Consider a collision between an alpha particle (mass 4 amu) and an initially stationary oxygen nucleus (mass 16 amu). The oxygen nucleus is light enough that we cannot assume it is stationary after the collision. The initial and final velocities of the alpha particle and the oxygen nucleus (when they are far apart and no longer interacting) are shown below. The final speed of the oxygen nucleus is v2f = 1.20 Ã? 105m/s.
(a) What was the initial speed of the alpha particle?
(b) What is the final speed of the alpha particle?