- #1
PJC
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in a particle accelerator a proton and an antiproton, traveling at the same speed, undergo a head on collision and produce sub atomic particles
a) the total kinetic energy of the two particles just before collision is 3.2 x 10^-10J
I) what happens to the proton and anti proton during collision?
my answer----Two pions are formed from an up anti down quark pair and an anti up down quark pair, leaving a down and an anti down quark which will annihilate to produce photon(s)
is this right? it is just a guess.
II) state why the total energy after the collision is more than 3.2 x 10^-10J
i don't know. only thing i can think of is because some mass had been converted to energy, but i don't see how because when the photons are produced they are then traveling at the speed of light even if they have virtually 0 mass so by K.E=0.5mv^2 will K.E not be conserved? someone explain!
(b) in another experiment the total K.E of the colliding proton and anti proton is greater than 3.2 x 10^-10J
state two possible differences this could make to the subatomic particles produced.
ths only thing i can think of is higher frequency photons but photons aren't subatomic particles so i am sunk=/. i don't know.
Just so you know, this is a revision question i found myself, as opposed to homework ( i have exams in two weeks :surprise: ) so i am not just trying to find a cheap way of getting out of homework! i have looked in textbooks and notes but can't find anything useful and I'm worried!
a) the total kinetic energy of the two particles just before collision is 3.2 x 10^-10J
I) what happens to the proton and anti proton during collision?
my answer----Two pions are formed from an up anti down quark pair and an anti up down quark pair, leaving a down and an anti down quark which will annihilate to produce photon(s)
is this right? it is just a guess.
II) state why the total energy after the collision is more than 3.2 x 10^-10J
i don't know. only thing i can think of is because some mass had been converted to energy, but i don't see how because when the photons are produced they are then traveling at the speed of light even if they have virtually 0 mass so by K.E=0.5mv^2 will K.E not be conserved? someone explain!
(b) in another experiment the total K.E of the colliding proton and anti proton is greater than 3.2 x 10^-10J
state two possible differences this could make to the subatomic particles produced.
ths only thing i can think of is higher frequency photons but photons aren't subatomic particles so i am sunk=/. i don't know.
Just so you know, this is a revision question i found myself, as opposed to homework ( i have exams in two weeks :surprise: ) so i am not just trying to find a cheap way of getting out of homework! i have looked in textbooks and notes but can't find anything useful and I'm worried!