Question

Triply charged uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions are being separated in a mass spectrometer. The masses of the ions are 3.90 × 10-25 kg and 3.95 × 10-25 kg, respectively, and they travel at 3.00 x 105 m/s in a 0.250-T field. What is the separation between their paths when they hit a target after traversing a semicircle?

a) 0.15 m
b) 0.30 m
c) 0.45 m
d) 0.60 m

Answer 1

The separation between the paths of the triply charged uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions in a mass spectrometer is 0.0096 m.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the separation between the paths of the triply charged uranium-235 and uranium-238 ions after traversing a semicircle, we can use the formula for the radius of the path:

r = (m*v) / (q*B)

Where:

• r is the radius of the path
• m is the mass of the ion
• v is the velocity of the ion
• q is the charge of the ion
• B is the magnetic field strength

Plugging in the given values, we get:

r1 = (3.90x10-25 kg * 3.00x105 m/s) / (3 * 1.60x10-19 C * 0.250 T) = 0.8125 m

r2 = (3.95x10-25 kg * 3.00x105 m/s) / (3 * 1.60x10-19 C * 0.250 T) = 0.8221 m

Therefore, the separation between their paths is:

0.8221 m - 0.8125 m = 0.0096 m