Homework Help: Physics

Posted by Katie on Friday, January 18, 2013 at 10:51am.

The kinetic energy of a proton is half its internal energy. What is the proton's speed?

Kinetic energy is (Yu - 1) (mp) (c)^2

= 1/2 (mp) (c)^2

Yu = 1.5

Yu = 1/(square root) 1 - (u/c)^2

1/(square root) 1 - (u/c)^2 = 1.5

u= 0.745c

How do I solve for u? I'm extremely confused on how to do this. I know you square 1/(square root) 1 - (u/c)^2 to both sides esp. 1.5 to get rid of the square root. But up to there I'm confused to how to solve for u

Physics - Steve, Friday, January 18, 2013 at 5:02pm
1/√(1-(u/c)^2) = 3/2
√(1-(u/c)^2) = 2/3
(1-(u/c)^2) = 4/9
(u/c)^2 = 5/9
u/c = √5/3 = .745
u = .745c
Physics - Katie, Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 8:36am
thank you

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