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Question 1

A beam of singly ionized uranium atoms (235Uranium and 238Uranium) is injected into the mass spectrometer shown in the figure. The 238Uranium
ions all have the same velocities and charges. The ions follow the trajectory illustrated. (figure provided in the solution)

 

Part A: Will the 235U ions strike the collecting plate above, below, or at the same location as the 238U ions?

 

Part B: If the magnetic field strength in the spectrometer is increased, will the spacing between where the 235U and 238U ions strike increase, decrease, or stay the same? 

 

Part C: If the initial velocity of the ions as they enter the spectrometer is increased, will the spacing between where the 235U and 238U ions strike increase, decrease, or stay the same?

 

Part D: If a beam of singly ionized carbon atoms (12C and 14C) is injected into the same mass spectrometer as the uranium ions (with the same speed), will the spacing between the carbon ions be greater than, less than, or equal to the spacing between the uranium ions?

Solution

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