Describe the mechanisms and characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma decay.
Alpha Decay
Beta Decay
Alpha Decay Disintegration Energy
Beta-minus Disintegration Energy
Electron-capture Disintegration Energy
Beta-plus Disintegration Energy
Gamma Decay
Practice!
Practice 5.1.1
Which kinds of unstable nuclei typically decay by emitting an alpha particle?
A. those with too many neutrons
B. those with too many protons
C. those with too many neutrons and too many protons
D. Misleading question—the numbers of neutrons and protons in a nucleus are unrelated to whether or not it emits an alpha particle.
E. Misleading question—a nucleus cannot decay by emitting an alpha particle spontaneously. Alpha particles are released only in collisions between nuclei.
Check your answer: C. those with too many neutrons and too many protons
Practice 5.1.2
Which kinds of unstable nuclei typically decay by emitting an electron?
A. those with too many neutrons
B. those with too many protons
C. those with too many neutrons and too many protons
D. Misleading question—the numbers of neutrons and protons in a nucleus are unrelated to whether or not it emits an electron.
E. Misleading question—a nucleus cannot decay by emitting an electron spontaneously. Electrons are released only in collisions between nuclei.
Check your answer: A. those with too many neutrons
Practice 5.1.3
Which kinds of unstable nuclei typically decay by emitting a gamma-ray photon?
A. those with too many neutrons
B. those with too many protons
C. those with too many neutrons and too many protons
D. Misleading question—the numbers of neutrons and protons in a nucleus are unrelated to whether or not it emits gamma rays.
E. Misleading question—a nucleus cannot decay by emitting gamma ray spontaneously. Gamma rays are released only in collisions between nuclei.
Check your answer: D. Misleading question—the numbers of neutrons and protons in a nucleus are unrelated to whether or not it emits gamma rays.
Practice 5.1.4
Radon-222 is a gas produced by alpha decay. Its parent nuclide is
A. lead-220
B. polonium-218
C. radium-226
D. thorium-224
Check your answer: C. radium-226
Practice 5.1.5
Which of the following is the correct daughter nucleus associated with the alpha decay of 157Hf?
A. 153Hf
B. 153Yb
C. 157Yb
Check your answer: B. 153Yb
Practice 5.1.6
Which of the following is the correct daughter nucleus associated with the beta decay of 184Hf?
A. 183Hf
B. 183Ta
C. 184Ta
Check your answer: C. 184Ta
Discuss!
A radioactive sample undergoes three different types of radioactive decays and emits three different types of particles.
The particles are emitted into a region of space with a uniform magnetic field directed out of the page and follow the paths indicated. None of the particles bend either into or out of the screen. For each path, identify the radioactive decay (α, β+, β-, γ) or state that the type of decay cannot be determined based on the information provided. Ignore the neutrinos (and antineutrinos) emitted in beta decay.
Complete the following hypothetical radioactive chain with the correct decay process on each line and the correct nucleus in each box.
23Ne decays to 23Na by negative beta emission. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons?
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