asciola said:so if the electron is initially at rest that gives
p = 0 so 0 = p' + q
therefore
-p' = q and p'2 = q2
rewriting as
E2/c2 - m2*c2 = (h/λ)2
I feel like this isn't going in the right direction.
Dick said:Ok, so the initial electron at rest has total energy mc^2. The final electron has some momentum p. What's the total energy of the final electron in terms of p?
asciola said:the only equation i can think of is E2 = p2c2 + m2c4
Dick said:That's fine. So if you assume p is nonzero, which is larger, the initial energy of the electron or the final energy of the electron?
asciola said:I think i know where this is going. So if the final energy is larger, then in order for energy to be conserved the energy of the photon would have to be negative, which is not possible.
Dick said:You've got it.
asciola said:Thanks! I was thinking it would involve more equations to prove.
An isolated electron is defined as an electron that is not interacting with any other particle or field. In order for an electron to emit a photon, it must undergo a change in energy level. However, since an isolated electron is not interacting with any other particles or fields, it cannot undergo this change in energy level and therefore cannot emit a photon.
According to the law of energy conservation, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In the case of an isolated electron emitting a photon, the electron would have to gain energy in order to emit the photon. However, since there are no other particles or fields for the electron to interact with, it cannot gain energy and therefore cannot emit a photon.
Yes, it is possible for an isolated electron to absorb a photon. This is because the absorption of a photon does not require a change in energy level, but rather a transfer of energy from the photon to the electron.
No, an isolated electron cannot emit a photon in a vacuum. This is because a vacuum is defined as a space devoid of all matter and particles, including electromagnetic fields. Without any other particles or fields present, the isolated electron cannot undergo a change in energy level and emit a photon.
An isolated electron has a charge of -1, while a photon has a neutral charge. In order for an electron to emit a photon, it must undergo a change in energy level and release the excess energy in the form of a photon. However, since there are no other particles or fields for the electron to interact with, it cannot undergo this change in energy level and therefore cannot emit a photon.