CP Kaon Production. In high-energy physics, new particles can be created by collisions of fast-moving projectile particles with stationary particles. Some of the kinetic energy of the incident particle is used to create the mass of the new particle. A proton-proton collision can result in the creation of a negative kaon (K−) and a positive kaon (K+):
(a) Calculate the minimum kinetic energy of the incident proton that will allow this reaction to occur if the second (target) proton is initially at rest. The rest energy of each kaon is 493.7 MeV, and the rest energy of each proton is 938.3 MeV. (Hint: It is useful here to work in the frame in which the total momentum is zero. But note that the Lorentz transformation must be used to relate the velocities in the laboratory frame to those in the zero-total-momentum frame.) (b) How does this calculated minimum kinetic energy compare with the total rest mass energy of the created kaons? (c) Suppose that instead the two protons are both in motion with velocities of equal magnitude and opposite direction. Find the minimum combined kinetic energy of the two protons that will allow the reaction to occur. How does this calculated minimum kinetic energy compare with the total rest mass energy of the created kaons? (This example shows that when colliding beams of particles are used instead of a stationary target, the energy requirements for producing new particles are reduced substantially.)
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 37 Solutions
University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Physics (5th Edition)
Essential University Physics: Volume 2 (3rd Edition)
University Physics Volume 1
The Cosmic Perspective
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Edition)
Essential University Physics: Volume 1 (3rd Edition)
- (a) Using data from Potential Energy of a System (http://cnx.org/content/m5831211atest/#fs-id1165036086155) , find the mass destroyed when the energy in a barrel of crude oil is released. (b) Given these barrels contain 2(N) liters and assuming the density of crude oil is 750kg/m3, what is the ratio of mass destroyed to original mass, m/m?arrow_forward(a) Using data from Table 7.1, find the mass destroyed when the energy in a barrel of crude oil is released. (b) Given these barrels contain 200 liters and assuming the density of crude oil is 750 kg/m3, what is the ratio of mass destroyed to original mass, m/m ?arrow_forward(i) Does the speed of an electron have an upper limit? (a) yes, the speed of light c (b) yes, with another value (c) no (ii) Does the magnitude of an electrons momentum have an upper limit? (a) yes, mec (b) yes, with another value (c) no (iii) Does the electrons kinetic energy have an upper limit? (a) yes, mec2 (b) yes, 12mec2 (c) yes, with another value (d) noarrow_forward
- (a) Calculate the speed of a particle of dust that has the same momentum as a proton moving at 0.999c. (b) What does the small speed tell us about the mass of a proton compared to even a tiny amount of macroscopic matter?arrow_forward(a) All but the closest galaxies are receding from our own Milky Way Galaxy. If a galaxy 12.0x109ly away is receding from us at 0.900c, at what velocity relative to us must we send an exploratory probe to approach the other galaxy at 0.990c as measured from that galaxy? (b) How long will it take the probe to reach the other galaxy as measured from Earth? You may assume that the velocity of the other galaxy remains constant. (c) How long will it then take for a radio signal to be beamed back? (All of this is possible in principle, but not practical.)arrow_forwardAn observer in a coasting spacecraft moves toward a mirror at speed v relative to the reference frame labeled S in Figure P39.85. The mirror is stationary with respect to S. A light pulse emitted by the spacecraft travels toward the mirror and is reflected back to the spacecraft. The spacecraft is a distance d from the mirror (as measured by observers in S) at the moment the light pulse leaves the spacecraft. What is the total travel time of the pulse as measured by observers in (a) the S frame and (b) the spacecraft?arrow_forward
- Consider an electron moving with speed 0.980c. a. What is the rest mass energy of this electron? b. What is the total energyof this electron? c. What is the kinetic energy of this electron?arrow_forwardWhen 1.00 g of hydrogen combines with 8.00 g of oxygen, 9.00 g of water is formed. During this chemical reaction, 2.86 105 J of energy is released. (a) Is the mass of the water larger or smaller than the mass of the reactants? (b) What is the difference in mass? (c) Explain whether the change in mass is likely to be detectable.arrow_forward(a) Calculate the speed of a 1.00- g particle of dust that has the same momentum as a proton moving at 0.999c. (b) What does the small speed tell us about the mass of a proton compared to even a tiny amount of macroscopic matter?arrow_forward
- (a) Calculate for a proton that has a momentum of 1.00 kgm/s. (b) What is its speed? Such protons form a rare component of cosmic radiation with uncertain origins.arrow_forwardA box is cubical with sides of proper lengths L1 = L2 = L3, as shown in Figure P26.14, when viewed in its own rest frame. If this block moves parallel to one of its edges with a speed of 0.80c past an observer, (a) what shape does it appear to have to this observer? (b) What is the length of each side as measured by the observer? Figure P26.14arrow_forward
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology ...PhysicsISBN:9781305116399Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPrinciples of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
- University Physics Volume 3PhysicsISBN:9781938168185Author:William Moebs, Jeff SannyPublisher:OpenStaxModern PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781111794378Author:Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. MoyerPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning