Final answer:
It is theoretically possible for an oxygen-16 atom with 4.0 eV of kinetic energy to ionize a cesium-133 atom as the kinetic energy is larger than the ionization energy of cesium, which is about 3.89 eV.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Physics, and it appears to be at the High School level. The question is about whether it is possible to ionize an atom of cesium-133, which is initially at rest, by a collision with an oxygen-16 atom possessing 4.0 electron volts (eV) of kinetic energy. To determine if the ionization is possible, one needs to compare the kinetic energy of the oxygen atom with the ionization energy of cesium-133.
The minimum ionization energy required to remove an electron from a cesium atom is greater than 4.0 eV. Specifically, the first ionization energy of cesium is about 3.89 electron volts. In this scenario, since the kinetic energy of the oxygen atom is 4.0 eV, it is theoretically enough to ionize a cesium atom, assuming all the kinetic energy from the oxygen atom could be transferred to ionize the cesium atom. However, in practice, such collisions might not result in complete energy transfer due to a range of factors such as collision angle and other quantum mechanical considerations.