A cube has a side length of 20 cm. An atom in the gas moves around the cube as s

Question

A cube has a side length of 20 cm.

An atom in the gas moves around the cube as shown.

It continually bounces off the four lateral walls of the cube.

The atom has a mass of 6.6x10-27 kg.

Because of the elastic collisions with the walls, the atom maintains its speed of 300 m/s as it moves around.

The figure below shows the view from above looking down into the cube at the path of the atom.

The repeated hits cause there to be a force applied to each of the four lateral faces. Find the force (in Newtons) that it applies to Face 1.

Find the force it applies to Face 2.  

Explanation / Answer

F = change in momentum

F =2mv sintheta

F = 2 * 6.6 x 10^-27 x 300 x sin 60

F = 3.43 x 10^-24

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