Solve Gorgon Decay Problem: Find Photon Energy & Lexicon Velocity

  • Thread starter Thread starter rei
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Particle
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on solving the Gorgon decay problem using conservation of energy and momentum principles. The Gorgon, with a rest mass of 3000 MeV/c^2, decays into a photon and a Lexicon, which has a rest mass of 1800 MeV/c^2. The photon is emitted in the -x direction while the Lexicon moves in the +x direction. The user encountered difficulties leading to a quadratic equation with three solutions, creating confusion about the next steps. The conversation emphasizes the need to correctly apply energy and momentum conservation equations to resolve the unknowns in the problem.
rei
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I've been trying to use energy and momentum conservation in this problem but it didn't work out or I got a quadratic equation and got 3 different answers. Can anyone help me please. Here is the problem

The Gorgon ( rest mass of 3000 MeV/c^2) decays into a photon (i.e, a particle of light) and Lexicon (rest mass of 1800 MeV/c^2).

The Gorgon was initially at rest. The photon is emitted in the -x direction and the Lexicon is in the +x direction. Find the energy of the photon and the final velocity of the Lexicon.

Thanks a lot
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Please show what you have done.

Think - Conservation of energy and conservation of momentum.

The momentum of a photon, p = E/c

Remember there is rest energy and kinetic energy, so total energy must be conserved, and momentum.
 
I have Eg = Ep + El and the same thing for p

also E = square root of [(pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2]

and pc of photon will be equal -pc of elicon.

Substitute both of the above into the conservation of energy equation. I only have one unknow which is p of photon. But then I got a quandratic equation with 3 different answers. I don't know what to do next.

Thanks
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

How to calculate gamma ray energies following beta decay?
Replies
12
Views
1K
Why Is Energy Released in Nuclear Decay Equal to Change in Binding Energies?
Replies
13
Views
1K
Calculating the energy of anti neutrino
Replies
10
Views
4K
The binding energy per nucleon of tritium
Replies
10
Views
2K
Kinetic Energy of Colliding Protons
2
Replies
54
Views
10K
Energy released through alpha decay
Replies
16
Views
3K
Find the change in mass from the KE (nuclear decay)
Replies
1
Views
1K
Compute the energy of the emitted alpha for Na20 decaying to an excited state
Replies
6
Views
4K
Calculating Photon Frequency From Relativistic Decay: Homework Solution
Replies
10
Views
2K
Invariant mass and energy balance
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top