Calculating Kinetic Energy of Reaction Products in 13-C (d,n) 14-N Reaction

f4d_girl
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"Calculate the total KE of the products of the reaction

13-C (d,n) 14-N if the incoming deuteron (d) has KE = 36.3 MeV"

I used the Q-value equation which is

Q = KEn + KEN - KEn - KEd

but to find the kinetic energy for each particle, velocity is required (which isn't given in the question)

So, i tried to use E=MC^2 and didn't work out well

to calculate the total KE of the products (KE of neutron and nitrogen)

can't i just use E=MC^2?

please help:confused:

Thanks
 
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One has to use conservation of total energy, i.e the sum of kinetic and rest energies before = sum of kinetic and rest energies after.

The Q value is the difference in rest energy (masses). If Q > 0, the released energy is manifest in the kinetic energy of the products.

If Q < 0, some energy (e.g. kinetic energy of one or both reactants) must be applied.
 
umm okay
so you're saying that i should use KE before = KE after?
but the question is how do i find a kinetic energy of Carbon, neutron and nitrogen?
using E=mc^2?
 
Try KE (after) = KE (before) + Q or

KE(final) = KE(initial) + Q

and one can use classical mechanics for kinetic energy since 36.3 MeV << 1875.6 MeV (rest mass of d).

If one wants to calculate the specific kinetic energy of the particles, then one must apply conservation of momentum (a vector quantity) in both the x and y or longitudinal and transverse directions taken with respect to the incident velocity of the deuteron. A reasonable assumption would be that the beam of deuterons is impinging upon a fixed (solid) target of C.
 
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what I'm asking is, is KE(before) = 36.3 MeV?

KE= 0.5 mv^2, but velocity isn't given in the question
 
i still didn't get it
perhaps this is too complicated question for physics grade 12 IB
but thanks anyway
 
f4d_girl said:
what I'm asking is, is KE(before) = 36.3 MeV?

KE= 0.5 mv^2, but velocity isn't given in the question
You are given the kinetic energy of 36.3 MeV, which is 1/2 mv2.

You could calculate v = sqrt(2KE/m).

Try this page and browse the site - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html
 
i've never heard of this equation v = sqrt(2KE/m)
but i'll try!
thanks
 
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