Neutron-Atom Collision: Energy Transfer

[bgil1989]

1. A neutron in a reactor makes an elastic head-
on collision with the nucleus of an atom ini-
tially at rest.
Assume: The mass of the atomic nucleus is
about 13.2 the mass of the neutron.
What fraction of the neutron’s kinetic en-
ergy is transferred to the atomic nucleus?

 

[LowlyPion]

1. A neutron in a reactor makes an elastic head-
on collision with the nucleus of an atom ini-
tially at rest.
Assume: The mass of the atomic nucleus is
about 13.2 the mass of the neutron.
What fraction of the neutron’s kinetic en-
ergy is transferred to the atomic nucleus?

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