Calculate the kinetic energy, in electronvolts, of an electron that has a mass equal to twice its rest mass.

Step-by-step solution

Total energy of a relativistic particle is given by E = mc^2 . Given that the mass of the electron is twice its rest mass, m = 2m₀ . Total energy E = 2m₀c^2 . Kinetic energy K is the difference between the total energy and the rest mass energy: K = E - m₀c^2 K = 2m₀c^2 - m₀c^2 = m₀c^2 The rest mass energy of an electron is m₀c^2 0.511 MeV = 511 10^3 eV . Therefore, the kinetic energy of the electron is 511 10^3 eV .