Quote:
|
Originally Posted by TheAtomium
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by lyndonashmore
They don't oscillate about 'a point' but their shm is superimposed on their random thermal motion.
|
These electrons are mostly ~1 metre apart from each other. Considering that they will be moving at something like 6e6 m/s (to use Sylas's figures), the average electron is going to be passing by an average of 6e6 electrons per second. This means that the net force exerted on any particular electron, including our deflected electron, is going to be changing incredibly fast, and in a totally chaotic manner. There is no way a single electron can perform SHM under these circumstances.
Edit to change wording. |
Why 6e6 per second? A second is a long time in the life of a e-m wave. Light has a frequency of about 6x10^14Hz. It takes 1.7x10^-15 secs for one oscillation. During this time the electron will have covered 10^-8 metre thermally.It is nothing.
Consider ac (and despite what others on this boeard say electrons do perform shm in ac currents. It is the
basis (page 4?) of radio transmission.
In ac the thermal motion of the electrons is at about 10^5 m/s. One cycle takes 0.02 s. During this time the electron will have travelled 2km thermally - and tet we still see our T/v sets.
Electrons are extremely mobile.
Cheers,
Lyndon