Please why is the Kinetic energy doubled?
AO_658
A linear particle accelerator accelerates two hydrogen ions to equal speeds toward each other. If the speed at infinite separation is 6.2 × 105 m/s, determine the greatest electric force the two ions will exert on each other.
Please why is the Kinetic energy doubled?
Each Particle has kinetic energy; The kinetic energy of the system is K1 + K2 = K + K = 2K = 2 × K.
Kinetic energy is a positive quantity that will always add up even if velocity is negative.
Using the Kinetic energy of one particle is incorrect because that is not the total energy of the system.