Reynolds Metals

what is the velocity of the aluminium nucleus after the collision?

An alpha particle moving at 3% of the speed of light collides elastically with a stationary aluminium nucleus(atomic number 13 and mass number 27). If the alpha particle bounces backwards at 0.1% of the speed of light.

Public Comments

1. conservation of momentum M1V1 + M2V2 = M1U1 + M2U2 M1(V1 - U1) - M2(V2 - U2) = 0 mass of proton = mp = 1.673E-27 kg mass of neutron = mn = 1.675E-27 kg M1 = mass of alpha 2p + 2n = 2mp +2mn = 6.696E-27 kg V1 = final velocity of alpha = (0.001)(299 792 458) = 299 792 m/s U1 = initial velocity of alpha = (0.03)(299 792 458) = 8 993 774 m/s M2 = mass of alum 13p + 14n = 13*mp + 14mn = 4.52E-26 kg U2 = initial velocity of alum = 0 V2 =? V2 = - 1 287 969 m/s