Finding Magnitude of Force of a Nucleus

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the magnitude of the strong force required to stop a neutron within the diameter of a nucleus. Given a neutron with an initial speed of 1.3 x 107 m/s and a nucleus diameter of 1.3 x 10-14 m, the correct approach involves using the equation v2 = v02 - 2ad. The user initially miscalculated the acceleration and the resulting force, which should be derived from the corrected acceleration value multiplied by the neutron's mass of 1.67 x 10-27 kg.

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AnkhUNC
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Homework Statement


A nucleus that captures a stray neutron [in a nuclear reactor, for example] must bring the neutron to a stop within the diameter of the nucleus by means of the strong force.That force, which "glues" the nucleus together, is approximately zero outside the nucleus. Suppose that a stray neutron with an initial speed of 1.3 x 107 m/s is just barely captured by a nucleus with a diameter of 1.3 x 10-14 m. Assuming the strong force on the neutron is constant, find the magnitude of that force. (The neutron's mass is 1.67x10-27 kg.)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



So I do the following:

v^2 = v0^2-2ad -> 0^2 = 1.3*10^7 - 2a(1.3*10^-14)
a = -1.3*10^7/(2(1.3*10^-14)) = 2.20385 so * mass = 2.010423077E-5

But this is incorrect?
 
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Hi AnkhUNC,

It looks to me like you made some math errors in the last line of your work. It looks like you might not have squared the velocity, and maybe more after that.
 
Yeah I did I worked it out thanks
 

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