- #1
tyrant91101
- 13
- 0
I have been learning particle physics lately but it's been mostly from a theoretical perspective and not a mathematical one so I have yet to come across any such math but my curiosity is peaked.
From what I understand it, this is the process:
[itex]
n \rightarrow p + W^{-}
[/itex]
Followed by:
[itex]
W^{-} \rightarrow e^{-} + \bar{v}_{e}
[/itex]
Since [itex]m_{e} ~= .511 MeV/c^2[/itex] and [itex]m_{v_{e}} << m_{e}[/itex], there is about [itex]79.9995 GeV/c^{2}[/itex] missing. I am unclear where this energy goes. Does it go into the momentum of the electron (since it is ultrarelitivistic during the decay)?
I've tried to solve the equation [itex]E = m^{2}c^{4} + p^{2}c^{2}[/itex] but I get a weird mass for the electron ([itex]5.68 x 10^{-12} kg[/itex]) and I am all around confused by the equation.
If I have the wrong equation, which other one do I use for this type of math? If I am using the write equation, what is the best way of dealing with the units?
From what I understand it, this is the process:
[itex]
n \rightarrow p + W^{-}
[/itex]
Followed by:
[itex]
W^{-} \rightarrow e^{-} + \bar{v}_{e}
[/itex]
Since [itex]m_{e} ~= .511 MeV/c^2[/itex] and [itex]m_{v_{e}} << m_{e}[/itex], there is about [itex]79.9995 GeV/c^{2}[/itex] missing. I am unclear where this energy goes. Does it go into the momentum of the electron (since it is ultrarelitivistic during the decay)?
I've tried to solve the equation [itex]E = m^{2}c^{4} + p^{2}c^{2}[/itex] but I get a weird mass for the electron ([itex]5.68 x 10^{-12} kg[/itex]) and I am all around confused by the equation.
If I have the wrong equation, which other one do I use for this type of math? If I am using the write equation, what is the best way of dealing with the units?