What fraction of and object's kinetic energy is transferred in an elastic collision?

A neutron in a reactor makes an elastic head-


on collision with the nucleus of an atom initially at rest.


Assume: The mass of the atomic nucleus is


about 13.2 the mass of the neutron.


What fraction of the neutron鈥檚 kinetic energy is transferred to the atomic nucleus?What fraction of and object's kinetic energy is transferred in an elastic collision?
M1 = 1


M2 = 13.2





% energy transferred = M2^2 / (M1 + M2)^2 * 100





% energy transferred = (13.2)^2 / (13.2 + 1)^2 * 100 = 86.4%





See website below for a good graphic animation of elastic collisions of unequal masses.





Hope this helps


Bill