Energy (1 Viewer)

BlackJack

Vertigo!
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
1,230
Location
15 m above the pavement
Gender
Male
HSC
2002
It depends on the decay.
- the emitted particles will carry off energy, in the form of KE. For alphas this amount is ~pretty constant, but for betas, the antineutrino also carries the energy. However, the total energy carried off by these two particles will be ~same.
- If the nucleus comes out of the reaction in an excited state, then a gamma ray is emitted. This happens with <i>most</i> decays, where the energy of the photon coming out will range from gamma down to x-ray range.
e.g. Co-60's gamma decay is actually a byproduct of a beta-decay.
 
Last edited:

BlackJack

Vertigo!
Joined
Sep 24, 2002
Messages
1,230
Location
15 m above the pavement
Gender
Male
HSC
2002
As far as I know, yes.
Though, I do not think it's that important to add the gamma.
Truthfully, emission of photons happens most of the time after a nuclear decay. The energy of the photon makes the difference in whether it's in the X-ray or gamma range.

willl edit above post.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top