Alpha Definition and 460 Threads

Just wondering, why does the alpha particle which is basically just a helium atom have a 2+ charge on it when you write it although the electronic configuration of the alpha particle is exactly the same as a helium atom?

Homework Statement I got ask the following question, and i don't know the answer. Why in a rdioactive decay of 232Th by alpha emission, the alpha particle can have energy 4.01 Mev and 3.95 Mev? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I look up this website and i found...

In air, high angle scattering of alpha radiation from Am241 is almost non existent. When a sample is pulled away from a detector the detection rate drops as 1/r^2. But if a thin aluminium foil is inserted in the path almost half of the radiation disappears somewhere else, it do not reach...

Alpha centuri...4 light year relative to who? Hi, Here it goes. Suppose it takes 4 light years to get to alpha centuri. So if I could travel at 99.99999% the speed of light and the people on Earth remains stationary(as in moving very slowly which is << C). So does my clock shows 4 years...

Homework Statement Assume a steady stream of α particles travels with a constant energy of 20 MeV and carries a current of 2.5 μA. a) If the beam is directed perpendicular to a plane target, how many α's will strike this target in 8 seconds? b) At any given instant, how many α's are in a...

Homework Statement i) Explain why in alpha decay short half lives correspond to large disintegration energies. ii) Determine the energy release during the alpha decay of 238U to 234Th. The mass of 238U is 238.0508mu, the mass of 234Th is 234.0436mu, and the mass of 4He is 4.0026mu...

Homework Statement An alpha particle of energy 5.78 MeV is emitted from a particular nucleus. Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of the alpha particle. How does it compare with the nuclear diameter, which is known to be approximately 2x10−14 m. Homework Equations E=h/p and E=hf...

Homework Statement Okay, I need to work out the Relativistic corrections for an atom, using the First KE Term and the Darwin Term: Calculate the energy shift of the protonium groundstate due to the relativistic correction to the kinetic energy and the Darwin term and compare it to...

Why does it follow from \frac{d}{d\beta}(-\Sigma_{i=1}^n[\frac{(y_i - \alpha - \beta x_i)^2}{2 \sigma^2}]) = 0 that \Sigma_{i=1}^n x_i(y_i - \alpha - \beta x_1) = 0 ?

Homework Statement Suppose that I want to compare the Kinetic Energy of an electron to the Kinetic Energy of an alpha particle if they both have the same radius of curvature in a magnetic field. Homework Equations qvB = mv^2/r KE = 1/2 mv^2 The Attempt at a Solution I am...

Homework Statement Alpha decay typically involves an alpha-particle of 5-6Mev. How can this be explained using quantum mechanics? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I think I need to work out the potential barrier and then work out how much KE an alpha particle has...

This is probably a naive question, but I've been trying for awhile to figure it out myself and just don't have the background to do so. I know that beta particles can generate x-rays through bremsstrahlung processes, and that some materials excited by alpha particles can generate light through...

Hey I'm new to this forum, just want to say hi! I'm not sure if this is the rite place to put this but sry if i posted in the wrong section >.< I'm actually working on an assignment in my natural science course and I'm stuck on this question cause I'm not sure how to use the variables in the...

Homework Statement A photon and alpha particle are accelerated from rest through the same potential difference. After acceleration what is the ratio kinetic energy of alpha particle / kinetic energy of proton? Homework Equations I guess I have to use eV = 1/2mv^2 The Attempt at a...

Half Life / Alpha Decay Question -- No IDea Homework Statement A space rock contains 3.20 g of 147 62 Sm and 0.110 g of 143 60 Nd. 147 62 Sm alpha decays to 143 60 Nd with a half-life of 1.06 1011 yr. If the rock originally contained no , how old is it? Homework Equations ...

Homework Statement A particle (nonrelativistic) of mass M and with kinetic energy E0 collides with an electron at rest of mass m. Show from elementary considerations (i.e. rst year physics) that the maximum energy of the electron after the collision is E0(4m/M). Determine this energy for...

Homework Statement What energy alpha particle would be needed to just reach the surface of an Al nucleus if its radius is 4fm? *This problem is found in a section dealing with Rutherford's gold foil scattering experiment, so take it in that context. Homework Equations F=(kqQ)/r2 The Attempt...

