Question

A proton of mass 1 a.m.u. collides with a Carbon-12 nucleus (mass = 12 a.m.u.) at rest. Assuming that the collision is perfectly elastic and that the Newton’s laws of motion hold, what fraction of the proton’s kinetic energy is transferred to the Carbon nucleus?
A. 144/169
B. 48/169
C. 25/169
D. 1

Answer 1

In a perfectly elastic collision, the total kinetic energy after collision is equal to the total kinetic energy before collision.


Kinetic energy is conserved.


Hence the entire kinetic energy of proton is converted to the kinetic energy of C- nucleus.

Thus the whole fraction is converted and the anwer in this case is option D, 1.