The kinetic energy of proton-electron for a black body

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the kinetic energy of electrons and protons when interacting with light in the context of black body radiation. Participants explore the relationship between mass, kinetic energy, and the motion of these particles, as well as the implications of their differing masses on energy transfer during interactions with light.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that electrons gain more energy from light than protons due to their lower mass, questioning the relationship between mass and kinetic energy.
  • Another participant clarifies that kinetic energy is also dependent on velocity squared, suggesting that the context of energy gain in interactions must be considered.
  • A participant explains that the force on an electron in an electric field results in a greater change in momentum compared to a proton, leading to a significant difference in kinetic energy ratios.
  • There is a discussion about the numerical representation of the mass ratio between protons and electrons, with some participants correcting and clarifying the notation used.
  • The conversation shifts to a meta-discussion about the use of numerical notation in different cultures, highlighting potential confusion in scientific communication.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of understanding regarding the relationship between mass, kinetic energy, and velocity. While some points are clarified, there remains uncertainty about the implications of these relationships, and no consensus is reached on the initial claims regarding energy transfer.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight assumptions about fixed velocities and the effects of electric fields on particle momentum, which may not be universally applicable. The discussion also touches on cultural differences in numerical notation that could affect clarity in scientific discourse.

sinus
Messages
17
Reaction score
1
I'm watching a video about " What is a black body?". That video said when the light interacts with the surface of a body, the electron and proton start oscillating. The electrons gain more transferred energy from the light that became its kinetic energy, rather than the proton because its mass are much less massive than protons.

First, I confused because kinetic energy is proportional with mass, the greater the mass the greater the energy, right? Well, proton's mass is 1.836 times larger than the electron, why electron gets more energy from light? My idea is because electron is freely to move rather than the proton that located at the center of the atom (it can't move easily). Is my idea right that even the proton's mass is more more greater, it still can't make its kinetic energy larger than the electron's?

Please tell me if my idea above is right or there's a misconception, thank you all so much.
 
Science news on Phys.org
sinus said:
The electrons gain more transferred energy from the light that became its kinetic energy, rather than the proton because its mass are much less massive than protons.

First, I confused because kinetic energy is proportional with mass, the greater the mass the greater the energy, right?
Kinetic energy is also proportional to velocity squared, the change of which depends on the mass too. You are confusing kinetic energy for a fixed velocity with kinetic energy gained in a collision/interaction.
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: PeroK, Gleb1964, topsquark and 2 others
A.T. said:
Kinetic energy is also proportional to velocity squared, the change of which depends on the mass too. You are confusing kinetic energy for a fixed velocity with kinetic energy gained in a collision/interaction.
Oh yeaah, I forgot to consider the velocity. Thank you so much :)
 
sinus said:
First, I confused because kinetic energy is proportional with mass, the greater the mass the greater the energy, right?
That assumes the same speeds!!

The Force on an electron (charge e) in a field E will be eE. Same magnitude for a proton (charge -e). If the field is applied for time t then the changes in momentum will be
eEt/me and eEt/mp. The lighter particle gets two thousand times more momentum. So the ratio of kinetic energies will be 20002. We ignore the p energy.

We're in the same neck of the woods as when a bullet gets most of the energy and the (massive) gun gets only a small amount.
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes   Reactions: sinus and topsquark
sinus said:
Well, proton's mass is 1.836 times larger than the electron, why electron gets more energy from light?
You meant 1,836 =1.836E3 times I presume. That makes gun/bullet analogy just about perfect
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sinus
hutchphd said:
You meant 1,836 =1.836E3 times I presume.
Depends on where in the world you are...
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: SammyS
Thanks. I have seen the comma (,) used to demarcate the decimal point but not the period (.) for thousands. Very old dog new tricks!
 
You must NEVER use the comma (in German the point) in this way ever! Even worse are words like "billion" (is it ##10^9## as in the US or ##10^{12}## as in Germany?). We have a concise scientific notation, we should use in the natural sciences, and nothing else!
 
Like the kilogram to denote one unit of mass...

:wink:
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: sophiecentaur, Vanadium 50, hutchphd and 1 other person

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 54 ·
2
Replies
54
Views
11K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K