Annihilation
Key Stage 5
Meaning
Annihilation is the process in which matter and antimatter interact converting all their rest mass into energy resulting in a pair of gamma ray photons being emitted in opposite directions.
About Annihilation
- Annihilation occurs when particles of matter and antimatter interact at extremely close range.
- During annihilation the total rest mass of, as well as their kinetic energy results in the production of two gamma ray photons.
- In annihilation conservation of momentum is conserved due to the momentum of the two gamma ray photons travelling in opposite directions.
Equation
\(2E_0 = 2hf\) Where \(E_0\) = Rest Mass Energy of each particle. \(hf\) = The energy of one gamma ray photon emitted. \(h\) = Planck's Constant \(f\) = The frequency of the emitted photon