Calculate velocity of a 1MeV Neutron

[rem45]

How would one calculate the velocity of a 1MeV neutron??

I tried the following the attached formula for V/C but E is less than the rest mass which yields the square root of a negative number. Not sure what to do for this

 

[jtbell]

1 MeV here is surely the kinetic energy, not the total (rest plus kinetic) energy.

 

[rem45]

It doesn't say. I guess that I will assume such. Is the 'E' in the equation I am using for the rest mass energy plus the kinetic energy?

 

[Matterwave]

Since a neutron has a higher rest mass than 1MeV, then one should safely assume that kinetic energy is what is meant here.

The E in that equation is indeed the rest+kinetic energy.

 

[mathman]

Since the neutron rest mass is approximately 940 Mev, you probably could use E=(mv^2)/2 to get v. (v=c/22?).

 

[mfb]

Since the neutron rest mass is approximately 940 Mev, you probably could use E=(mv^2)/2 to get v. (v=c/22?).

I agree that a nonrelativistic approach should be fine - it is a very good approximation.