Two different nuclei emit alpha particles,the energy released in each of these decays being the same.Which of the following has the highest resulting kinetic energy?
A)The lighter daughter nucleus.
B)The heavier daughter nucleus.
C)The alpha particle from the lighter nucleus.
D)The alpha particle from the heavier nucleus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The kinetic energy of the alpha particle depends on its momentum, which is given by p = mv, where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the particle. Since the energy released in each decay is the same, the alpha particles have the same energy. However, the heavier daughter nucleus will have less kinetic energy because it has a larger mass, and therefore a smaller velocity due to conservation of momentum. The alpha particle from the heavier nucleus will also have less kinetic energy because it has a larger mass than the alpha particle from the lighter nucleus. Therefore, the alpha particle from the lighter nucleus has the highest resulting kinetic energy.

Two Different Nuclei Emit Alpha Particles,the Energy Released in Each