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Mass Spectrometer
28. Magnetic Fields and Forces / Mass Spectrometer / Problem 2

A mass spectrometer uses sulfur isotopes of mass numbers 32, 33, and 34 from a meteorite sample. The electric field between the plates is 2.9×10⁴ V/m and the magnetic fields are B = B' = 0.60 T and their directions are shown below. To estimate atomic masses, multiply by 1.67×10⁻²⁷ kg. How far apart are the marks formed by singly charged ions of each type on a detector film? Hint: The mass m of an isotope in this spectrometer is equal to qBB'r/E and charge q=1.602×10⁻19 C.


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