All Questions
4
questions
0
votes
0
answers
65
views
Justifying that the gold nucleus is at rest in a Rutherford experiment
This is an example on the Rutherford Experiment from Young and Freedman's University Physics.
In the last paragraph of the solution the book states that it is valid to assume that the gold nucleus ...
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
2d elastic scattering with an impact parameter
Hello guys I have homework that has tasked me with connecting the effect of the scattering parameter to the energy transfer in a 2d elastic collision of two arbitrary spheres with one of them standing ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
4k
views
During a collision, why is momentum not conserved in a participant's frame of reference?
[This question is inspired by an astute observation from a student of mine.]
When we discuss conservation of momentum, students often ask, "When is momentum conserved?" And the lazy, mechanical ...
- 4,841
0
votes
2
answers
454
views
In a CMCS 2-body system, why does the speed of the particles after collision stay the same?
A particle $m_1$ is traveling with velocity $v$ toward a stationary particle $m_2$. The velocity of the center of mass is given as $v_c=\frac{m_1}{m_1+m_2}v$. Changing to a moving coordinate system, ...
- 1,760