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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
An alpha- particle of mass m suffers 1- dimensional elastic collision with a nucleus at rest of unknown mass. It is scattered directly backwards losing 64% of its initial kinetic energy. The mass of the nucleus is
PhysicsCenter of Mass Momentum and CollisionJEE MainJEE Main 2019 (12 Jan Shift 2)
Options:
  • A 1.5m
  • B 4m
  • C 3.5m
  • D 5m
Solution:
1604 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: 4m



From momentum conservation,

mv+0=-mv1+Mv2   ...(1) 

Using kinetic energy conservation,

12mv2=12mv12+12Mv2212mv2=0.36×12mv2+12Mv220.64mv2=Mv22v2=0.8vmM 

As it retain 36%,0.36×12mv2=12mv12 0.36v2=v12 Hence, v1=0.6v
From (1)mv=-m0.6v+M0.8vmM

1=-0.6+0.8Mm

On solving, we get M=4m

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