Chapter 27.1, Problem 24SSC

To determine

To Explain: Whether proton will gain as much energy when it collides with the photon in Compton experiment as when electron collides with proton. The effect on the energy lost by the photon in this case.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Compton Effect: It involves inelastic collision between X-ray and electron. When X-ray collides with the electron, the ray scatters and the electron recoils. The energy of the scattered X-ray is less than the incident ray which means it has longer wavelength.

As proton is much more massive than an electron, the energy gained by proton and that lost by photon would not be same as in case of collision between an electron and photon. Less energy would be transferred in the former case.