Charge checking (1 Viewer)

[highshill]

A question in my book say
An electron of charge -1.6x 10^19 is introduced between parallel plates, it experiences an electric force of magnitude 3.2x 10^-14N calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field between the plate.

I know it applies the electric field formula E=F/Q
So basically palling the formula I got
3.2x 10^-14N/-1.6x10^-19 which is -2x10^5 but the answer at the back say 2x 10^5 basically the answer at the back has not included the negative sign. Is it because the question states magnitude so they have done the absolute value of the electric field. Or are electric fields always positive
Can someone clarify this for me thanks.

 

[Sp3ctre]

Well it's asking you to calculate the magnitude AND direction, if they've gotten rid of the negative sign but not included the direction, it's safe to say that the answers are wrong. Stating direction instead of placing the negative sign would be a better imo. If they only asked for the magnitude, then you take the absolute value of your answer.

 

[jazz519]

For these questions we ignore the sign of the charge on the particle and just use the positive value to find be magnitude. Then for direction the definition of the direction that an electric field flows is the direction a positive particle moves when placed in the field, which in this case you can't do because they haven't told you the charges on the plates