Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

QJEEM18Ph9fd4: JEE Main 2018 Physics - Class 11 JEEM18Ph9fd4 Solution: A proton of mass m collides elastically with a particle of…

A proton of mass m collides elastically with a particle of unknown mass at rest. After the collision, the proton and the unknown particle are seen moving at an angle of 90o with respect to each other. The mass of unknown particle is :

Multiple Choice Options

  • A m2{m \over 2}
  • B m
  • C m3{m \over {\sqrt 3 }}
  • D 2 m

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

In figure (i) before collision, m' is mass of unknown particle; m is mass of proton; v1 is initial velocity.

(i) Before collision :

JEE Main 2018 (Online) 15th April Evening Slot Physics - Center of Mass and Collision Question 104 English Explanation 1

Now, in figure (ii), v1 is final velocity of unknown particle and v2 is final velocity of proton.

(ii) After collision :

JEE Main 2018 (Online) 15th April Evening Slot Physics - Center of Mass and Collision Question 104 English Explanation 2

By conservation of momentum, we have

Momentum before collision = Momentum after collision

Consider x-component, we have

mvi+m′ . 0=m′v1cos⁡45∘+mv2cos⁡45∘m{v_i} + m'\,.\,0 = m'{v_1}\cos 45^\circ + m{v_2}\cos 45^\circ

mvi=12(m′v1+mv2)m{v_i} = {1 \over {\sqrt 2 }}(m'{v_1} + m{v_2}) ..... (1)

Consider y-component, we have

0=m′v1sin⁡45∘−mv2sin⁡45∘0 = m'{v_1}\sin 45^\circ - m{v_2}\sin 45^\circ

12(m′vi−mv2)=0⇒m′v1=mv2{1 \over {\sqrt 2 }}(m'{v_i} - m{v_2}) = 0 \Rightarrow m'{v_1} = m{v_2} ...... (2)

Substitute Eq. (2) in Eq. (1), we get

mvi=12(mv2+mv2)−2mv2m{v_i} = {1 \over {\sqrt 2 }}(m{v_2} + m{v_2}) - \sqrt 2 m{v_2}

⇒vi=2v2\Rightarrow {v_i} = \sqrt 2 {v_2} ..... (3)

Using Eq. (2) and (3) in Eq. (1), we get

m2v2=12(m′v1+m′v1)m\sqrt 2 {v_2} = {1 \over {\sqrt 2 }}(m'{v_1} + m'{v_1})

2mv2=2m′v12m{v_2} = 2m'{v_1} ( ∵\because v1=v2{v_1} = {v_2} )

⇒m=m′\Rightarrow m = m'

Related Learning Resources & Exam Preparation