Suppose both particles in Figure \(25.2 b\) are released from rest. Let \(m_{2}>m_{1}\) and consider only electric interactions.

(a) How do their kinetic energies compare after they have both undergone the same displacement?

(b) How do their momenta compare?

(c) How do their kinetic energies and momenta compare at some fixed instant after they have been released?

(d) How would you need to adjust the charges on the particles in order for the two particles to have the same acceleration upon release?

Figure 25.2 The free motion of charged particles in an electric field is different from the free fall of objects in a gravitational field. (a) In uniform gravitational field, particles with different masses have same acceleration. (b) In uniform electric field, particles with different masses but same charge have different accelerations. a 19 m Earth E t q, m q, m + + thet