Question

The positron is the antiparticle of the electron, having exactly the same mass but opposite charge. When a positron and an clectron meet, they annihilate, converting all of their mass into energy.

find the energy, in joules, released in this interaction assuming neither particle has any kinetic energy before the collision.

E =

Answer 1

The energy released during the annihilation of an electron and a positron, assuming negligible kinetic energy before the collision, is found using Einstein's E=mc² and is 1.64 × 10⁻¹³ joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an electron and a positron collide, they annihilate each other, with their mass being converted into energy. According to Albert Einstein's famed equation E = mc², the energy (E) released from this process can be found by multiplying the combined mass (m) of the electron and positron by the speed of light (c) squared. Since the rest mass (m) of an electron is 9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg, and since the positron has the same mass, we must double this mass when calculating the energy released from both particles annihilating.

Eo = 2(m) x c² = 2(9.11 × 10⁻³¹ kg) x (3.00 × 10⁸ m/s)² = 1.64 × 10⁻¹³ joules

The energy released during the annihilation of an electron and a positron is 1.64 × 10⁻¹³ joules.