A neutron in a nuclear reactor makes an elastic, head-on collision with the nucleus of a carbon atom initially at rest. (a) What fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy is transferred to the carbon nucleus? (The mass of the carbon nucleus is about 12.0 times the mass of the neutron.) (b) The initial kinetic energy of the neutron is 2.70 x 10-13 J. Find its final kinetic energy and the kinetic energy of the carbon nucleus after the collision. neutron • Rectangular Snip carbon nucleus

A neutron in a nuclear reactor makes an elastic, head-on collision with the nucleus of a carbon atom initially at rest. (a) What fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy is transferred to the carbon nucleus? (The mass of the carbon nucleus is about 12.0 times the mass of the neutron.) (b) The initial kinetic energy of the neutron is 2.70 x 10-13 J. Find its final kinetic energy and the kinetic energy of the carbon nucleus after the collision. neutron • Rectangular Snip carbon nucleus