Question
A
tritium
nucleus
explodes
by
beta
decay.
An
electron
leaves
with
1x108m/sec. Its mass is 9x10‐31kg. What is the recoil velocity if the 3He+ ion mass is 3x 1.66x10‐27kg. What is the kinetic energy of both particles
in Joules and in electron volts (1eV = 1.16x ‐19J)?
1x108m/sec. Its mass is 9x10‐31kg. What is the recoil velocity if the 3He+ ion mass is 3x 1.66x10‐27kg. What is the kinetic energy of both particles
in Joules and in electron volts (1eV = 1.16x ‐19J)?
Answers
If this were really a two-particle "explosion", then the recoil momentum of the 3He++ particle would be equal and opposite to that of the electron. One could use that fact and the mass to calculate the 3He++ velocity.
Actually, beta decay is a three-particle process, with a variable and often large part of the momentum carried away by an antineutrino. Whoever made up the question should be aware of that.
See
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Nuclear/beta.html
Actually, beta decay is a three-particle process, with a variable and often large part of the momentum carried away by an antineutrino. Whoever made up the question should be aware of that.
See
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Nuclear/beta.html
Related Questions
A nucleus decays to produce a nucleus with one additional proton. Which type of decay did the nucleu...
A nucleus decays to produce a nucleus with one additional proton. Which type of decay did the nucleu...
A nucleus decays to produce a nucleus with one additional proton. Which type of decay did the nucleu...
A nucleus decays to produce a nucleus with one additional proton. Which type of decay did the nucleu...