Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 9 - Impulse and Momentum - Exercises and Problems - Page 243: 58

Answer

$4.82\times 10^5\;\rm m/s$

Work Step by Step

We can consider the proton plus the golden target as an isolated system. So, the momentum is conserved. $$p_{ix}=p_{fx}$$ $$m_pv_{ix,p}+m_g\overbrace{v_{ix,g}}^{=0}=m_pv_{fx,p}+m_gv_{fx,g}$$ where $p$ refers to the proton and $g$ refers to the golden target. The initial speed of the golden target is zero since it was at rest. Now we need to solve for $v_{fx,g}$; $$m_pv_{ix,p} -m_pv_{fx,p}=m_gv_{fx,g}$$ $$ v_{fx,g}=\dfrac{m_pv_{ix,p} -m_pv_{fx,p}}{m_g} $$ We know that the recoil speed of the proton is 0.9 its initial speed but in the opposite direction. so $v_{fx,p}=-0.9v_{ix,p}$ $$ v_{fx,g}=\dfrac{m_pv_{ix,p} -(-0.9m_pv_{ix,p})}{m_g} $$ $$ v_{fx,g}=\dfrac{1.9m_pv_{ix,p} }{m_g} $$ Plugging the known; $$ v_{fx,g}=\dfrac{ 1.9\times 1 \times 5.0\times 10^7 }{197} =\color{red}{\bf 4.82\times 10^5}\;\rm m/s $$
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