Minimum Separation of Positron-Proton Collision · CAP 2023 #11

Physics · electromagnetism

Problem

Suppose that a positron (charge +e, mass

m_e

) is fired at a non-relativistic velocity

v_0

towards a proton (charge +e, mass

m_p

) at rest. What is the minimum separation between the two particles as they approach each other? a)

\frac{e^2}{2\pi\epsilon_0 m_e v_0^2}

\frac{e}{2\pi\epsilon_0 m_e v_0^2}

\left(\frac{e^2}{2\pi\epsilon_0 m_e v_0^2}\right)^{1/2}

\frac{e^2}{2\pi\epsilon_0 v_0^2} \frac{m_e + m_p}{m_e m_p}