Electrostatics charged particle Problems

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on electrostatics problems involving charged particles and their acceleration through potential differences. A charged particle accelerated by a potential difference of 2.50 x 10^5 V reaches a speed of 2.90 x 10^4 m/s, prompting a calculation for the potential difference needed to achieve a speed of 7.25 x 10^4 m/s. Additionally, the discussion addresses the release of two alpha particles from a distance of 2.5 x 10^-12 m and the calculation of their speed when they are 0.75 m apart, utilizing energy conservation principles and the formula for kinetic energy. The final answer for the speed of the alpha particles is confirmed to be 2.4 x 10^5 m/s after correcting initial calculation errors.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrostatics and potential difference
  • Familiarity with kinetic energy equations
  • Knowledge of conservation of energy principles
  • Basic skills in algebra for solving equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the relationship between potential difference and kinetic energy in charged particles
  • Learn about the conservation of energy in electrostatic systems
  • Explore the dynamics of particle interactions at small distances, such as alpha particle collisions
  • Investigate the use of the Coulomb's law in calculating forces between charged particles
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Students and educators in physics, particularly those focusing on electrostatics, charged particle dynamics, and energy conservation principles.

blue_soda025
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1. A charged particle was accelerated from rest by a potential difference of 2.50 x 10^5 V. If the particle reached a maximum speed of 2.90 x 10^4 m/s, what potential difference would be required to accelerate this particle from rest to a velocity of 7.25 x 10^4 m/s?

2. The centers of two alpha particles are held 2.5 x 10^-12 m apart, then they are released. Calculate the speed of each alpha particle when they are 0.75 m apart.

For the second one, my teacher kind of went over it and came up with:
[tex]v = \sqrt{\frac{\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r_{1}} - \frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r_{2}}}{m}}[/tex] (didn't want to show all the steps)
However, when I plug in the numbers, it doesn't match the answer which should be 2.4 x 10^5 m/s.
 
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1. Use energy conservation. Charge multiplied by potential difference gives an energy, this energy equals the kinetic energy. Use this equation and solve for charge times mass.
Now knowing the charge times mass for the particle find the potential difference that would be required to reach the second speed.

2. How much are you off by? Are you off by a factor of [itex]\sqrt{2}[/itex]? Other then that it is hard to tell if anything else when wrong since you did not post the numbers you used.
 
Oops, I rechecked my numbers and I think some of the ones I entered were wrong. I redid it and I got the answer. Thanks for your help.
 

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