Kinetic energy of positron/electron collision

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a collision between a positron and an electron, both with specified kinetic energies, resulting in their transformation into photons. The context is rooted in concepts of kinetic energy, conservation of momentum, and energy in relativistic physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and energy, questioning how momentum is conserved when photons have no mass. There is also exploration of how to calculate the energy of the resulting photons and the role of rest mass energy in the process.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants clarifying concepts related to energy conservation and the transformation of mass into energy. Some guidance has been provided regarding the importance of considering rest mass energy in the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of relativistic energy calculations and the implications of mass-energy equivalence in the context of particle collisions.

Kreamer
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Homework Statement


A positron is a particle that has the same mass but opposite charge of an electron. An electron and a positron are shot directly toward each other by a particle accelerator. They start very far from each other, each with a kinetic energy of 5 × 10−14 J. When they collide, they disintegrate and completely transform into two photons. What is the total (combined) kinetic energy of the two photons after the collision?

A. 8 × 10−14J
B. 1.6 × 10−14J
C. 1.0 × 10−13 J
D. 2.6 × 10−13J
E. 1.3 × 10−13 J

The attempt at a solution
I know the answer is D. 2.6 x 10-13J from an answer key however I am a little confused as to how to get that answer.
First I started thinking about how momentum is always conserved however photons have no mass so the momentum of the photons is 0 correct? So how is momentum conserved? And how is the answer D?
 
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The momentum of the positron and electron system is zero since they are equal masses moving at equal speeds in opposite directions so their vectorial sum is zero. Which will be the same for the two photons since they will be equal speeds in opposite directions.

As far as the exact energy this is going to be determined the key to this problem is actually conservation of energy. I didn't double check but I'm assuming the energy needs to be calculated relativistically.
 
Ah that does make sense. However I am having a little trouble with the actual calculating of the photons energy. I figured with conservation of energy the initial kinetic energy would equal the final kinetic energy. I still do not fully understand how to calculate the final energy of the photons and how the given answer would be correct.
 
E initial = mc^2 + KE = E final

The idea is that the mass energy of the electron/positron pair is converted to additional kinetic energy of the photons.
 
Ahhh I am forgetting the basics! Forgot about rest mass energy. Thank You!
 

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