An alpha particle is a naturally occuring and somewhat common particle. (Among o

Question

An alpha particle is a naturally occuring and somewhat common particle. (Among other things, it is a product of radon decay - so, it's likely that plenty of alpha particles are present where you live here in Colorado!) It is similar to a proton, but has four times the mass, and twice the electric charge. In an experimental apparatus an electron starting from rest acquires 5.29 keV of kinetic energy in moving from point A to point B under the influence of a static electric field. (keV means "kilo eV", by the way.) If an alpha particle is released from rest in the same apparatus, what is the ratio of the final kinetic energy of the alpha particle to the final KE of the electron? (Since this is a ratio, enter a pure number)

Explanation / Answer

we know, kinetic energy gained = workdone

= q*delta_v

so,

KE_alfa/KE_electron = q_alfa*delta_V/(q_electron*delta_V)

   = q_alfa/q_electron

= 2*q_electron/q_epectron

= 2

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