Question
A stationary atomic nucleus undergoes radioactive decay and a beta particle (a fast- moving electron) and a neutrino (a subatomic particle) are detected leaving the
A stationary atomic nucleus undergoes radioactive decay and a beta particle (a fast- moving electron) and a neutrino (a subatomic particle) are detected leaving the nucleus at high velocities as shown in Figure 2. The momentum of the beta particle is 9.2 10-21 kgm/s [S] and the momentum of the neutrino is 4.9 10-21 kgm/s [W]. The mass of the remaining nucleus is 3.6 10-25 kg. (8 marks) a) What is the recoil velocity of the remaining nucleus? b) If the recoil velocity measured is significantly different from the value calculated in part a, what conclusion might a nuclear physicist reach about the decay
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