Question

A cyclotron is used to make 20 MeV alpha particles. What energy protons could this accelerator produce?

Answer 1

Energy of a charged particle when accelerated by a cyclotron is given by-

Let q1,m1 be the charge and mass of one particle,while q2 and m2 be the charge and mass of second particle then-

   ----------(1)

   ----------(2)

Dividing equation(2) by equation(1)-

--------------(3)

Let first particle is alpha particle then

E1=20MeV,q1=2e,m1=4 times proton=4m

Let Second particle is proton then-

q2=e; m1=m

So output energy in case of protons are also same