A Mass Spectrometer Works by Ionizing Atoms or Molecules, and Then

question 52

Multiple Choice

A mass spectrometer works by ionizing atoms or molecules, and then accelerating them through oppositely charged plates.The mass is obtained by

• A)measuring the force of impact on a detecting screen, and then calculating the mass using force = mass × acceleration.
• B)suspending the ions in an applied electric field, and then calculating mass by the setting the downward gravitational force equal to the upward electrostatic force.
• C)measuring the magnitude of deflection as the ions pass through a magnetic field to obtain the charge-to-mass ratio, and then calculating the mass from that ratio.
• D)measuring the time it takes for the ions to hit the detector at a known distance to calculate the acceleration, and then calculating mass from force = mass × acceleration.

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Definitions:

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A sensor used to monitor the position of the throttle in an internal combustion engine, sending data to the engine control unit to optimize engine performance.

Volatile

Characterizes substances that easily vaporize at normal temperatures and pressures, often referring to liquids with high vapor pressures.

RAM

Random Access Memory, a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes.

Forward Bias

In electronics, a condition where the positive end of a voltage source is connected to the p-type material and the negative end to the n-type material of a semiconductor, allowing current flow.