Conservation of Energy and Momentum of Particles

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a problem involving the conservation of momentum and energy in a nuclear decay scenario. An atomic nucleus moving at 500 m/s emits an alpha particle, resulting in a new nucleus speed of 480 m/s. The conservation of momentum equation is set up, but the user struggles with algebraic manipulation to find the alpha particle's speed. It is clarified that only momentum conservation is necessary, as energy is not conserved in this process. The conversation highlights the complexity of the calculations and the need for assistance in solving the equations correctly.
Fanman22
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An atomic nucleus initially moving at 500 m/s emits an alpha particle in the direction of its velocity, and the new nucleus slows to 480 m/s. If the alpha particle has a mass of 4.0 u and the original nucleus has a mass of 226 u, what speed does the alpha particle have when it is emitted?

Well this is what I came up with so far:
m1=226 V1=500 V1'=?
m2=4 V2=? V2'=480

Use Conservation of Momentum and conservation of kinetic energy to get these equations, respectively:

226(500) + 4(V2) = 226(V1') + 4(480) and...

.5(226)(500)^2 + .5(4)(V2)^2 = .5(226)(V1')^2 + .5(4)(480)^2

Hopefully this is correct so far...now I know I'm supposed to do substitution next, but I'm having some algebra problems.

I got V2= -2.77e4 + 56.5(V1')
I'm not sure if this is correct I'm ashamed to say it, but I'm having a lot of trouble doing the algebra after I substitute it into the other equation.
 
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Energy is not conserved. All you need is conservation of momentum. Realize that after the decay the old nucleus (226u) becomes two particles: the alpha particle (4u) and a new, smaller nucleus (222u).
 
Thanks, my brain just isn't working anymore. I spend about 45minutes trying to do a ridiculous substitution method. You guys are saviors.
 
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