Calculating Kinetic Energy of Electron & Neutrino in Beta Decay of Caesium

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The discussion focuses on calculating the kinetic energy of an electron and a neutrino emitted during the beta decay of a caesium isotope into barium. The caesium isotope is 1.18 MeV/c² more massive than the barium isotope, and the rest mass of the electron is 0.511 MeV/c², while the neutrino is assumed to be massless. The kinetic energy (T) of the electron can be derived using the equation T + cp, where p represents the momentum of the electron. The total energy of the barium atom, the electron, and the neutrino must equal the energy of the caesium atom, necessitating the application of conservation of momentum.

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One of the unstable isotopes of caesium undergoes beta decay, as a result of which it turns into an isotope of Barium, with the simultaneous emission of an electron and a neutrino. The Caesium isotope is 1.18 Mev/c^2 more massive than the Barium isotope.



Assuming that the initial and final isotopes are produced at rest , how much kinetic energy is carried of by the electron and neutrino? Explain why this must be equal to
T+cp
where T is the kinetic energy of the electron and p is the magnitude of its momentum

Use the result to determine the value of T


I have No idea at all what to do so any help at all would be greatly appreciated

(rest mass of electron=0.511Mev/c^2 and neutrino assume massless)
 
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Do you know the expression for the total energy of a relativistic particle? (You should)

Add up the energies of the barium atom, the electron, and the neutrino. The sum should be equal to the energy of the cesium atom. You will also need to apply conservation of momentum.
 

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