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Jac8897
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Homework Statement
A neutron in a nuclear reactor makes an elastic head on collision with with the nucleus of a carbon atom initially at rest. (the mass of the carbon nucleus is 12 time the mass of the neutron)
a) what fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy is transferred to the carbon nucleus?
Homework Equations
momentum P(after)=P(before)
M(1a)V(1a)+M(2a)V(2a)=M(1b)V(1b)
Kinetic Energy
M(1a)V(1a)+M(2a)V(2a)=M(1b)V(1b) "I cancel the 1/2 already"
The Attempt at a Solution
I know that I can make the mass any number I want but for simplicity it would be
M(1)=1
M(2)=12
I though I could calculate the speed of the second mass after the collision and then subtracted from the speed of the first mass and calculate the difference but I don't know the initial speed either can some show how to solve this problem? please