# Elastic Neutron Collision (Conservation of Momentum and Energy?)

1. Dec 3, 2013

### frownifdown

1. A neutron collides elastically with a helium nucleus (at rest initially) whose mass is four times that of the neutron. The helium nucleus is observed to rebound at an angle '2 = 41° from the neutron's initial direction. The neutron's initial speed is 5.6 105 m/s.

Determine the angle at which the neutron rebounds, '1, measured from its initial direction.

What is the speed of the neutron after the collision?

What is the speed of the helium nucleus after the collision?

2. Conservation of momentum and conservation of energy

3. I really don't even know how to start with this question. I assume it would have something to do with setting up a conservation of momentum equation then one of energy and solving them both but I'm not sure.

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 3, 2013
2. Dec 3, 2013

### voko

Yes, that is the way to go.

3. Dec 3, 2013

### frownifdown

How would that look exactly? I have

mv(neutron)1 = mv(neutron)2 + 4mv(helium)2

Is that close?

4. Dec 3, 2013

### voko

That is correct, if the v's are vectors. You may want to decompose them into xy components, taking x as the direction of the neutron's initial velocity.

5. Dec 3, 2013

### frownifdown

So what would I put for the equation then? Would I have to put the velocity of the helium multiplied by the sin and cos of 41?

6. Dec 3, 2013

### voko

Yes, that is the components of helium's velocity after the collision. Do the same thing for all the other components, you should have two equations, one for the x components, another for the y components.

7. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Alright here is the work that I've done so far. I have the two equations but I don't really know how to proceed because I have so many unknowns. Also I'm not sure where I should put sin41 and cos41. Obviously the sin would go in the Y equation and cos in the X but I'm not sure where exactly it goes.

http://i.imgur.com/9dWvHPi.jpg

8. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Can anyone help me with this problem? It's been kicking my *** for days and it's due tonight

9. Dec 5, 2013

### voko

What you have done so far is correct.

You have four unknowns, which you can reduce to three if you use the information on the angle of helium's velocity: $V_{Hx} = V_H \cos \alpha, \ V_{Hy} = V_H \sin \alpha$. So you will have two equations and three unknowns. You can add to that conservation of energy, and the system should be solvable.

10. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

What would my conservation of energy equation look like?

11. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

I have Mneutron(5.6*10^5)^2 = Mneutron(5.6*10^5)^2 + 2Mhelium(Vhelium)^2

Not sure how to proceed if that is even right

12. Dec 5, 2013

### voko

The neutron is said to collide elastically. What does that mean?

13. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

That energy of the system is conserved. Is that not what I did?

14. Dec 5, 2013

### voko

Of course this is not right. Why would the neutron have the same velocity after the collision? That is what you need to find.

15. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Really I'm unsure about what to do with the masses. Do I need to put in a value for them? Or just do 1 and 2 for them after multiplying by half for all of the figures in the energy

16. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Ah good point. So then it is just that equation with the masses being...? Not sure on that. Would I put Vhelium as sinθ*Vhy?

17. Dec 5, 2013

### voko

I would keep the M symbol to denote the mass of neutron, and 2M for helium. You can ditch the M, but when it is there, it serves as a sanity check. After you get the final system of equations, then you can drop it.

18. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Ok I was thinking that I'd do that. Then what would I substitute in for Vh?

19. Dec 5, 2013

### frownifdown

Sorry I just have 10 minutes to get this answer in so I'm trying to hurry. Will take me from an 85% to a 97% on the hw. I really appreciate all the help you've given me so far though

20. Dec 5, 2013

### voko

$V_H$ is an unknown. You have two more: $V_{Nx}, \ V_{Ny}$.

You have two equations for them. Add another from conservation of energy and solve the system.