Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 28 - The Electric Potential - Exercises and Problems - Page 836: 55

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ The beta decay process is given by $${\rm n}\rightarrow {\rm p^+}+{\rm e^-}+\nu$$ The neutron is neutral, the proton has a charge of $+e$, the electron has a charge of $-e$, and the neutrino has no charge. Thus, the left side of the formula above has zero net charge and the right side has a net charge of zero as well. $$+e+(-e)+0=0$$ Therefore, yes, the charge is conserved in the beta decay process. $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ The change of the number of the neutrons of an elements makes many isotopes of it but the change in the number of protons creates a new different eelment. Tritium has one proton and two neutrons. So when one of the neutrons decay to [proton+electron+neutrino] where the electron and the neutrono ejected away from the atom, the necleus now contians two protons and one neutron. This is now a helium isotob atom with mass of 3 u. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ We need to find the initial speed of the electron when it is ejected away from the helium atom so it reaches a distance of $r\rightarrow\infty$ and then stops. Using the conservation of energy, $$E_i=E_f$$ $$K_i+U_i=K_f+U_f$$ where $K_f=0$ since the electron finally stops, and $U_f=0$ since $r$ approches $\infty$, $$\frac{1}{2}m_ev_e^2+\dfrac{kq_eq_{He}}{r_{He}}=0+0$$ where $q_e=-e$, and $q_{He}=+2e$ $$\frac{1}{2}m_ev_e^2+\dfrac{-2ke^2 }{r_{He}}=0 $$ Hence, $$ v_e =\sqrt{\dfrac{4ke^2 }{r_{He}m_e } }$$ Plugging the known; $$ v_e =\sqrt{\dfrac{4(9\times 10^9)(1.6\times 10^{-19})^2 }{(1.5\times 10^{-15})(9.11\times 10^{-31}) } }$$ $$v_e=\color{red}{\bf 8.21\times 10^8}\;\rm m/s$$ This speed is greater than the speed of light, so we had to include the relativistic analysis to get the perfect result. But this answer is enough for this chapter.
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