Proton Bombardment Work and Energy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a proton being repelled by a uranium nucleus. For part A, the user is attempting to calculate the proton's speed when it is 8.00 x 10^-10 m from the nucleus, but their approach using work-energy principles is yielding incorrect results. In part B, they are trying to determine how close the proton gets to the nucleus after momentarily stopping, but again face challenges with their calculations. Suggestions include correctly applying integration to find the velocity and not substituting values prematurely in the equations. The thread highlights the importance of careful application of physics principles and proper mathematical techniques in solving such problems.
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Homework Statement



A proton with mass 1.67 x 10^-27 kg is propelled at an initial speed of 3.00x10^5 m/s directly toward a uranium nucleus 5.00 away. The proton is repelled by the uranium nucleus with a force of magnitude F=α/x^2, where x is the separation between the two objects and α = 2.12 x 10^-26 N*m^2. Assume that the uranium nucleus remains at rest.

A)What is the speed of the proton when it is from the uranium nucleus?

B)As the proton approaches the uranium nucleus, the repulsive force slows down the proton until it comes momentarily to rest, after which the proton moves away from the uranium nucleus. How close to the uranium nucleus does the proton get?

Homework Equations



v22=vv[2/SUB]+2ad
F=α/x^2 (given)
Fd=KE2-KE1
KE = .5mv2

The Attempt at a Solution


For a), I got that the distance equaled 5-8*10^-10 = 5 m, and I tried using that distance times the force (found with the given equation), to find the work and I set that equal to the the change in Kinetic energy, and tried to find the second velocity. But this did not get me the right answer. For b) I tried the sae approach, but plugged in the known velocities, canceling out KE2 because v = 0 there, and still didn't get the right answer. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.
 
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In A) at what distance from the nucleus the speed is needed?
 
In a), the proton is 8.00 x 10-10m from the uranium nucleus
 
F = m*a = α/x^2
So a = 1/m( α/x^2)
or dv/dx = 1/m( α/x^2)
dv = 1/m( α/x^2)*dx.
Find the integration. To find the constant of integration apply the initial condition. i.e. when x = 0, vo is the initial velocity of the proton.
 
before I took the derivative of the equation, I plugged in the mass, since it's a constant, as well as what "α" is, and I got that a=(1.27*10^-19)(x^-2). I took the derivative of it and got that velocity equals -1.27*10^-19(x^-1) on the integral of 5 to 8.00*10^-10 m. I got the answer to be -1.59*10^-10, which is the wrong answer. Can you see what I did wrong?
 
Here you are not taking derivative anywhere. Don't put the values initially.
Find the integration of dv to find v. Now put the values.
 
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