The diagram shows a neutron of mass 1.7 × 10–27 kg about to collide inelastically with a stationary uranium nucleus of mass 4.0 × 10–25 kg. During the collision, the neutron will be absorbed by the uranium nucleus.
Image
(a) Calculate the velocity of the uranium nucleus immediately after the neutron has been absorbed. [3]
(b) Collisions between neutrons and uranium nuclei can also be elastic. State, and explain briefly, how the speed of the uranium nucleus after impact would be different in the case of an elastic collision. Do not perform any further calculations. [3]
(c) Using the data at the beginning of the question, calculate the kinetic energy of the neutron before it collides with the uranium nucleus. [3]
