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SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE 13
(a) Remember that E = h(nu) for a photon, and since (nu)(lambda) = c for a photon, we can say E = hc/(lambda) for a photon with wavelength lambda. Using wavelengths typical of the various zones in the electromagnetic spectrum, we have (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) RADIO: E = ------------------------------------ = 1.2 * 10^-6 ev (1 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) MICROWAVE: E = ------------------------------------ = 0.012 ev (10^-4 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) INFRARED: E = ------------------------------------ = 0.25 ev (5 * 10^-6 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) VISIBLE: E = ------------------------------------ = 2.5 ev (5 * 10^-7 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) ULTRAVIOLET E = ------------------------------------ = 12 ev (10^-7 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) X-RAY: E = ------------------------------------ = 12000 ev (10^-9 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (6.63 * 10^-34 J s) * (3 * 10^8 m/s) GAMMA RAY: E = ------------------------------------ = 1.2 * 10^6 ev (10^-12 m) * (1.6 * 10^-19 ev/J) (b) The rest mass energy of a proton is E = mc^2 = (1.67 * 10^-27 kg) * (3 * 10^8 m/s)^2 / (1.6 * 10^-19 J/ev) = 9.4 * 10^8 ev The rest mass of a neutron is almost identical to that of a proton, so the rest mass energy is almost identical too. For an electron, E = mc^2 = (9.1 * 10^-31 kg) * (3 * 10^8 m/s)^2 / (1.6 * 10^-19 J/ev) = 5.1 * 10^5 ev (c) Using answers from Parts (a) and (b), we find that we need (9.4 * 10^8 ev) / (2.5 ev) = 3.8 * 10^8 visible photons to equal a proton; (9.4 * 10^8 ev) / (1.2 * 10^6 ev) = 780 gamma ray photons to = a proton; (5.1 * 10^5 ev) / (2.5 ev) = 2.1 * 10^5 visible photons to = an electron; (5.1 * 10^5 ev) / (1.2 * 10^6 ev) = 0.4 gamma ray photons to = an electron. So gamma rays would generally cause more damage to your body than an energized electron, but an energized proton would be even more damaging. |