CAIE A-Level Physics 22.1.5 Photon Momentum

Practise using p = E/c to calculate photon momentum and relate photon energy, momentum, light speed and force from momentum change.

Exam points

calculate photon momentum using p = E/c
relate photon energy, momentum and the speed of light

[Maximum number: 2]

For an accelerating voltage of 32 kV in Fig. 8.1, determine:

the maximum momentum of an X-ray photon produced at the target

maximum photon momentum =

momentum =E / c

C1

momentum $=\left(0.032 \times 1.60 \times 10^{-13}\right) /\left(3.00 \times 10^{8}\right)$ $=1.7 \times 10^{-23} \mathrm{~N} \mathrm{~s}$

A1

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22.1.5—A photon has momentum and that the momentum is given by p = E / c question 1