Aneutron in a reactor makes an elastic headon collision with the nucleus of an atom initially at rest. assume: the mass of the atomic nucleus is about 14.9 the mass of the neutron. what fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy is transferred to the atomic nucleus?

The fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy transferred to the atomic nucleus is 1.87.

Explanation:

Use the conservation of momentum in head-on collision.

Put

                              ....... (1)                                                                                  

Here, m, M are the masses of the neutron and atom, is the initial velocity of the neutron, is the final velocity of the neutron and is the final velocity of the atom.

Use the conservation of the kinetic energy.

Put

.

                                  ...... (2)

Divide (2) by (1).

                                                             ...... (3)

Solve equation (1) and (3).

Calculate the fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy transferred to the atomic nucleus.

Put

Therefore, the fraction of the neutron's kinetic energy transferred to the atomic nucleus is 1.87.