An atom is made of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons concentrated
ID: 1441780 • Letter: A
Question
An atom is made of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons concentrated in a nucleus, while negatively charged electrons orbit around them. If I want to make a Helium atom out of two Hydrogen atoms, I am going to have to have to get 2 Hydrogen atoms very close together so that they can form a new nucleus. This is a process called nuclear fusion, and it takes a lot of energy.
a) If, in order for this to happen, I have to bring the two protons to within 10^15 m. How much energy does it take to bring this second proton from very far away to 10^15 m from the first proton?
b) With how much speed would I have to shoot this proton toward the first in order for it to make it?
c) Is that speed faster than or slower than the speed of light?
Explanation / Answer
(a)
Energy required = potential energy of system
E= K*q1*q2/r
=(9*10^9)*(1.6*10^-19)*(1.6*10^-19)/(10^-15)
=2.304*10^-13 J
(b)
from the conservation of energy
KE = PE
0.5*m*v^2 = 2.304*10^-13 J
2.304*10^-13 = 0.5*(1.673*10^-27)*v^2
v=1.66*10^7 m/s
(c)
Theproton sped is slower than the speed of light