How Is Energy Distributed in the N-14 and Alpha Particle Reaction?

[Masafi]

N-14 + alpha --> O-17 + proton

N-14 + alpha particle --> O-17 + high energy proton

alpha particle used was 7.70MeV.

Q1. Calculate the energy to be shared in the interaction.

Q2. Explain why the proton cannot take all of the available energy.



The following date is given for nuclide and their mass:
Hydrogen mass: 1.007825u, Helium 4.002603u, N-14 14.003074u, O-17 16.999132u



I tried converting the mass of N into energy in eV and adding it to 7.70MeV. Not sure what to do then.

The answer given to Q1 is 6.5MeV

The explanation for Q2 is not given.

 

[vela]

Use conservation of energy: total energy initial = total energy final.

 

[Masafi]

Use conservation of energy: total energy initial = total energy final.

Mass of N = 14.003074 * 1.66 x 10^(-27)
= 2.32 x 10^(-26) kg

Energy of N = 13075 MeV

Initial E = 13075 + 7.70 = 13,083 MeV


Final E from the Rest Mass of O and the proton = 16,814 MeV

So change in E = 3731MeV

and this is for the inital E, because that is the one which has less E when just taking into account the rest mass.

The answer should be 6.5MeV which is shared AFTER the interaction?

 

[vela]

What about the mass of the alpha particle?