materi What is the speed (in terms of c) of a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton? The rest mass of the proton is 938 MeV. The phrase "a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton" means that the kinetic energy of the roton is 1.00 GeV.

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Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) in the 100 MeV–1.00 GeV energy range pose the greatest radiation danger to astronauts in Earth orbit or on future interplanetary missions. As we shall find in the chapter on nuclear physics, fast-moving protons are 10 times as effective in causing radiation damage as x-rays of the same energy. Approximately 85% of GCRs are fast-moving protons, and spacecraft traveling in interplanetary space would require thick shielding to attenuate not only the incident cosmic rays, but also the shower of secondary particles created when the cosmic ray particles impacted the shielding material.

(a) What is the speed (in terms of c) of a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton? The rest mass of the proton is 938 MeV. The phrase "a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton" means that the kinetic energy of the proton is 1.00 GeV.

[Textbox] c

As we contemplate space travel at relativistic speeds, we must consider the low-density abundance of atomic hydrogen in the interstellar medium (ISM), estimated to be approximately 1.8 atoms/cm³. In the rest frame of a spacecraft traveling at relativistic speeds, the hydrogen atoms of the ISM would appear to move toward the spacecraft at the speed with which the spacecraft is moving relative to a stationary observer, effectively showering the spacecraft at cosmic ray energies. In the frame of reference of the spacecraft, what would be the equivalent kinetic energy (in MeV) of hydrogen atoms in the interstellar medium if the spacecraft were moving at the following speeds?

(b) 0.550c

[Textbox] MeV

(c) 0.710c

[Textbox] MeV

(d) 0.910c

[Textbox] MeV
Transcribed Image Text:Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) in the 100 MeV–1.00 GeV energy range pose the greatest radiation danger to astronauts in Earth orbit or on future interplanetary missions. As we shall find in the chapter on nuclear physics, fast-moving protons are 10 times as effective in causing radiation damage as x-rays of the same energy. Approximately 85% of GCRs are fast-moving protons, and spacecraft traveling in interplanetary space would require thick shielding to attenuate not only the incident cosmic rays, but also the shower of secondary particles created when the cosmic ray particles impacted the shielding material. (a) What is the speed (in terms of c) of a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton? The rest mass of the proton is 938 MeV. The phrase "a 1.00 GeV cosmic ray proton" means that the kinetic energy of the proton is 1.00 GeV. [Textbox] c As we contemplate space travel at relativistic speeds, we must consider the low-density abundance of atomic hydrogen in the interstellar medium (ISM), estimated to be approximately 1.8 atoms/cm³. In the rest frame of a spacecraft traveling at relativistic speeds, the hydrogen atoms of the ISM would appear to move toward the spacecraft at the speed with which the spacecraft is moving relative to a stationary observer, effectively showering the spacecraft at cosmic ray energies. In the frame of reference of the spacecraft, what would be the equivalent kinetic energy (in MeV) of hydrogen atoms in the interstellar medium if the spacecraft were moving at the following speeds? (b) 0.550c [Textbox] MeV (c) 0.710c [Textbox] MeV (d) 0.910c [Textbox] MeV
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