucial for determining the sign of the charge on the particle in the given scenario.