Neutron energy

**dschmidt12** · Nov12-09, 11:22 PM

I've never really understood how a bound neutron can have a kinetic energy and potential energy associated with it. Further, I'm not sure that I quite understand what the potential energy of a free neutron means. I know that these questions might be rather elementary, but when I stopped to think about what these concepts actually meant, I wasn't sure I quite understood. Thanks to anyone who can explain!

**fatra2** · Nov13-09, 02:36 AM

Hi there,

Don't think I understand your question completely!!!

A bound neutron, by the meaning of bound, must have potential energy. A neutron bound to a nucleus is under the influence of the strong nuclear interaction. Therefore, when or if the nucleus desintegrate, the neutron is "shot" out of the region with some kinetic energy.

Cheers

**Vanadium 50** · Nov13-09, 01:04 PM

Let's start from the start. Why is a neutron different from any other object? As an example, the moon has kinetic energy, it has gravitational potential energy, and it's bound to the earth. A passing asteroid also has kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy, even though it's not bound to the earth.

What do you see is different for neutrons?