Closest Approach Distance and Energy Conservation – Rankers Physics
Topic: Electrostatics
Subtopic: Electric Potential Energy

Closest Approach Distance and Energy Conservation

Assertion (A): Distance of closest approach for free target is more than that for fixed target.
Reason (R): Total energy is conserved for free target but not for fixed target.
 
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

For a free target, the target can recoil, sharing kinetic energy with the projectile, leading to less relative kinetic energy converted into potential energy, hence a larger distance of closest approach. Total energy is always conserved if only conservative forces are present for both free and fixed targets. Thus (A) is true and (R) is false.

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