Question

Star Trek fans have often heard the term "antimatter drive." Describe how you could use a magnetic field to trap antimatter, such as produced by nuclear decay, and later combine it with matter to produce energy. Be specific about the type of antimatter, the need for vacuum storage, and the fraction of matter converted into energy.

a) Trapping antiprotons using a magnetic field; vacuum storage to prevent annihilation; nearly 100% matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

b) Trapping positrons using a magnetic field; atmospheric storage to prevent annihilation; minimal matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

c) Trapping antineutrons using an electric field; vacuum storage to prevent annihilation; 50% matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

d) Trapping antiprotons using an electric field; atmospheric storage to prevent annihilation; 75% matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

Answer 1

The answer is option a) Trapping antiprotons using a magnetic field; vacuum storage to prevent annihilation; nearly 100% matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

The answer to this question is option a) Trapping antiprotons using a magnetic field; vacuum storage to prevent annihilation; nearly 100% matter-antimatter conversion efficiency.

In order to trap antimatter, such as antiprotons, a strong magnetic field can be used. Antiprotons, which have the same mass as protons but opposite charge, can be directed in a circular path by the magnetic field.

The need for vacuum storage is important to prevent the antimatter from coming into contact with normal matter and annihilating. Maintaining a vacuum environment ensures that the antimatter particles are isolated and can be safely stored.

When matter and antimatter collide, they annihilate each other and produce pure energy. In this case, the matter-antimatter conversion efficiency is nearly 100% as all of the antiprotons can be combined with matter to produce energy.