Question

9. [4 points] An isotope of helium with mass 5 u breaks up from rest into a nucleus of ordinary helium (assume: mass = 3 u) plus a neutron (assume: mass = 2 u). The rest energy liberated in the break-up is 0.8 MeV, which is shared (not equally) by the products. a) Using energy and momentum conservation, find the kinetic energy of the neutron. b) The lifetime of the original nucleus is 2.1 &times 10^{-20} s. What is the minimum width of the range of neutron kinetic energies we would measure in the laboratory as a result of the uncertainty relationship?

          9. [4 points] An isotope of helium with mass 5 u breaks up from rest into a nucleus of ordinary helium (assume: mass = 3 u) plus a neutron (assume: mass = 2 u). The rest energy liberated in the break-up is 0.8 MeV, which is shared (not equally) by the products.

a) Using energy and momentum conservation, find the kinetic energy of the neutron.
b) The lifetime of the original nucleus is 2.1 &times 10^{-20} s. What is the minimum width of the range of neutron kinetic energies we would measure in the laboratory as a result of the uncertainty relationship?

9. [4 points] An isotope of helium with mass 5 u breaks up from rest into a nucleus of ordinary helium (assume: mass = 3 u) plus a neutron (assume: mass = 2 u). The rest energy liberated in the break-up is 0.8 MeV, which is shared (not equally) by the products.

a) Using energy and momentum conservation, find the kinetic energy of the neutron.
b) The lifetime of the original nucleus is 2.1 times 10^-20 s. What is the minimum width of the range of neutron kinetic energies we would measure in the laboratory as a result of the uncertainty relationship?

Added by Kathleen B.

University Physics with Modern Physics

Hugh D. Young 14th Edition

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Adi S

09/26/2022

Step 1

Given: Mass of helium nucleus (m_h) = 3 u Mass of neutron (m_n) = 2 u Rest energy liberated (E_0) = 0.8 MeV = 0.8 * 10^6 eV Kinetic energy of neutron (K_n) = ? Using conservation of energy: E_0 = K_h + K_n Where: K_h = 1/2 * m_h * v_h^2 (kinetic energy of Show more…

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9. [4 points] An isotope of helium with mass 5 u breaks up from rest into a nucleus of ordinary helium (assume: mass = 3 u) plus a neutron (assume: mass = 2 u). The rest energy liberated in the break-up is 0.8 MeV, which is shared (not equally) by the products. a) Using energy and momentum conservation, find the kinetic energy of the neutron. b) The lifetime of the original nucleus is 2.1 x 10^{-20}s. What is the minimum width of the range of neutron kinetic energies we would measure in the laboratory as a result of the uncertainty relationship?