How Can We Determine Recoil Nuclei Kinetic Energy in a Nuclear Reaction?

[jackjoo87]

a nuclear reaction Q value is the difference in kinetic energy of the final particle and the initial particle. how we can determine the kinetic energy only for the recoil nuclei if the kinetic energy of other particles are not given?

 

[Astronuc]

a nuclear reaction Q value is the difference in kinetic energy of the final particle and the initial particle. how we can determine the kinetic energy only for the recoil nuclei if the kinetic energy of other particles are not given?

The Q value is the difference in rest (mass) energies of the final particle(s) and initial particle(s), and it does not include the initial kinetic energy of the particles. The total energy must be considered if one wishes to account for initial kinetic energies, and one would need to consider the momenta.