Help with Example Question


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rita_debbaneh2G
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:57 pm

Help with Example Question

Postby rita_debbaneh2G » Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:54 am

A proton is accelerated in a cyclotron to a very high speed that is known to within 3.0 x 102 km/s. What is the minimum uncertainty in its position?

this is an example question in the 1B section but because the work isn't displayed, I'm not sure where I'm going wrong with it. The answer is .11 pm. Can someone explain how to get there?

Anna_Mohling_1D
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:56 pm

Re: Help with Example Question

Postby Anna_Mohling_1D » Fri Dec 11, 2020 9:16 am

Hi! For this question you'll use the equation ! So first, I make sure everything is in the correct units (mass in kg, velocity in m/s, position in m). So first convert the given velocity from km/s to s. Then, you know the mass of a proton is 1.693 x 10 ^ -27 kg (given on constants sheet). From here, I plug in my known values to solve for the uncertainty in position or delta x. Then at the end, just multiply your answer by 10^12 to convert meters to pm.


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