PH
History of Modern Physics 1932 Nobel Discovery

Chadwick’s Neutron Experiment

Bombard Beryllium with Alpha rays to isolate uncharged particles and measure neutron recoil momentum

Calculated Particle Mass 1.0087 u

Experimental Controls

Medium

Tests whether emitted beam consists of charged particles (e.g. protons, electrons) or neutral radiation.

Physics & Collision Mechanics

Nuclear Reaction: ⁹Be + α → ¹²C + n
Collision Type: Head-On Elastic (m₁ ≈ m₂)
Detector Pulse Rate: 0 counts/s
Max Recoil Proton Energy: 5.7 MeV
Apparatus Schematic Canvas Source Idle
Alpha Ray (α = ⁴He²⁺)
Neutron (n)
Recoil Proton (p⁺)
Ionization Signal Pulse