- #1
Procrastinate
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A radioactive nucleus of mass 5 × 10–26 kg is at rest and emits two neutrons,
each of mass 1.6 × 10–27 kg, at right angles to each other. If both have speeds of
360 m s–1, calculate the recoil speed of the nucleus.
I named calculated the neutrons and named them p1 and p2.
Since p1 = p2
Therefore the momentum of both equals 1.8x10-26
Using Pythagoras, I worked out the overall momentum to be 2.55x10-26
I then used the formula m1v1 = m2v2 and worked out the velocity to be 509-510ms-1; I didn't bother working out the angle because that was already the wrong answer. The real answer is 17.39ms-1.
What have I done wrong? Thanks in advance.
each of mass 1.6 × 10–27 kg, at right angles to each other. If both have speeds of
360 m s–1, calculate the recoil speed of the nucleus.
I named calculated the neutrons and named them p1 and p2.
Since p1 = p2
Therefore the momentum of both equals 1.8x10-26
Using Pythagoras, I worked out the overall momentum to be 2.55x10-26
I then used the formula m1v1 = m2v2 and worked out the velocity to be 509-510ms-1; I didn't bother working out the angle because that was already the wrong answer. The real answer is 17.39ms-1.
What have I done wrong? Thanks in advance.