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amr55533
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Homework Statement
In the Compton scattering event seen in the figure, the scattered photon has an energy of 120 keV and the recoiling electron has an energy of 40 keV.
Find:
a) The wavelength of the incident photon
b) The angle θ at which the photon is scattered
c) The recoil angle ϕ of the electron
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9245/328q.jpg
Homework Equations
For photons:
P=E/c=hf/c=h/λ
h=6.626E-34 Js
For electron:
P=mv/√(1-v^2/c^2)
E=mc^2/√(1-v^2/c^2)
E=√(P^2c^2+m^2c^4)
Conservation of momentum and energy:
Pbefore=Pafter
Ebefore=Eafter
The Attempt at a Solution
I solved part (a) as follows:
Ebefore=Eafter
--> Ebefore=40keV+120keV=160keV=2.563E-14J
P=E/c=(2.563E-14J)/(2.998E8m/s)=8.55E-23 kgm/s
P=h/λ ---> λ=h/P=(6.626E-34Js)/(8.55E-23 kgm/s)=7.75E-12m
I have an idea on how to solve parts (b) and (c). I would simply calculate the momentum of the scattered photon and the electron, and then use conservation of momentum in the x and y directions, and conservation of energy.
Scattered photon:
P'=E'/c=(1.922E-14J)/(2.998E8m/s)=6.412E-23kgm/s
Recoiling electron:
E=√(P^2c^2+m^2c^4)
6.408E-15J=√(P^2(2.998E8m/s)^2+(9.109E-31kg)^2(2.998E8m/s)^4)
This is where I get stuck. I cannot solve for "P" because it would create a negative under the square root.
After observing the givens, I found that this is because the energy of the electron is given as 40keV which is less than the rest mass energy of an electron of 511keV. Is it possible for an electron to have a total energy less than its rest mass energy? How would you solve for this? Thanks!
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