Physics - Nuclear Equations - Radioactive Decay !?

conzy · 03-02-2008 2:27pm #1

I don't get it at all, Anyone have any links to a good site that explains it?

Examples:

(iv) Cockcroft and Walton, under the guidance of Rutherford, used a linear particle
accelerator to artificially split a lithium nucleus by bombarding it with high-speed
protons. Copy and complete the following nuclear equation for this reaction.

7          1
 Li    +    H                
3          1

(a) In beta decay, a neutron decays into a proton with the emission of an electron. Write a
nuclear equation for this decay. Calculate the energy released during the decay of a
neutron.

Thanks

PurpleFistMixer · 03-02-2008 2:36pm

The lithium and hydrogen atom was split into two helium atoms. Remember, the 7 + 1 and the 3 + 1 must equal the right hand side, helium has an atomic mass of 4, and atomic number of 2, so it's balanced.
For that equation all you need to do is learn it off really...

For the beta decay one.. um, I think it's just...

neutron (atomic mass 1, atomic number 0) -> proton (atomic mass 1, atomic number 1) + electron (atomic mass 0, atomic number -1).
The energy released is given by e=m(c^2), take the mass before (ie mass of a neutron), minus the mass after (mass of proton + mass of electron), multiply it by the speed of light squared and that's your energy released.

It's a bit childish I guess, but this site's pretty good: http://particleadventure.org/
It goes into too much detail regarding some things, though, for example, the LC physics course doesn't bother with quark colourings.