Suppose you have a collection of particles, all moving in the x direction, with energies E1,E2,E3,............. and momentap1,p2,p3,............... . Find the velocity of the center of momentum frame, in which the total momentum is zero.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The velocity of the center of momentum frame isv=c2(p1,p2,p3,...........)(E1,E2,E3........)

Step by step solution

01

Expression for the center of momentum frame:

Write the expression for the center of the momentum frame.

pT=Y(pT-βETc) …… (1)

Here, γis the Lorentz contraction, pTis the total momentum of the particle, βis the Lorentz factor, ETis the total energy of the particle, andc is the speed of light.

02

Expression for the velocity of the center of momentum frame:

Write the formula for the Lorentz factor.

β=vc

It is given that the total momentum is zero, i.e.,localid="1654751633192" pT=0

Substitutelocalid="1654752509058" pT=0and βvcin equation (1).

0=γpT-βETc0=pT-βETcpT=vcETcv=pTc2ET

Substitute ET=E1,E2,E3,............andpT=p1,p2,p3,..........in the above expression.

v=c2(p1,p2,p3,.............)(E1,E2,E3,...........)

Therefore, the velocity of the center of momentum frame is

V=c2(p1,p2,p3,.............)(E1,E2,E3,.........)

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