(a) Viewers of Star Trek hear of an antimatter drive on the Starship Enterprise
ID: 1581757 • Letter: #
Question
(a) Viewers of Star Trek hear of an antimatter drive on the Starship Enterprise. One possibility for such a futuristic energy source is to store antimatter charged particles in a vacuum chamber, circulating in a magnetic field, and then extract them as needed. Antimatter annihilates with normal matter, producing pure energy. What strength (in T) magnetic field is needed to hold antiprotons, moving at 6.60 107 m/s in a circular path 2.80 m in radius? Antiprotons have the same mass as protons but the opposite (negative) charge. (Enter the magnitude.)
_____________ T
(b)
Is this field strength obtainable with today's technology or is it a futuristic possibility?
a. This strength is obtainable with today's technology since magnetic field strengths of .500 T are obtainable with permanent magnets.
b. This strength is not obtainable with today's technology, but it is a futuristic possibility.
c. This field strength is neither obtainable with today's technology nor a futuristic possibility. Such magnetic field strengths can never be achieved.
Explanation / Answer
a) B = m v / q R
= (1.67 * 10-27 * 6.60 * 107) / (1.6 * 10-19 * 2.80)
= 0.246 T
b) a. This strength is obtainable with today's technology since magnetic field strengths of .500 T are obtainable with permanent magnets
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