Relativistic Kinetic Energy and Momentum
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An electron and a proton are each accelerated through a potential difference of 10.0 million volts.
a) What is the kinetic energy of the electron? What is the kinetic energy of the proton?
b) Calculate the momentum (MeV/c) of the proton using classical equations.
c) Calculate the momentum (MeV/c) of the proton using relativistic equations.
d) Calculate the momentum (MeV/c) of the electron using classical equations.
e) Calculate the momentum (MeV/c) of the electron using relativistic equations.
f) Why is there a difference?
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Solution Summary
We calculate the relativistic kinetic energy and momentum of a proton and an electron, each accelerated through 10 million volts.
Solution Preview
a) The kinetic energies of both the proton and the electron are 10.0 MeV since they each have a charge of +/-e.
b) The classical momentum P_c of the proton is given by
P_c = m_p v_p
= (m_p c^2)(v_p/c)/c
= (m_p c^2) beta_p/c
= 938 Mev/c * beta_p.
Now since gamma_p = 1/sqrt(1 - beta_p^2), we have
gamma_p^2 = 1/(1 - beta_p^2)
1/gamma_p^2 = 1 - beta_p^2
1 - 1/gamma_p^2 = beta_p^2
whence
beta_p = sqrt(1 - 1/gamma_p^2).
We can compute gamma_p from the equation
K_p = (gamma_p - 1)(m_p c^2),
whence
gamma_p = 1 ...
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