Find the speed of an electron given momentum

In summary, when solving for the speed of an electron with a given momentum of 2.74 10-22 kg · m/s, the equation p=ymv should be used, where y=gamma. This means that the correct formula for finding the electron's speed is v=p/γm, not p/m. Since γ is a function of v, it should be written out and then solved for v accurately.
  • #1
psilovethomas
14
0

Homework Statement


An electron has momentum of magnitude 2.74 10-22 kg · m/s. What is the electron's speed?

Homework Equations


p=ymv, where y=gamma


The Attempt at a Solution


v=p/m, which is wrong. Any suggestions?
 
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  • #2
psilovethomas said:

Homework Statement


An electron has momentum of magnitude 2.74 10-22 kg · m/s. What is the electron's speed?

Homework Equations


p=ymv, where y=gamma


The Attempt at a Solution


v=p/m, which is wrong. Any suggestions?
If p = γmv, then v = p/γm not p/m. Of course, γ itself is a function of v, so you need to write it out and then solve for v correctly.
 

What is momentum?

Momentum is a physical quantity that describes the motion of an object. It is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity.

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

The formula for calculating momentum is p = m * v, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

How is momentum related to the speed of an electron?

Momentum is directly proportional to the speed of an electron. This means that as the speed of an electron increases, its momentum also increases.

How do you find the speed of an electron given its momentum?

The speed of an electron can be calculated by dividing its momentum by its mass. The formula is v = p / m, where v is speed, p is momentum, and m is mass.

What is the unit of measurement for momentum?

The unit of measurement for momentum is kilogram meters per second (kg*m/s) in the SI system. In other systems, it may be measured in grams centimeters per second (g*cm/s) or pound feet per second (lb*ft/s).

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