Question

Cosmic rays are charged particles, such as electrons and protons, traveling at near the speed of light. If the mass of a proton is approximately 1833 times the mass of an electron, how much more energy does the more energetic particle have than the less energetic particle? The energy of a cosmic ray particle can be found using Einstein's formula E = mc^2.

Answer 1

Answer:

1833

Explanation:

c = Speed of light = $3\times 10^8\ m/s$

Mass of proton = $m_p$

The mass of proton is given by

$m_p=1833m_e$

Energy of proton is given by

$E_p=m_pc^2$

Energy of electron is given by

$E_e=m_ec^2$

Divide the equations

$\dfrac{E_p}{E_e}=\dfrac{m_pc^2}{m_ec^2}\\\Rightarrow \dfrac{E_p}{E_e}=\dfrac{1833m_ec^2}{m_ec^2}\\\Rightarrow \dfrac{E_p}{E_e}=1833\\\Rightarrow E_p=1833E_e$

The particle will be 1833 times the less energetic particle