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If a nucleus such as .^(226)Ra that is i...

If a nucleus such as `.^(226)Ra` that is initially at rest undergoes `alpha`- decay , then which of the following statemnets is true?

A

The alpha particles has more kinetic than the daughter nuclues.

B

The alpha particle has less kinetic energy than the daughter nucleus.

C

The alpha particle and daughter nucleus both have same kinetic energy

D

We cannot say anything about kinetic energy of alpha particle and daughter nucleus.

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To solve the question about the alpha decay of a nucleus such as \( ^{226}\text{Ra} \), we will analyze the situation using the principles of conservation of momentum and kinetic energy. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Alpha Decay**: - In alpha decay, a nucleus emits an alpha particle (which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons) and transforms into a daughter nucleus. For \( ^{226}\text{Ra} \), the decay can be represented as: \[ ^{226}\text{Ra} \rightarrow ^{222}\text{Rn} + \alpha \] - Here, \( ^{222}\text{Rn} \) is the daughter nucleus and \( \alpha \) is the emitted alpha particle. 2. **Initial Conditions**: - The nucleus \( ^{226}\text{Ra} \) is initially at rest, which means its initial momentum is zero. 3. **Conservation of Momentum**: - According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before decay must equal the total momentum after decay. Since the initial momentum is zero, we have: \[ 0 = p_{\alpha} + p_{\text{daughter}} \] - This implies: \[ p_{\alpha} = -p_{\text{daughter}} \] - Therefore, the magnitudes of the momenta are equal: \[ |p_{\alpha}| = |p_{\text{daughter}}| \] 4. **Relating Kinetic Energy to Momentum**: - The kinetic energy (KE) of an object can be expressed in terms of its momentum (p) and mass (m): \[ KE = \frac{p^2}{2m} \] - For the alpha particle and the daughter nucleus, we can write: \[ KE_{\alpha} = \frac{p_{\alpha}^2}{2m_{\alpha}} \quad \text{and} \quad KE_{\text{daughter}} = \frac{p_{\text{daughter}}^2}{2m_{\text{daughter}}} \] 5. **Comparing Kinetic Energies**: - Since \( |p_{\alpha}| = |p_{\text{daughter}}| \), we can substitute \( p_{\text{daughter}} \) with \( p_{\alpha} \): \[ KE_{\alpha} = \frac{p_{\alpha}^2}{2m_{\alpha}} \quad \text{and} \quad KE_{\text{daughter}} = \frac{p_{\alpha}^2}{2m_{\text{daughter}}} \] - Thus, we can compare the two kinetic energies: \[ \frac{KE_{\alpha}}{KE_{\text{daughter}}} = \frac{m_{\text{daughter}}}{m_{\alpha}} \] - Since the mass of the daughter nucleus (\( m_{\text{daughter}} \)) is greater than the mass of the alpha particle (\( m_{\alpha} \)), it follows that: \[ KE_{\alpha} > KE_{\text{daughter}} \] 6. **Conclusion**: - From the analysis, we conclude that the alpha particle has more kinetic energy than the daughter nucleus. Therefore, the correct statement is: - **A**: The alpha particle has more kinetic energy than the daughter nucleus.

To solve the question about the alpha decay of a nucleus such as \( ^{226}\text{Ra} \), we will analyze the situation using the principles of conservation of momentum and kinetic energy. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Alpha Decay**: - In alpha decay, a nucleus emits an alpha particle (which consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons) and transforms into a daughter nucleus. For \( ^{226}\text{Ra} \), the decay can be represented as: \[ ^{226}\text{Ra} \rightarrow ^{222}\text{Rn} + \alpha ...
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