Radioactive decay question Ra to Rn

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of energy released during the alpha decay of radium-226 (Ra) into radon-222 (Rn) and an alpha particle. The energy released was calculated to be 488 MeV using the mass defect and Einstein's equation E=mc². The kinetic energy of the decay products was determined using the conservation of linear momentum, resulting in 479 MeV for the alpha particle and 9 MeV for radon. The mass ratio of the products was crucial in deriving the kinetic energies of the decay products.

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rshalloo
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Homework Statement



Ra (mass number 226 atomic number 88) undergoes alpha decay to form radon. If the mass of a radium nucleus is 3.753152x10-25kg, the mass of the radon nucleus is 3.686602x10-25kg and the mass of the alpha particle is 6.646322x10-27kg, find the energy released in the alpha decay in MeV.

If the ratio of the mass of the products of the decay is equal to the ratio of their mass numbers, find the kinetic energy of both products after the decay

charge of electron=1.6x10-19C
speed of light in a vacuum=3x108ms-1

The Attempt at a Solution



So for the first part I got .488MeV using the mass defect and E=mc2 (could well be wrong) but I am stuck on the second part i don't understand what they are talking about ratios for?
 
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rshalloo said:

Homework Statement


Ra (mass number 226 atomic number 88) undergoes alpha decay to form radon. If the mass of a radium nucleus is 3.753152x10-25kg, the mass of the radon nucleus is 3.686602x10-25kg and the mass of the alpha particle is 6.646322x10-27kg, find the energy released in the alpha decay in MeV.
If the ratio of the mass of the products of the decay is equal to the ratio of their mass numbers, find the kinetic energy of both products after the decay
charge of electron=1.6x10-19C
speed of light in a vacuum=3x108ms-1

{Ra}_{88}^{226}\rightarrow{\alpha}_2^4+{Rn}_{86}^{222}

\text{energy released}=\frac{(3.753152\times{10}^{-25}-3.686601\times{10}^{-25}-6.646322\times{10}^{-27})(3\times{10}^8)^2}{1.6\times10^{-19}}=488MeVKE=\frac{mv^2}{2}=\frac{m^{2}v^2}{2m}

\text{By conservation of linear momentum}, m_{\alpha}v_{\alpha}=m_{Rn}v_{Rn}

\therefore\ \ \ \ \ \frac{KE_{\alpha}}{KE_{Rn}}=\frac{m_{Rn}}{m_\alpha}=\frac{222}{4}

I think all the decay energy goes to KE. Then:KE_\alpha=488MeV\times\frac{222}{222+4}=479MeV\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ KE_{Rn}=9MeV
 

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