A beam of alpha particles is incident on a target of lead. A particular alpha particle comes in “head-on” to a particular lead nucleu and stops 6.50 * 10-14 m away from the center of the nucleus. (This point is well outside the nucleus.) Assume that the lead nucleus, which has 82 protons, remains at rest. The mass of the alpha particle is 6.64 * 10-27 kg. (a) Calculate the electrostatic potential energy at the instant that the alpha particle stops. Express your result in joules and in MeV. (b) What initial kinetic energy (in joules and in MeV) did the alpha particle have? (c) What was the initial speed of the alpha particle?

Modern Physics
3rd Edition
ISBN:9781111794378
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Chapter15: Elementary Particles
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 35P
icon
Related questions
Question

A beam of alpha particles is incident on a target of lead. A particular alpha particle comes in “head-on” to a particular lead nucleu and stops 6.50 * 10-14 m away from the center of the nucleus. (This point is well outside the nucleus.) Assume that the lead nucleus, which has 82 protons, remains at rest. The mass of the alpha particle is 6.64 * 10-27 kg. (a) Calculate the electrostatic potential energy at the instant that the alpha particle stops. Express your result in joules and in MeV. (b) What initial kinetic energy (in joules and in MeV) did the alpha particle have? (c) What was the initial speed of the alpha particle?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Binding Energy
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Modern Physics
Modern Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781111794378
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Physics
ISBN:
9781133104261
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics Volume 3
University Physics Volume 3
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168185
Author:
William Moebs, Jeff Sanny
Publisher:
OpenStax
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168000
Author:
Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
Publisher:
OpenStax College