Collision refers to a direct physical interaction between particles that leads to a change in their paths or states, such as when two particles collide and merge or bounce off each other. Scattering, on the other hand, refers to a process where particles are deflected or redirected from their original path due to interactions, but without a direct collision occurring, such as when light is scattered by particles in the atmosphere.
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Rayleigh scattering occurs when particles are much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation, causing the scattering to be inversely proportional to the fourth power of the wavelength. Compton scattering, on the other hand, involves the collision of photons with electrons, resulting in a shift in wavelength due to the transfer of energy.
The relaxation time is related to the mean collision time through the expression: relaxation time = mean collision time / (1 - f), where f is the fraction of collisions that result in thermalization. The mean collision time represents the average time between particle collisions, while the relaxation time is the time it takes for a system to reach thermal equilibrium after a perturbation.
During the third collision in a process like inelastic scattering, the particles involved can exchange energy and momentum to change their trajectories and states. This collision typically involves the most complex interactions and can result in the final outcome of the overall interaction between the particles.
Compton scattering involves the collision of a photon with an electron, resulting in the photon losing energy and changing direction. The photoelectric effect, on the other hand, involves the absorption of a photon by an electron, causing the electron to be ejected from the material. In summary, Compton scattering involves the photon changing direction and losing energy, while the photoelectric effect involves the absorption of the photon by an electron.
When particles collide, they transfer energy and momentum to each other through interactions such as scattering or absorption. This transfer can result in changes in the direction, speed, or properties of the particles involved in the collision.