Calculate Kinetic Energy of 232Th to 228Ra/Alpha Particle

AI Thread Summary
The decay of a 232Th nucleus to a 228Ra nucleus releases a total kinetic energy of 6.54 x 10^-3 J, with the alpha particle accounting for 1.76% of the mass of the 228Ra nucleus. To find the kinetic energy of the recoiling 228Ra nucleus and the alpha particle, conservation of momentum and energy principles are applied. The calculations involve determining the mass and speed of the alpha particle, as well as the recoil speed of the 228Ra nucleus. The discussion emphasizes the importance of showing work in homework submissions. Overall, the thread focuses on the application of physics concepts to solve the decay energy problem.
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A 232 Th (thorium) nucleus at rest decays to a 228 Ra (radon) nucleus with the emission of an alpha particle. The total kinetic energy of the decay fragments is 6.54 x 10^-3 J. An alpha particle has 1.76% of the mass of a 228 Ra nucleus.

a) Calculate the kinetic energy of the recoiling 228 Ra nucleus.

b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.
 
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MAPgirl23 said:
A 232 Th (thorium) nucleus at rest decays to a 228 Ra (radon) nucleus with the emission of an alpha particle. The total kinetic energy of the decay fragments is 6.54 x 10^-3 J. An alpha particle has 1.76% of the mass of a 228 Ra nucleus.

a) Calculate the kinetic energy of the recoiling 228 Ra nucleus.

b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.

Please note that we DO have a Homework help section AND a set of instructions in that section on what you must show when you are trying to work on a problem.

Zz.
 
MAPgirl23 said:
A 232 Th (thorium) nucleus at rest decays to a 228 Ra (radon) nucleus with the emission of an alpha particle. The total kinetic energy of the decay fragments is 6.54 x 10^-3 J. An alpha particle has 1.76% of the mass of a 228 Ra nucleus.

a) Calculate the kinetic energy of the recoiling 228 Ra nucleus.

b) Calculate the kinetic energy of the alpha particle.
What is the speed of the alpha particle? What is its mass? Using conservation of momentum, what is the recoil speed of the 228 Ra nucleus?

AM
 

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