Question

Neutrons and protons in atomic nuclei are confined within a region whose diameter is about d=1.1 fm. Let's imagine a proton trapped inside such a region and being in its lowest energy state, i.e. in its ground state. You can treat it as a particle in a box problem and use m=938 MeV/c^2.

a) Use the de Broglie relation to find the momentum p of a proton inside the nucleus.

b) Calculate the pc/(mc^2) ratio and justify the neccessity of a relativistic approach.

c) What is the approximate kinetic energy of the proton in this case?

Answer 1