Lecture 14, #2 – Proton-Proton Collision

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

A proton, mass 938.37 MeV/c², moves with velocity u₁ (as measured by particle physicists in a lab). Another proton moves in the opposite direction with velocity u₂ (as measured by the same scientists) and collides with the other proton. There is enough energy in this collision to create a proton/anti-proton pair (an anti-proton is the anti-particle of the proton, with the same mass as the proton). The original two protons are also still there, and all four particles (the two original protons and the proton/anti-proton pair) are at rest after the collision.

Determine u₁ and u₂.