Electric charges and conservation of energy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a string connecting two charged particles and determining their velocities using conservation of energy principles. The tension in the string is calculated to be 50.56N based on the forces acting on the particles. The potential energy of the system is found to be 2.022J, which leads to the equation for kinetic energy involving the two particles' masses and velocities. The participant is uncertain about how to derive the final velocities and whether to apply conservation of momentum alongside energy conservation. The discussion highlights the interplay between electric forces, tension, and energy conservation in a system of charged particles.
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Homework Statement



Two charged particles connected by a string exert electric forces on one another. One has a mass of 3 grams and the other 6 grams. The string is .04m. The force is calculated to be 50.56N. What is the tension in the string? What is the total energy of the system?

Homework Equations


Newton's laws.
Conservation of Energy.


The Attempt at a Solution



The sum force on each particle is 50.56N, making the tension out to be T = 50.56N.

I calculated the potential energy to be U = 2.022J from earlier in the problem.

The part that I'm stuck on is getting the final velocities.

U(i) - U(f) = k(f) - k(i)

2.022 = k(f)

So I set up the equation as:
2.022 = (1/2)(.003)(v_{}1^2) + (1/2)(.006)(v_{}2^2)

is that right? How would I find 2 different velocities from that? Or are the velocities different?
 
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Should I use conservation of momentum to find the velocities?
 

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