- #1
RoboNerd
- 410
- 11
Homework Statement
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My problem is in figuring out how to solve number 22 through 23, particularly getting the set-up done.
Homework Equations
Newton's law of gravitation and coulomb's law of acceleration
The Attempt at a Solution
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I initially misread the question and thought that there was "a neutron and a proton initially at the same distance from a relatively large nucleus moving at a constant velocity."
OK. The nucleus moving at the constant velocity will not have any coulombic forces exerted on it because it has a neutral charge on it, so the only way it can be moving at a constant velocity is if the sum of the gravitational forces applied on the nucleus is zero. This fits perfectly into my scenario with just a proton and neutron: having a proton and a neutron of equal masses at the same distance on the opposite sides of the moving nucleus
PROTON <------------------ distance "D" -----------> Nucleus moving upwards <--------------------distance "D"-----------> Stationary neutron.
This would ensure that the gravitational forces that are applied onto the moving neutron would cancel each other out laterally and the neutron would move at a constant velocity. However, how can I add in an electron into this mix such that the gravitational force that it exerts will also cancel out with the other gravitational forces so that the nucleus would be able to move at a constant velocity?
And how would I conceptualize and draw a set-up for this problem so as to get started in solving the rest of the problems?
Thanks in advance for the help. It is greatly appreciated