Energy and Momentum of a Photon
 

Energy and Momentum of a Photon problem 37


  • A stationary nucleus of samarium-157 () emits a gamma-ray (γ-ray) photon of energy . Determine, for one -ray photon:


    • its wavelength


    • its momentum.


    • Using your answer to (b)(ii), determine the speed of the samarium-157 nucleus after emission of the photon.


    • By reference to your answer in (c)(i), explain quantitatively why the speed of the samarium-157 nucleus may be assumed to be negligible compared with the speed of the photon.


 

main author and content editor: Ebenezer Famadewa