Question

A proton is located at $\left(x_p,y_P,z_P\right)$. An electron is located at $\mathbf{(}{\mathbf{x}}_{\mathbf{e}}\mathbf{,}{\mathbf{y}}_{\mathbf{e}}\mathbf{,}{\mathbf{z}}_{\mathbf{e}}\mathbf{)}$. What is the vector pointing from the electron to the proton? What is the vector pointing from the proton to the electron?

Short answer

The Vector pointing from electron to proton:

The Vector pointing from proton to electron:

Step-by-step solution

Identification of given data

A proton is located at .

An electron is located at .

Finding vector pointing from electron to proton

To find the vector that is pointing from the electron (the tail of that vector) to the proton (the head of that vector) subtract the location of the electron from the location of the proton,

as given below:

Thus, the required vector is

Finding vector pointing from proton to electron

The vector that is pointing from the proton to the electron will have the same magnitude as the vector that is pointing from the electron to the proton, but it will be pointing in the opposite direction as:

Therefore, the required the vector is.