How Much Kinetic Energy Does a Proton Acquire Compared to an Electron?

AI Thread Summary
An electron moving from point A to point B acquires 6.3 keV of kinetic energy (KE), and a proton moving from B to A also acquires 6.3 keV. The reason both particles have the same KE is due to their identical charge, which means they experience the same force over the same distance. Although the proton has more mass, it moves with less velocity, balancing the energy acquired. The discussion highlights the relationship between charge, force, and energy in particle physics. Understanding this principle is crucial for analyzing the behavior of charged particles in electric fields.
leolaw
Messages
85
Reaction score
1
An electron starting from rest acquires 6.3keV of KE in moving from point A to point B. How much KE would a proton acquire, starting from rest at B and moving to point A?

The answer is 6.3keV. I don't understand why they have the same kinetic energy. Is it becasue proton has more mass and less velocity? :bugeye:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
leolaw said:
An electron starting from rest acquires 6.3keV of KE in moving from point A to point B. How much KE would a proton acquire, starting from rest at B and moving to point A?

The answer is 6.3keV. I don't understand why they have the same kinetic energy. Is it becasue proton has more mass and less velocity? :bugeye:
I will assume from the question that the electron acquires its energy by being placed in an electric field.

The reason they have the same energy is because they have the same charge. They experience the same force over the same distance so they acquire the same energy.

AM
 
Hey,mister,why do you double post...?

Daniel.
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

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}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Kinetic Energy of Colliding Protons
2
Replies
54
Views
10K
Kinetic Energy of a Cylinder Rolling Without Slipping
Replies
21
Views
4K
How to calculate gamma ray energies following beta decay?
Replies
12
Views
1K
Calculate the kinetic energy of two alpha particles
Replies
2
Views
1K
Conservation of Momentum Problem - Mechanical and Kinetic Energies
Replies
2
Views
958
What Was the Initial Speed of the Proton in a Collision?
Replies
2
Views
3K
Confused about a conservation of energy problem
Replies
4
Views
2K
Kinetic energy of a photoelectron
Replies
2
Views
1K
How close can two protons get if....
Replies
13
Views
3K
Resistance force changing the velocity of an object
Replies
8
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top