Two alpha particles (helium nuclei) are held in place 1.0 nm apart. Describe the motion of the two nuclei when they are released.
Don't the forcefully repel each other?
Thank you! I thought that was the answer but felt like it was too easy
When the two alpha particles are released from their initial position, the motion they undergo can be described as follows:
1. Initially, both alpha particles will experience a mutual electrostatic repulsion due to their positive charges. This repulsive force will cause them to accelerate away from each other.
2. As the particles accelerate, their kinetic energy will increase, and they will gain velocity. The precise motion will depend on their initial speeds and angles of release.
3. Since the alpha particles have equal masses and charges, they will each undergo symmetric motion. This means that their paths will be mirror images of each other.
4. The particles will follow curved trajectories due to the repulsive force between them. The shape of these trajectories will depend on the strength of the repulsion and the initial velocities.
5. If the initial velocities are high enough, the particles may have sufficient energy to overcome the electrostatic repulsion and escape from each other's vicinity. In this case, they will move apart indefinitely, moving towards infinity.
6. On the other hand, if the initial velocities are low, the particles may reach a certain separation distance and then start slowing down due to the decrease in the electrostatic force. Eventually, they will come to a stop and start moving back towards each other. This process may repeat, resulting in oscillatory motion between the two particles.
It is worth mentioning that the motion of two alpha particles will be influenced by factors such as their masses, charges, initial velocities, and any external forces acting on them. To precisely calculate their trajectories, the principles of classical mechanics and electrostatics, such as Newton's laws of motion and Coulomb's law, can be applied.