- #1
roeb
- 107
- 1
Homework Statement
If the maximum energy imparted to an electron in Compton scattering is 45 keV. What is the wavelength of the incident photon?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex]\lambda_2 - \lambda_1 = h/mc (1 - cos \theta )[/tex]
My first initial thought was to apply conservation of energy.
initial = final
hf + [tex]m_0 c^2[/tex] = [tex]m_0 c^2[/tex] + Ke + hf'
Where Ke = 45 keV (the kinetic energy of the scattered electron).
Since the problem states maximum energy, I thought that this would mean that theta = 90.
I then proceeded to get f - f' = 1.08 x 10^(19) Hz.
Then I was thinking well, since this is a maximum energy, why not say that f' = 0 (all of the photon's energy is absorbed, but then again that isn't really scattering is it?)
Unfortunately, using c = f [tex]\lambda[/tex] I still get the incorrect answer.
Does anyone know what I did incorrectly?
[tex]test[/tex]
Last edited: