MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: How effective is energy creation through positron/electron annihilation?

Date: Thu Jun 14 00:30:50 2001
Posted by James Purdy
Grade level: 10-12 School: No school entered.
City: St. Albert State/Province: AB Country: Canada
Area of science: Physics
ID: 992493050.Ph
Message:

This could be lengthy...
If you could create a full gram of positrons and electrons (.5 grams each), 
according to my calculations, this would take approximately 9.0 x 10^16 Joules
90 megaGigaJoules (I realize that this is a huge amount, but roll with the 
theory for a second).  Then if you were to place them together again, it would 
re-release that 90megaGigaJoules.  However, if one used a particle accelerator 
to ram them into each other at a VERY high velocity (for example, 2.9 x 10^8 
m/s), their masses would theoretically alter to about 1.4 grams each.  The 
amount of energy required for that particle accelerator is approximately 21 
megaGigaJoules (still huge).  However, the increased mass in the collision 
would (approximately) create 351 mega Giga Joules.  Hence the reason I ask, how 
effective is it, and could this idea work?


Re: How effective is energy creation through positron/electron annihilation?

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