What are the products of β+ and β- decay for an unstable parent nucleus?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mss90
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Nucleus
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the products of β+ and β- decay for an unstable parent nucleus represented as azXn. Participants clarify the notation, explaining that 'a' refers to the total number of nucleons, 'z' to protons, and 'x' to the element. It is noted that in β decay, the mass number remains unchanged, while the atomic number varies depending on the type of decay. For β- decay, a neutron is converted into a proton, increasing the atomic number, while β+ decay involves a proton converting into a neutron, decreasing the atomic number. The conversation encourages looking for examples similar to those found in resources like Wikipedia for better understanding.
mss90
Messages
29
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


If azXn is an unstable parent nucleus, write down expressions showing the products of the β + and β - decay of this nucleus.

Homework Equations


I have no idea how do do this, I recon its quite simple but..
Could anyone give me a pointer?

The Attempt at a Solution


none
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Can you clarify "azXn"?
 
a as in protons+neutrons, z as in protons and n as in neutrons, x = the element. Sorry for confusion caused but wasnt sure how to write it.
 
See the link from wikipedia its quite informative -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_decay
As the article states for beta decay the mass number remains the same but changes depending on whether its a beta+ or a beta- decay.

With regards expressions, try find examples similar to the ones given on the wikipedia page.
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top