An particle with a kinetic energy of 0.85 MeV approaches a stationary gold nucleus. (a) What

Question:

An α particle with a kinetic energy of 0.85 MeV approaches a stationary gold nucleus.

(a) What is the speed of the α particle?

(b) What is the distance of closest approach between the α particle and the gold nucleus?

(c) If this same a particle were fired at a copper nucleus instead, would its distance of closest approach be greater than, less than, or the same as that found in part (b)? Explain. To obtain the mass of an alpha particle, refer to Appendix F and subtract the mass of two electrons from the mass of