Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 30 - Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity - Problems - Page 882: 35

Answer

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Work Step by Step

Assume that the recoil energy of the boron nucleus is negligible. $$ ^{11}_{6}C \rightarrow \left( ^{11}_{5}B \right)+ ^{0}_{1}\beta^+ +\nu $$ The kinetic energy of the $\beta^+$ is maximum if the neutrino $\nu$ has its minimum kinetic energy, zero. See Problem 36 for the energy released. $$KE=\left( m(^{11}_{6}C) -m(^{11}_{5}B) -2m(^{0}_{-1}e) \right)c^2$$ $$= (11.011434u-11.009305u-2(0.00054858u)) \left( \frac{931.49MeV/c^2}{u}\right)c^2$$ $$=0.9611 MeV$$ The kinetic energy of the $\beta^+$ is minimum when it is zero. In that case the neutrino has energy of 0.9611 MeV. In summary, the minimum energy of each is zero.
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