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SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE 13

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energy: TOC for Knowledge Concepts, Exercises, and Solutions


(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.