A proton and an positron (identical to an electron, except positivel

In summary: In that case, the kinetic energy of the two particles is ##K_1 = \frac{p_1^2}{2m_1}## and ##K_2 = \frac{p_2^2}{2m_2}## and the total kinetic energy is ##K_{tot} = K_1+K_2 = \frac{p_1^2}{2m_1} + \frac{p_2^2}{2m_2}##. All you need to do is to figure out the initial momentum using the potential energy and then use momentum conservation to figure out the final momentum which will be shared between the two particles. The kinetic energy of each particle will then be given
  • #1
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A proton and an "positron" (identical to an electron, except positivel

Homework Statement


A proton and an "positron" (identical to an electron, except positively charged) are brought 6 µm apart and released from rest.

a.) What is the initial potential energy stored by this system? 3.84e-23 J

b.) In this problem, we'll let BOTH charges move. The collective kinetic energy of the charges (Ksys) will be drawn from Usys. However, since both charges are moving, they will need to "share" this energy.

Once in motion, what percentage of Ksys does each charge have at any given moment?
proton: K = . % of Ksys
positron: K = . % of Ksys
(In this scenario, how valid is our usual approximation to assign the entire Usys to one particle? Which particle should it be assigned to?)

What is the speed of each charge after they have repelled a long distance apart?
proton: vf = . m/s
positron: vf = m/s


Homework Equations



electric potential = kqq/r
energy conservation equations =
KEi+PEi=KEf+PEf
((1/2)mvi^2)+(kqq/r-initial)=((1/2)mvf^2)+(kqq/r-final)

momentum conservation
M1V1=m2v2

proton: mass (1.67E-27kg) positron: mass (9.11E-31kg)

The Attempt at a Solution



for part a)
electric potential = kqq/r
((9E9)(1.67E-27)(1.67E-27))/(6E-6) = 3.84E-23

i have problem on part b where i have to find the speed of positron and proton, also the percentage of KE of proton and positron have after being released and both moving away from each other

i set up the equations using energy conservation method to solve the velocity first because i thought if i can find the velocity then i know the KE ratio of proton and positron have

the formula to find the velocity is in the picture.
that is how i set it up but after i find the velocity and use it to find another velocity i got it wrong. can someone help me with this? i really appreciate it if you can show me the right way to solve for each velocity of proton and positron.
thank you so much
 

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  • #2
Do you really need the velocity? You have already found that $$ v_2 = -{m_1 \over m_2} v_1 $$ so $$ v_2^2 = {m_1^2 \over m_2^2} v_1^2 $$ and then $$ K_2 = {m_2 v_2^2 \over 2} = ? $$
 
  • #3
In energy conservation equation. The initial potential energy later will be distributed to the final kinetic energy.

The initial potential energy is already found. While the kinetic energy is the speed of both proton and positron moving away from each other. and the momentum between proton and positron is conserved as well. Thats why i set uo my equation like that.

So, after i find out the velocity, i use it find the other velocity. By energy conservation law, there will be no energy loss in te process. Thats mean the kinetic energy (.5*m*v^2) of both proton and positron add up will be equal to the amount of potential energy the system have in the beginning. But my value is way more.

I just wondering if i set up the equation wrong of there is other way to solve it?
 
  • #4
You might find it easier to work with momentum initially and write the kinetic energy of a particle as ##K = \frac{p^2}{2m}##.
 
  • #5
for your help.



Thank you for your question. It's great to see you using the appropriate equations and attempting to solve the problem. I can provide some guidance to help you solve for the velocity and percentage of kinetic energy for each particle.

First, let's consider the initial potential energy of the system. As you correctly calculated, the initial potential energy is 3.84e-23 J. This is the energy stored in the system due to the charges being 6 µm apart.

Now, to find the velocities of the proton and positron, we can use the energy conservation equation you mentioned: KEi+PEi=KEf+PEf. In this case, we can set the initial potential energy equal to the final kinetic energy since the charges start at rest. So, we have:

(1/2)mvi^2 = kqq/r

Solving for vi, we get:

vi = √(2kqq/mr)

Plugging in the values for the proton and positron, we get:

vi (proton) = 1.56 x 10^5 m/s
vi (positron) = 3.47 x 10^7 m/s

Next, to find the percentage of kinetic energy for each particle, we can use the equation for kinetic energy:

KE = (1/2)mv^2

We know the mass and velocity for each particle, so we can plug in those values to find the initial kinetic energy for each particle. Then, we can divide that by the total kinetic energy (which is the sum of the kinetic energy for both particles) to get the percentage.

For the proton:

KE (initial) = (1/2)(1.67E-27)(1.56E5)^2 = 1.63E-16 J
Percentage = (1.63E-16 J) / (3.84E-23 J) = 4.25 x 10^-14 %

For the positron:

KE (initial) = (1/2)(9.11E-31)(3.47E7)^2 = 5.86E-12 J
Percentage = (5.86E-12 J) / (3.84E-23 J) = 1.53 x 10^-11 %

As you can see, the positron has a much higher initial kinetic energy and therefore, a much higher percentage
 

FAQ: A proton and an positron (identical to an electron, except positivel

What is a proton and an positron?

A proton and a positron are subatomic particles that are identical in mass but have opposite charges. A proton has a positive charge, while a positron has a negative charge.

What is the difference between a proton and an electron?

The main difference between a proton and an electron is their charge. Protons have a positive charge, while electrons have a negative charge. Additionally, protons are much heavier than electrons.

How are protons and positrons created?

Protons and positrons are created through different processes. Protons are found in the nucleus of an atom and are created through nuclear reactions. Positrons, on the other hand, are created through radioactive decay or in high energy particle collisions.

What are the uses of protons and positrons?

Protons and positrons have various uses in different fields of science. Protons are commonly used in medical imaging and radiation therapy, while positrons are used in particle accelerators and in medical imaging to detect cancer cells.

What is the significance of protons and positrons in the study of the universe?

Protons and positrons play a crucial role in the study of the universe. They are key components in the formation of stars and other celestial bodies, and their interactions can give insight into the origin and evolution of the universe.

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