How Do You Calculate the Speed of Repelling Charged Objects?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the speed of repelling charged objects, start by determining the potential energy (PE) at the initial and final distances using the formula for electric potential energy between two charges. For the first question, find the PE at 48 cm and 96 cm, equate the change in potential energy to the kinetic energy (KE) to solve for the speed of object A. In the second question, recognize that the total potential energy of the two charged objects will convert entirely into kinetic energy as they move apart. Use the same principle of energy conservation to find their speeds when they are a large distance apart. Understanding these concepts is crucial for solving the problems effectively.
Chipper
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
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.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try the work done by the electrostatic force as a mass is moved form
48\ cm\rightarrow\ 96\ cm
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
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top