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9 December, 16:31

A proton is traveling to the right at 2.0 * 107 m/s. It has a headon perfectly elastic collision with a carbon atom. The mass of the carbon atom is 12 times the mass of the proton. What are the speed and direction of each after the collision?

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  1. 9 December, 16:46
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    Speed of proton = 1.69 x 10⁷ m/s to the left

    Speed of carbon = 3.08 x 10⁶ m/s to the right

    Explanation:

    Elastic collision means momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

    Mass of carbon = 12 x Mass of proton.

    Initial velocity of proton = 2 x 10⁷ m/s

    Initial velocity of Carbon = 0 m/s

    Final velocity of proton = u

    Final velocity of carbon = v

    Initial momentum = Final momentum.

    m x 2 x 10⁷ + 12m x 0 = m x u + 12m x v

    u + 12v = 2 x 10⁷

    u = 2 x 10⁷ - 12v

    Initial K. E = Final K. E

    0.5 x m x (2 x 10⁷) ² + 0.5 x 12m x 0² = 0.5 x m x u² + 0.5 x 12m x (v) ²

    u² + 12v² = 4 x 10¹⁴

    (2 x 10⁷ - 12v) ² + 12v² = 4 x 10¹⁴

    4 x 10¹⁴ - 48 x 10⁷v + 144v² + 12v² = 4 x 10¹⁴

    156v² = 48 x 10⁷v

    v = 3.08 x 10⁶ m/s

    u + 12 x 3.08 x 10⁶ = 2 x 10⁷

    u = - 1.69 x 10⁷ m/s

    Speed of proton = 1.69 x 10⁷ m/s to the left

    Speed of carbon = 3.08 x 10⁶ m/s to the right
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