What does it mean when a function is said to be an integral function of order \alpha? \alpha is some real constant. I encountered this terminology in the context of complex analytic functions.

Homework Statement In an elastic collision between an alpha particle and an unknown nucleus at rest, the alpha particle was deflected through a right angle and lost 40 percent of its energy . Identify the mysterious nucleus. Homework Equations...

In atomic decay, when an atom decays and releases the (Alpha) Helium nucleus, the atom left behind changes to the element 2 Proton Numbers prior. So is this new element charged? because the electrons stay behind, or do they go? and if so, where to and how?

Homework Statement Let A, B,be two non empty sets of real numbers with supremums 'alpha' and 'beta' respectively, and let the sets A+B and AB be defined by: A+B={a+b / a belongs to A, b belongs to B}, AB= {ab / a belongs to A, b belongs to B}. Show that alpha+beta is a supremum of A+B...

Homework Statement An alpha particle (a helium nucleus, containing 2 protons and 2 neutrons) starts out with kinetic energy of 9.5 MeV (9.5106 eV), and heads in the +x direction straight toward a gold nucleus (containing 79 protons and 118 neutrons). The particles are initially far apart...

Homework Statement An alpha particle (a helium nucleus, containing 2 protons and 2 neutrons) starts out with kinetic energy of 9.5 MeV (9.5106 eV), and heads in the +x direction straight toward a gold nucleus (containing 79 protons and 118 neutrons). The particles are initially far apart...

I am taking R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (RALA) as a supplement, however apparently it's very unstable and polymerizes at about 40-50 degrees C and becomes unabsorbable. Apparently it also polymerizes when it reaches the stomach. There are also stabilized forms such as Na-RALA and K-RALA. Now what i want...

Homework Statement A beam of α particles with energy/particle = 2.86 MeV is directed towards lead foil. What is the speed of the α particles? Homework Equations E = 1/2 mv^2 v = SQRT(2E/m) v = SQRT((2)(2.86E+6)(1.602E-19) / (1.673E-27) ) = 23403526 m/s = 0.078c but the ans is 0.039c...

Homework Statement a pulse 1 m long contains 1000 α particles.at t=0,each α particles in the state ψ(x,0){1/10e^(-ik_0 ) lxl≤50cm,k_0=π/50 and 0 for elsewhere,} at t=0 ,how many particle s have momentume in the interval 0<hk<hk_0? Homework Equations introduction to quantum...

1. Homework Statement The alpha particles used by Rutherford had a kinetic energy of 7.7 MeV and, for a head-on collision would get to within a distance of 3×10-14m of the centre of the gold nucleus. However the actual radius of a gold nucleus is approximately 7×10-15m. 2. Homework Equations...

Planet X orbits the star Alpha with a 'year' that is 200 Earth days long. Planet Y circles Alpha at nine times the distance of planet X. How long is a year on planet Y? I know that I have to use the kepler's law : T^2 = (4pi^2/GM)r^3 but I'm not too sure how to do solve this... Please...

I don't know how many of you have heard of Mu Alpha Theta, but for those who haven't, it's a high school and two-year college math competition. -- Shameless plug: Middleton, my high school, won 7th in the nation in July! Go tigers! -- I'm taking Algebra 2 this year, but one of our coaches...

Homework Statement An alpha (α) particle is the nucleus of a 4He atom and consists of 2 neutrons and two protons bound together. Let's take apart an α particle, step by step, looking at the energy required at each step. To do so, we may want to use the following atomic masses: 4He: 4.0026 u...

I think I understand the impact that an alpha particle can have on living tissue. Not having electrons in it valence it would be very reactive - stripping electrons from atoms or molecules it bumps into (assuming it made its way in a biotic host). But how does a beta particle ionize an atom...

Should we send an interstellar (unmanned) probe to Alpha Centauri? Would it be much more expensive than a manned mission to Mars? According to Wikipedia, velocities as high as 0.10c are possible with hydrogen bombs. That means that ~40 years flight time to the nearest star would be possible...

Show that the equation x2 + (3\alpha - 2)x + \alpha(\alpha - 1) = 0 has real roots for all values of α \in IR. How do i do this? Do i just use the b2 + 4ac \geq 0 ?

