Solving Particles Colliding Homework: Mass of Struck Particle

[kateman]

Homework Statement

A neutron (m= 1.6 x10-27) moving with speed Vo strikes a stationary particle of unknown mass and rebounds elastically straight back along its path with a velocity of .7Vo. What is the mass of the struck particle?

Homework Equations

P initial = P final
Ke initial = Ke final

The Attempt at a Solution

alright i tried saying that the velocity imparted on the stationary particle was .3Vo but that gave me an answer of a mass of a neutron when the actual answer is 9.46 x 10-27.

i know: v1i = Vo
v2i = 0
v1f = .7Vo

but i am unsure as how to continue on from here. Please help.

 

[Vijay Bhatnagar]

Let mass of the stationary particle be m and its velocity after collision be V. Write down the equations for conservation of momentum and kinetic energy (keep in mind the +/- sign of the velocities). Solve these to obtain m. [If you are able to write down the equations but do not know how to solve them to get m, post again writing down upto the step you are able to reach]

 

[kateman]

yeah i understand what your saying:

1/2m1Vo^s = 1/2m1v1f^s+ 1/2m2 .7Vo^s

m1Vo = m1v1f + m2 .7Vo

what i have done is rearrange it for one value and then substitute it into the other equation but this still gives me the wrong answer. any ideas?

 

[Hootenanny]

yeah i understand what your saying:

1/2m1Vo^s = 1/2m1v1f^s+ 1/2m2 .7Vo^s

m1Vo = m1v1f + m2 .7Vo

You should recall that momentum is a vector quantity and hence, direction is important.

 

[kateman]

1/2m1Vo^s = 1/2m1v1f^s - 1/2m2 .7Vo^s

ahhh well a negative in place of a positive might help :P
thanks hootenanny!

 

[Hootenanny]

Careful though, I'm sure ¹/₂m₂(0.7v₀²) should be ¹/₂m₁(0.7v₀²). Assuming that m₁ is your known mass

 

[kateman]

argh its these small errors that really throw me off
thanks again :)

 

[Hootenanny]

argh its these small errors that really throw me off
thanks again :)

No problem

 

[kateman]

alright so i used

m1Vo^2 = -m1 .7Vo^2 + m2 V2f

v2f = m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2

then i subs the v2f into the kinetic formula equation and ended up with this:

m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2 = (m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2)^2

0 = m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2

alright, have i gone wrong somewhere and if so, where?

 

[Hootenanny]

alright so i used

m1Vo^2 = -m1 .7Vo^2 + m2 V2f

v2f = m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2

then i subs the v2f into the kinetic formula equation and ended up with this:

m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2 = (m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2)^2

0 = m1Vo^2 + m1 .7Vo^2/m2

alright, have i gone wrong somewhere and if so, where?

I'm not sure what you've done there, I think you may have got your equations mixed up. Kinetic energy is a scalar quantity; i.e. direction doesn't matter. And make sure you square the whole velocity. I'll start you off;

Momentum
m_1v_0 = m_1(-0.7\times v_0) + m_2v_2

Kinetic Energy
m_1v_0^2 =m_1(0.7\times v_0)^2 + m_2v_2^2

 

[kateman]

hmm i see the directions with ke did stuff me up

if the .7Vo velocity is negative, could you not just say that m1.7Vo as a whole is negative, and then rearrange as such?

i try to rearrange it but keep stuffing it up.

what should i do, rearrange on for v2f and then substitute it in the other? if so i need some more guidance