A proton is placed at the origin, and a second proton is placed on the x-axis at x = 5.98 fm (1 fm = 10-15 m).
(a) Obtain the electric potential energy associated with this configuration.
(b) An alpha particle (charge = 2e, mass = 6.64 x 10-27 kilogram) is now located at (x, y) = (2.99, 2.99) fm. Find the electric potential energy associated with this configuration.
(c) Starting with the three particle system, compute the change in electric potential energy if the alpha particle is allowed to escape to infinity while the two protons remain fixed in place. (Throughout, ignore any radiation effects.)
(d) Use conservation of energy to determine the speed of the alpha particle at infinity.
(e) If the two protons are released from rest and the alpha particle remains fixed, obtain the speed of the protons at infinity.