A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium. Then (a) The helium nucleus has more momentum than the thorium nucleus. (b) The helium nucleus has less kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus. (c) The helium nucleus has more kinetic energy than the thorium nucleus. (d) The helium nucleus has less momentum than the thorium nucleus.

Answer: (c). From rest, momentum conservation gives pHe = pTh in magnitude. K = p²/2m, so the lighter helium nucleus has more kinetic energy. So the answer is (c).

A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and… | NEET 2015 (AIPMT)

Q16NEET 2015 · AIPMTMedium

Nuclear Reactions & Q-value

A nucleus of uranium decays at rest into nuclei of thorium and helium. Then

Show answer and solution

Answer: (c)

From rest, momentum conservation gives $p_{He} = p_{Th}$ in magnitude.
$K = \dfrac{p^2}{2m}$ , so the lighter helium nucleus has more kinetic energy.
So the answer is (c).

Report a mistake

More questions on Nuclear Reactions & Q-value

The binding energy per nucleon of ⁷₃Li and ⁴₂He nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV…NEET 2014 (AIPMT)
A radioactive nucleus of mass M emits a photon of frequency v and the nucleus recoils…NEET 2011 (AIPMT, Prelims)
A nucleus of mass M + Δ m is at rest and decays into two daughter nuclei of equal mass…JEE Main 2010 (AIEEE)
A nucleus of mass M + Δ m is at rest and decays into two daughter nuclei of equal mass…JEE Main 2010 (AIEEE)
When ₃Li⁷ nuclei are bombarded by protons, and the resultant nuclei are ₄Be⁸, the emitted…JEE Main 2006 (AIEEE)
If the binding energy per nucleon in ⁷₃Li and ⁴₂He nuclei are 5.60 MeV and 7.06 MeV…JEE Main 2006 (AIEEE)
A nuclear transformation is denoted by X (n, α) ₃⁷Li. Which of the following is the…JEE Main 2005 (AIEEE)
In the reaction ₁² H + ₁³ H → ₂⁴ He + ₀¹ n, if the binding energies of ₁² H, ₁³ H and ₂⁴…NEET 2005 (AIPMT)

Nuclear Reactions & Q-value question from NEET 2015 (AIPMT)

More questions on Nuclear Reactions & Q-value