Final answer:
In pair production, the total energy of the incident photon is divided between the rest mass energies of an electron and a positron, with the remaining energy given as kinetic energy. The kinetic energy distribution between the two particles is not fixed and depends on the specific interaction dynamics, contrary to being evenly split, primarily given to the positron, or the electron.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the phenomenon of pair production, an incident photon is converted into a pair of particles: an electron and a positron. According to the principles of conservation of energy, the total energy of the photon must be equal to the sum of the rest mass energies of the electron and the positron, plus any kinetic energy the pair acquires. As per special relativity, given by the equation E=mc2, the rest mass energy of the particles is determined by their mass and the speed of light squared. The remaining energy of the incident photon, after accounting for the rest mass energy, is then shared between the electron and positron as kinetic energy.
The division of this kinetic energy between the electron and positron is not fixed or uniform; instead, it depends on the dynamics of the pair production process and can vary based on multiple factors such as the angle at which the particles are emitted. Therefore, the distribution of kinetic energy is generally not equal and cannot be predicted to primarily go to the electron or the positron without specific information about the interaction. It is governed by the conservation of both energy and momentum during the process.