Calculate the ratio of the neutron’s final kinetic energy to its initial kinetic energy (Kf/Ki) for each of the collisions in (b). (answer: electron: Kf/Ki @ 1.0; proton: Kf/Ki = 0; carbon: Kf/Ki » 0.024; thorium: Kf/Ki » 0.98)
A neutron with mass m1 moving with velocity v0 collides elastically and head-on with a target particle with mass m2 that is at rest. After the collision, the neutron moves with velocity v1f and the target particle moves with velocity v2f.
- Write the two equations that express conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy for this collision.
- Consider collisions of the neutron (mass = 1.0
atomic mass unit (amu)) with the following stationary target particles - an electron (mass =5 x 10-4 amu)
- a proton (mass = 1.0 amu)
- the nucleus of a carbon atom (mass = 12.0 amu)
- the nucleus of a uranium atom (mass = 238 amu)
Match some of the collisions above with each of the following head-on collisions that we discussed in lecture:
- the collision between two billiard balls, one of the billiard balls initially at rest
- the collision between a ping pong ball and a bowling ball, the ping pong ball initially at rest
- the collision between a ping pong ball and a bowling ball, the bowling ball initially at rest
(c) Calculate the ratio of the neutron’s final kinetic energy to its initial kinetic energy (Kf/Ki) for each of the collisions in (b). (answer: electron: Kf/Ki @ 1.0; proton: Kf/Ki = 0; carbon: Kf/Ki » 0.024; thorium: Kf/Ki » 0.98)
(d) What percentage of the neutron’s kinetic energy is lost in each of the above collisions?
(answer: electron: @ 0%; proton: 100%; carbon: » 97.6%; thorium: » 2%)
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 5 steps with 5 images
