momentum is conserved.
initial momentum=finalmomentum
0=massThrium*velocitythorium+ massalpha*velocityalpha
A uranium nucleus
238
U may stay in one piece
for billions of years, but sooner or later it decays into an α particle of mass 6.64×10
−27
kg
and
234
Th nucleus of mass 3.88 × 10
−25
kg,
and the decay process itself is extremely fast
(it takes about 10
−20
s). Suppose the uranium
nucleus was at rest just before the decay.
If the α particle is emitted at a speed of
2.35×10
7 m/s, what would be the recoil speed
of the thorium nucleus
1 answer
1 answer