Question 1

The total energy of a proton is THREE (3) times its rest energy. Calculate
the proton's momentum?

Rest energy = E = mc2

mc2
Three times = E = 3 mc2 =
v 2
1( )
c

1
3 = =
1
v2
c
2

2
1
32 = ( ) v 2
1( )
c
proton momentum = p
mass of proton=1.6726 1027
= mv

1
9 = v2 p =
1( )
c2
( 1.6726 ) 1027( 2.826 108 )

2
v2 2.8264 108
1- ( )c
2 =
1
9 (
1
2.9976 10
8 )
2
v 8 = 1.4191 x 10-18 kg
()
c = 9 ms-1

v
c = 8
9

v =
8
9 x c

speed of light = c = 2.9799 x 108 ms-1

v = 2.8264 x 108 ms-1

Question 2
Find total energy and kinetic energy (in GeV) and the momentum (in
GeV/c) of a proton whose speed is 0.900c if the mass of the proton is
0.938 GeV/c2 .

E = mc2
m = 0.938 GeV/c2
v = 0.900c
c = 2.9979 x 108 ms-1

mc2
mc2 =

2
v
E= 1 ()
c

( 0.938GeV / c 2 ) ( c 2 )

2
= 1
( 0.81c
c
2 )
0.938
= 10.81

= 2.1519 GeV

Kinetic Energy, KE = mc 2mc 2

= 2.1519 GeV - 0.938 GeV

= 1.2139GeV

p = mv

mv

2
v
= 1 ()
c
 ( 0.938GeV /c 2 ) ( 0.900 c )
=
1
( 0.900 c 2
c2 )
= 1.9367 GeV /c