BITSAT2014PhysicsNuclear PhysicsActual
A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium. Then :
Options
- Athe helium nucleus has less momentum than the thorium nucleus
- Bthe helium nucleus has more momentum than the thorium nucleus
- Cthe helium nucleus has less kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus
- Dthe helium nucleus has more kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus
Correct answer
D. the helium nucleus has more kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus
Step-by-step solution
In an explosion a body breaks up into two pieces of unequal masses both part will have numerically equal momentum and lighter part will have more velocity. U Th + He KE _ Th = P ² 2 ~m _ Th , KE _ He = P ² 2 ~m _ He sinc m _ He is less so KE _ He will be more.