Login

What is the physical significance of impsct parameter

Dear Student,
The impact parameter is the perpendicular distance of the initial velocity vector of the α-particle from the centre of the nucleus.

  • For large impact parameters, force experienced by the alpha particle is weak because  . Hence, the alpha particle will deviate through a much smaller angle.

When impact parameter is small, force experienced is large and hence, the alpha particle will scatter through a large angle.
 

Hope this information will clear your doubts about topic.

If you have any more doubts just ask here on the forum and our experts will try to help you out as soon as possible.
 
Regards
 

  • 2
View Full Answer

The impact parameter {\displaystyle b} is defined as the perpendicular distance between the path of a projectile and the center of a potential field {\displaystyle U(r)} created by an object that the projectile is approaching (see diagram). It is often referred to in nuclear physics (see Rutherford scattering) and in classical mechanics.

The impact parameter is related to the scattering angle {\displaystyle heta } by[1]

{\displaystyle heta =\pi -2b\int _{r_{\mathrm {min} }}^{\infty }{\frac {dr}{r^{2}{\sqrt {1-(b/r)^{2}-2U/mv_{\infty }^{2}}}}}}

where is the velocity of the projectile when it is far from the center, and {\displaystyle r_{\mathrm {min} }} is its closest distance from the center.

  • 0
What are you looking for?