How Do You Calculate the Speed of Repelling Charged Objects?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the speed of charged objects as they repel each other, specifically in the context of electricity and electric fields. The original poster presents two related problems involving charged objects and their motion due to electrostatic forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to relate potential energy and kinetic energy but struggles with the formulas for potential energy in the context of electrostatics. Some participants suggest considering the work done by electrostatic forces and the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy as the objects move apart.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different methods to approach the problems, with some suggesting the use of potential energy calculations and the work-energy principle. There is no explicit consensus yet, but guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy.

Contextual Notes

The original poster expresses confusion about the formulas and concepts needed to solve the problems, indicating a lack of clarity on how to apply the principles of electrostatics to the scenarios presented.

Chipper
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Ok so I am on the last 2 questions of my electricity and electric fields assignment and I am totally stumped.
heres the first one
12. Object A with a mass of 1.4 X 10-3 kg has a charge of 3.8 X 10-10 C. This object is at rest a distance of 48 cm from a fixed object B of charge 4.2 X 10-5 C. The two objects will repel each other. With what speed will object A be moving at when it is 96 cm from object B?
(4 marks)
Ok so far this i figured that first i ahve to find the total energy at rest at 48cm and ET=EP because Ek=0 because its at rest. however i can't think of a formula for EP because for EP=mgh i don't have any hieght and for EP=1/2kx^2 i don't have k or x. then i know i find the EP at 96 cm and solve for v, but i can't figure out how to get there.

THe next question is sort of the same:
13. Two charged objects A and B have masses of 1.3 X 10-2 kg and 2.6 X 10-2 kg respectively. Their charges are -1.7 X 10-4 C and -3.8 X 10-4 C respectively. They are released from rest when they are 3.6 m apart. What will their speeds be when they are a "large'' distance apart? (6 marks)
For this one I am totally confused because i don't know how to start. I mean i wrote down the variables but I am not sure how to approach this question.
Please help me out... my grade depends on it.
 
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Try the work done by the electrostatic force as a mass is moved form
[tex]48\ cm\rightarrow\ 96\ cm[/tex]
is equal to the change in it's kinetic energy.
 
In the second case all their potential energy gets converted into their kinetic energy.
 
try using the potential at the two points then finding out the work done and hence the kinetic energy
then find the velocity
 

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