Consider an atomic nucleus that’s moving at a speed of 500m/s. This nucleus emits an alpha particle (=nucleus of a Helium atom) in the direction of its velocity, and the new nucleus (produced by the emission of the alpha particle) slows to 450m/s. If the alpha particle has a mass of 4u and the original nucleus has a mass of 208u, what speed does the alpha particle have when it is emitted? (Here u is the atomic mass unit. You could take for u the value of the proton mass, i.e. u = mp = 1.67 × 10−27kg.)

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
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Chapter39: Relativity
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Consider an atomic nucleus that’s moving at a speed of 500m/s. This nucleus emits an alpha particle (=nucleus of a Helium atom) in the direction of its velocity, and the new nucleus (produced by the emission of the alpha particle) slows to 450m/s. If the alpha particle has a mass of 4u and the original nucleus has a mass of 208u, what speed does the alpha particle have when it is emitted? (Here u is the atomic mass unit. You could take for u the value of the proton mass, i.e. u = mp = 1.67 × 10−27kg.)

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