Question

A neutron having kinetic energy 12.5 eV collides with a hydrogen atom at rest. Nelgect the difference in mass between the neutron and the hydrogen atom and assume that the neutron does not leave its line of motion. Find the possible kinetic energies of the neutron after the event.

Answer 1

Given:
Initial kinetic energy of the neutron, K = 12.5 eV
The velocities of the two bodies of equal masses undergoing elastic collision in one dimension gets interchanged after the collision.

Since the hydrogen atom is at rest, after collision, the velocity of the neutron will be zero.
Hence, it has zero energy.