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A \(\psi\) ( psi) particle has mass \(5.52 \times 10^{-2} \mathrm{kg}\) . Compute the rest energy of the \(\psi\) particle in MeV.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The rest energy of the \(\psi\) particle is approximately \(3.10 \times 10^{22}\) MeV.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Formula for Rest Energy

The rest energy \(E\) of a particle can be computed using Einstein's famous equation: \( E = mc^2 \), where \(m\) is the mass of the particle and \(c\) is the speed of light in a vacuum \( (c = 3.00 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}) \). Our goal is to find \(E\) in terms of electronvolts (eV), particularly mega-electronvolts (MeV).
02

Compute Rest Energy in Joules

First, substitute the given mass \(m = 5.52 \times 10^{-2} \text{ kg}\) and the speed of light \(c = 3.00 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}\) into the equation \( E = mc^2 \). Thus, \( E = (5.52 \times 10^{-2})(3.00 \times 10^8)^2 \). Calculate this to get \( E = 4.9648 \times 10^{15} \text{ J} \).
03

Convert Joules to Electronvolts

To convert joules to electronvolts, use the conversion factor: \(1 \text{ J} = 6.242 \times 10^{12} \text{ MeV}\). So, \( E = 4.9648 \times 10^{15} \times 6.242 \times 10^{12} \text{ eV}\). This results in \( E \approx 3.10 \times 10^{28} \text{ eV}\). Divide by \(10^6\) to convert to MeV: \( E \approx 3.10 \times 10^{22} \text{ MeV}\).
04

Verify Units and Final Answer

Ensure all units are consistent and the calculation reflects the needed Mega-electronvolts (MeV). The rest energy value we have computed is in MeV, confirming our result: \( E \approx 3.10 \times 10^{22} \text{ MeV}\).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Einstein's equation
Einstein's equation, perhaps one of the most famous equations in physics, is denoted as \( E = mc^2 \). This simple formula connects energy \( E \) with mass \( m \) and the speed of light \( c \).
The speed of light \( c \) is a constant, approximately \( 3.00 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s} \).
This equation helps us understand the profound concept that mass and energy are interchangeable.
In other words, mass can be converted into energy and vice versa. This equation has helped us to run nuclear power plants and understand the energy release in nuclear reactions.
It's a cornerstone of modern physics. Without it, we wouldn't fully grasp how energy behaves at a fundamental level.
Mass-Energy Equivalence
The principle of mass-energy equivalence is perfectly summed up by Einstein's equation \( E = mc^2 \). This concept implies that mass is simply another form of energy.
The term 'equivalence' expresses that they are equal, yet in different forms.
The essence is that a tiny amount of mass can be transformed into a tremendous amount of energy.In practical terms, this is why nuclear reactions, such as fission and fusion, release so much energy.
In these reactions, even a small loss of mass results in a huge energy output according to this principle.
  • Nuclear fusion, happening in the sun, combines nuclei and converts mass into energy, powering the solar system.
  • Nuclear fission splits nuclei, releasing energy used to produce electricity.
Mass-energy equivalence shows us how substantial the relationship between mass and energy is, affecting both microscopic phenomena and cosmic events.
Unit Conversion in Physics
Unit conversion in physics is a fundamental process that ensures solutions are physically meaningful.
When computing rest energy, starting from kilograms and ending in Mega-electronvolts (MeV) requires converting units appropriately. Here’s a brief walkthrough:
  • First, calculate energy in joules using \( E = mc^2 \).
  • Joules are then converted to electronvolts (eV) using the factor: \(1 \text{ J} = 6.242 \times 10^{12} \text{ eV} \).
  • To finish, convert electronvolts to Mega-electronvolts by dividing by \( 10^6 \).
Knowing how to handle unit conversions is crucial for maintaining precision and accuracy in calculations.
Especially when different systems of units like SI and CGS are involved, understanding conversion factors becomes essential.
By managing units correctly, physics problems are solved consistently and errors are minimized.
This shows how interconnected understanding units is to solving real-world scientific problems.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A \(60.0-\mathrm{kg}\) person is standing at rest on level ground. How fast would she have to run to (a) double her total energy and (b) increase her total energy by a factor of 10\(?\)

An observer in frame \(S^{\prime}\) is moving to the right \((+x-\text { direction })\) at speed \(u=0.600 \mathrm{c}\) away from a stationary observer in frame \(S\) . The observer in \(S^{\prime}\) measures the speed \(v^{\prime}\) of a particle moving to the right away from her. What speed \(v\) does the observer in S measure for the particle if \((a) v^{\prime}=0.400 c ;(b) v^{\prime}=0.900 c\) (c) \(v^{\prime}=0.990 c ?\)

(a) At what speed is the momentum of a particle twice as great as the result obtained from the nonrelativistic expression \(m v ?\) Express your answer in terms of the speed of light. (b) A force is apphed to a particle along its direction of motion. At what speed is the magnitude of force required to produce a given acceleration twice as great as the force required to produce the same acceleration when the particle is at rest? Express your answer in terms of the speed of light.

The positive muon \(\left(\mu^{+}\right),\) an unstable particle, lives on average \(2.20 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{s}\) (measured in its own frame of reference) before decaying. (a) If such a particle is moving, with respect to the laboratory, with a speed of \(0.900 c,\) what average lifetime is measured in the laboratory? (b) What average distance, measured in the laboratory, does the particle move before decaying?

Muons are unstable subatomic particles that decay to electrons with a mean lifetime of 2.2\(\mu s\) . They are produced when cosmic rays bombard the upper atmosphere about 10 \(\mathrm{km}\) above the earth's surface, and they travel very close to the speed of light. The problem we want to address is why we see any of them at the earth's surface. (a) What is the greatest distance a muon could travel during its 2.2 -\mus lifetime? (b) According to your answer in part (a), it would seem that muons could never make it to the ground. But the \(2.2-\mu\) s lifetime is measured in the frame of the muon, and muons are moving very fast. At a speed of 0.999 \(\mathrm{c}\) . What is the mean lifetime of a muon as measured by an observer at rest on the earth? How far would the muon travel in this time? Does this result explain why we find muons in cosmic rays? (c) From the point of view of the muon, it still lives for only 2.2 , \(\mu\) s, so how does it make it to the ground? What is the thickness of the 10 \(\mathrm{km}\) of atmosphere through which the muon must travel, as measured by the muon? It is now clear how the muon is able to reach the ground?

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