Work out the magnitude of the electric field strength between the plates.
State the direction in which the electric field acts.
A neutral uranium-238 atom $\left(^{238}_{92}\text{U}\right)$ has its number of orbital electrons altered. As a result, it becomes a new particle (ion) $X$ with a total charge of $+2e$, where $e$ denotes the elementary charge. Determine how many protons, neutrons and electrons are present in particle (ion) $X$.
Ion $X$ is located midway between the plates in the electric field from part (a). Find the magnitude of the electric force on $X$.
The uranium-238 nucleus $\left(^{238}_{92}\text{U}\right)$ changes in several stages, by releasing $\alpha$-particles and $\beta^{-}$ particles, to produce a thorium-230 nucleus $\left(^{230}_{90}\text{Th}\right)$. Calculate how many $\alpha$-particles in total and how many $\beta^{-}$ particles in total are emitted as uranium-238 decays to thorium-230.