Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 17N.3.HL.TZ0.7 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
Command term | Determine | Question number | 7 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The Λ0 (Lambda) particle decays spontaneously into a proton and a negatively charged pion of rest mass 140 MeV c–2. After the decay, the particles are moving in the same direction with a proton momentum of 630 MeV c–1 and a pion momentum of 270 MeV c–1.
Determine the rest mass of the Λ0 particle.
[4]
a.
Determine, using your answer to (a), the initial speed of the Λ0 particle.
[2]
b.
Markscheme
Λ momentum = 900
Eproton = «√pc2+(mc2)2=√6302+9382=» 1130 «MeV»
Epion = «√2702+1402=» 304 «MeV»
so rest mass of Λ = «√(1130+304)2−9002=» 1116 «MeV c–2»
a.
«E = γ mc2 so» γ = « 14341116 =» 1.28
to give 0.64c
b.
Examiners report
[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
Syllabus sections
Option A: Relativity » Option A: Relativity (Additional higher level option topics) » A.4 – Relativistic mechanics (HL only)
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