Around the core of a nuclear reactor shielded by a large pool of water, Cerenkov

Question

Around the core of a nuclear reactor shielded by a large pool of water, Cerenkov radiation appears as a blue glow. Cerenkov radiation occurs when a particle travels faster through a medium than the speed of light in that medium. It is the electromagnetic equivalent of a bow wave or a sonic boom. An electron is traveling through water at a speed 7.7% faster than the speed of light in water.


(a) Determine the electron's total energy.
(b) Determine the electron's kinetic energy.
(c) Determine the electron's momentum.
(d) Find the angle between the shock wave and the electron's direction of motion.

Explanation / Answer

a) speed of light in water = 2.25*10^8 m/s

=>speed of electron = 2.4*10^8 m/s

a) electron's total energy = mC^2 + mc^2/(sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)) = 2.184*10^-13 J

b) electron's kinetic energy = mc^2/(sqrt(1-v^2/c^2) = 1.365*10^-13

c) electron's momentum = mv/(sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)) = 3.64*10^-22

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