An electron and a proton, initiall sepatated by a distance d in air are released from rest simultaneously. The two particles are free to move. When they collide, are they (a) at the midpoint of their initial separation, (b) closer to the initial position of the proton or (c ) closer to the initial position of the electron?

Explanation

To solve the problem, we need to analyze the motion of the electron and proton after they are released from rest. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

### Step 1: Understand the Forces Acting on the Particles
When the electron and proton are released, they experience an electrostatic force due to their opposite charges. According to Coulomb's Law, the force \( F \) between two charges is given by:
\[ F = k \frac{|q_1 q_2|}{r^2} \]
where \( k \) is Coulomb's constant, \( q_1 \) and \( q_2 \) are the magnitudes of the charges, and \( r \) is the distance between them.
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