Homework Statement \alpha = 37, m1 = 10 kg Also attachment. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution ok, the first question is to find m2 when the system is in rest and the second one is to find the acceleration when m1 = m2. I found 3 equations: n1 = m1 * g * cos(\alpha...

A skunk has gotten wise to my office situation and learned to use the cat door. This has been going on for a couple of months, and surprisingly the only real problem is the cost in cat food. But there is always the concern that, sooner or later, it is going to blast my office and/or cat. In the...

A rocket is preparing for journey from Earth to Alpha Centauri. The Earth and Alpha Centauri systems are at rest with each other and have syncronized their clocks to time t=0. ________E__________________________________________________A (distance: 4 ly) ________R Rocket speed is known...

Hi all! I have the following question to solve and it's getting me down. Suppose we have an alpha source with very high radioactivity (such as 100kCu) in our workspace. Even though we know that the range of alpha particles in air is about 4 cm and we try to stay away from the source and...

1. Through what potential difference (\DeltaV) would you need to accelerate an alpha particle, starting from rest, so that it will just reach the surface of a 15 x 10^(-15) m ^{238}U nucleus? 2. KE = q\DeltaV E = \gamma_{p}mc² r = \frac{mv}{qB} 3. Ok, I feel like I am close to what I really need...

Alpha Decay "extra" electrons I am sure this question has been asked before, and I have searched many sources for a good answer, but have yet to be satisfied with what i have read. ===================================== Question 1 deals with this version of the decay formula 238/92 U -->...

CAN ANYONE HELP ME ? An automatic nucleus initially moving at 500 m/s emits an alpha particle in the direction of its velocity, and the new nucleus shows to 450 m/s. If the alpha particle has a mass of 4.0 u and the original nucleus has a mass of 222 u, what speed does the alpha particle have...

What does this symbol mean?? Hey y'all, There is a symbol in a physics handout I have that I don't know what the symbol means. It looks like an infinity symbol, but open on one end. The equation in which it appears is part of Hooke's law and the equation is F=-x (Substitute the formula...

Many of us have seen how to find a vector satisfying the following conditions (i) magnitude is m (ii) makes angles alpha, beta and gamma with i,j,k vectors i.e. unit vectors along x,y and z axes. My question is can the angles be taken arbitrarily or they should satisfy some condition like...

Homework Statement A plumb bob is deflected from the vertical by an angle alpha due to a massive mountain nearby. (A) Find an approximate formula for alpha in terms of the mass of the mountain the distance to its center and the radius and mass of the earth (B) Make a rough estimate of the mass...

Homework Statement 1.Find the equation for a unit speed planar curve alpha such that k(t)=1/t 2.If the Earth has radius r and the plane in which a pendulum swings in a city rotates by angle theta in 24 hours what is the distance from the city to the equator? Homework Equations The Attempt at...

Homework Statement Okay so I want to be able to do this in Microsoft Word 2003: http://upload.wikimedia.org/math/e/7/b/e7b1daa5e6f9f335dabcc1ca136c93a8.png Homework Equations None. The Attempt at a Solution However, the problem is, when I try to do subscripts and superscripts...

Why do alpha gloveboxes require so much shielding? Do alpha particle interactions create high energy electrons which produce Bremsstrahlung radiation or is it the high activity producing greater quantities of low intensity gammas?

Homework Statement By using the graph attached, Why high energy alpha particles are emitted by alpha-emitters of short wavelength? Homework Equations Transmission Coefficient Equation : T=exp(-2kd) The Attempt at a Solution Ain't really sure. Can't really figure out why is...

Can you gurus help me understand in a qualitative way the nature of the Coulomb barrier as it applies to alpha decay? I can intuitively appreciate the Coulomb barrier as it applies to an incoming charged particle, but resources I have been reading apply the same term to the barrier felt by...

Homework Statement The equation is in the document If alpha was negative like -3 then you have gamma(-3+1)=gamma(-2) which is not allowed. Looks like alpha can be negative in the equation. So there looks like a problem. The Attempt at a Solution Can't see a way out of it.

let alpha be algebraic over F of degree n, show that there exists at most n isomorphisms mapping F(alpha) onto a subfield of bar F (this means the algebraic closure). thanx