Question

¹⁷⁶X nucleus decomposes by β-decay to form ¹⁷⁶Y. If the atomic masses of X and Y are 175.942694 u and 175.941426 u respectively. Then calculate the maximum energy of emitted β-particle.

Answer 1

X¹⁷⁶ → Y¹⁷⁹ + _-1β⁰
Mass defect Δm = [175.942694 - 175.941426] u
Δm = 0.001268 u
Maximum K.E. of β-particles
= Δmc² × 1 u
= Δmc² × \(\frac{931}{c^{2}}\) Me V
= Δm × 931 MeV
= 0.001268 × 931 MeV
= 1.18 Me V