How Is the Mass of the Target Nucleus Calculated in an Elastic Collision?

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion on calculating the mass of a target nucleus in an elastic collision, a proton with a mass of 1 u collides with an unknown nucleus. The proton's initial speed is 2.40×10^6 m/s, and after the collision, its speed decreases by 25%, while the target nucleus gains a speed of 3.50×10^5 m/s. The user initially applied the conservation of momentum equation but made an error by not accounting for the direction of the proton's final velocity. After correcting the sign in the equation, the user successfully determined the mass of the target nucleus. The final mass calculated is consistent with the principles of elastic collisions.
Emendez3
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A proton (mass 1 u) is shot toward an unknown target nucleus at a speed of 2.40×10^6 m/s. The proton rebounds with its speed reduced by 25% while the target nucleus acquires a speed of 3.50×10^5 m/s.

What is the mass, in atomic mass units, of the target nucleus?




I tried:
Mp*Vip+Mn*Vin=Mp*Vfp+Mn*Vfn

where Mp= Mass proton=1
Vip= intial proton velocity=2.4E6
Mn= Mass nucleus=unknown
Vin=Initial Velocity of nucleus=0
Vfp= Final velocity proton=.75(2.4E6)
Vfn=final velocity nucleus= 3.5E5


i get 1.71u but its wrong
 
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The final proton velocity has a minus sign
 
borgwal said:
The final proton velocity has a minus sign

Thank you very much got the answer
 
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