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Final distance between two charged, identical particles approaching each other
Two identical particles, each with a mass of 4.5 mg and a charge of 30 nC, are moving directly toward each other with equal speeds of 4.0 m/s at an instant when the distance separating the two is equal to 65 cm. How far apart will they be when closest to one another? (Answer in cm.)
Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf (Conservation of Energy)
U= (q1 * q2)/r12 (Potential energy of a system of two charges)
I set the final kinetic energy of the system to be zero. In order to come up with an equation of the final distance (rf), I substituted the second equation into the first, and solved for rf. Unfortunately, I am still getting the wrong answer. Something is really missing in my approach to the problem.
Homework Statement
Two identical particles, each with a mass of 4.5 mg and a charge of 30 nC, are moving directly toward each other with equal speeds of 4.0 m/s at an instant when the distance separating the two is equal to 65 cm. How far apart will they be when closest to one another? (Answer in cm.)
Homework Equations
Ki + Ui = Kf + Uf (Conservation of Energy)
U= (q1 * q2)/r12 (Potential energy of a system of two charges)
The Attempt at a Solution
I set the final kinetic energy of the system to be zero. In order to come up with an equation of the final distance (rf), I substituted the second equation into the first, and solved for rf. Unfortunately, I am still getting the wrong answer. Something is really missing in my approach to the problem.
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