What is the recoil energy of a nucleus produced in its first energy level?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
Adams2020
Messages
39
Reaction score
3
Homework Statement
Using the data of Table, what is the recoil energy of a 17O nucleus produced in its first energy level?
Relevant Equations
...
Table:
1.png

To solve, using the conservation of energy:
2.png

E0=(m(deutron)+m(16O)-m(17O)-m(p))c^2
so:
E0=(2.014+15.994-16.999-1.008)931.5=0.93 MeV.
so using the conservation of energy:
14.95+0.93=16.62+0+E'
E'=- 0.74 MeV

But the energy sign has become negative. I also calculated for the first excited level, it was negative again. I do not know what is wrong.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I think you might need more accuracy in computing ## E_o ##.
I googled ## m_p ## and got 1.0073.
For the deuteron I got 2.0135.
For O 16 I got 15.9949.
I think this makes the answer small but positive.
 
Last edited: