Two positive point charges,and qB(massesmAandmB)are at rest, held together by a massless string of length .Now the string is cut, and the particles fly off in opposite directions. How fast is each one going, when they are far apart?qA

Short Answer

Expert verified

The final speed of the chargeqAisvA'=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB.

The final speed of the charge qBisvB'=2kqAqBmBamBmA+mB.

Step by step solution

01

Determine expression for energy.

Write the expression for the rule of energy conservation,

kEi+PEi=KEf+PEf

Here,KEiis the initial kinetic energy of the system,KEffinal kinetic energy of the system,PEiis the initial potential energy of the system, andPEfis the final potential energy of the system.

Write the expression for initial total energy system,

TEi=KE1=KE2+PE

Here,KE1is the initial kinetic energy of the charge qA,KE2is the initial kinetic energy of the charge qB , and PE is the potential energy of the system of charges.

Write the expression for the initial kinetic energy of the charge qAis given by,

KE1=12mAvA2

Here,mAis the mass of the chargeqAandvAis the initial velocity of the charge .

Now, write the expression for the initial kinetic energy of the chargeqBis given by,

KE2=12mBvB2

Here, mBis the mass of the charge qBand vBis the initial velocity of the chargeVB.

Write the expression for the potential energy of a two-charge system:

PE=kqAqBr

Here, Kis the Coulomb’s constant and ris the distance between the two charges.

02

Determine the expression for the initial energy

Substitute 12mAvA2for KE1,12mBvB2for KE2, and kqAqBr for PE in equation

TEi=KE1+KE2+PE.TEi=12mAvA2+12mBvB2+KqAqBr

Now substitute0 m/s for vBand a for b in above equation.

TEi=12mA(0m/s)2+12mB(0m/s)2+KqAqBa=kqAqBa

HereKE1'is the final kinetic energy of the chargeqAandKE2'is the final kinetic energy of the charge qB.KE2'

03

Determine the expression for the final energy.

Write the expression for the final kinetic energy of the chargeqAis given by,

KE1'=12mA(vA')2

Here, vA'is the final velocity of the charge qA.

Now, write the expression for the final kinetic energy of the charge qAis given by,KE2'=12mB(vB')2

Here, vB'is the final velocity of the charge qB.

Substitute 12mA(vA')2for KE1',12mB(vB')2for KE2'in equation TEf=KE1'+KE2'.

TEf=12mA(vA')2+12mB(vB')2

The initial total energy of the system of charges is equal to the final total energy of the system of charges, and is given by, according to the law of conservation of energy.

TEi=TEf/

Substitute kqAqBafor TEiand 12mA(vA')2+12mB(vB')2for TEfin above equation.

KqAqBa=12mA(vA')2+12mB(vB')2

04

Determine final initial and the final speed of the charge.

From the conservation of the linear momentum, consider the expression.

Pi=Pf

Here, Piis the initial momentum of the system of two charges and Pfis the final momentum of the system of two charges.

Write the expression for the linear momentum is given by,

P = mv

Here, mis the mass and vis the velocity of the object.

Consider that, the initial momentum of the system of charges is zero.

Now write the expression for the final momentum of the charge qA.

PA=mAvA'

Here, the direction of the charge velocity is opposite the direction of the charge velocity, as indicated by the negative sign.

Consider the final momentum and it is given by,

Here, the direction of the charge qBvelocity is opposite the direction of the charge qAvelocity, as indicated by the negative sign.

Consider the final momentum and it is given by,

Pf=PA+PB

Substitute the mAvA'for PA,-mAvA'for PBin above equation.

Pf=mAvA'-mBvB'

Substitute 0 for Piand mAvA'-mBvB'for Pfin the equation Pi=Pf.

0=mAmA'-mBmB'mAmA'=mBmB'vB'=mAmBvA'

Substitute mAmBvA'for vB'in equation (3).

kqAqBa=12mA(vA')2+12mBmAmBvA'2(vA')212mA+1+mAmB=kqAqBa(vA')2=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mBvA'=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB

Hence, the final speed of the charge qAis vA'=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB

Substitute the 2kqAqBmAamBmA+mBfor vA'in equationVB'=mAmBVA'vB'=mAmBvA'

localid="1655960322096" vB'=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB

Hence, the final speed of the chargelocalid="1655960336214" qBislocalid="1655960327840" vB'=2kqAqBmAamBmA+mB.

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