How do you calculate alpha decay in physics?

How do you calculate alpha decay in physics?

So first look at the father nucleus and list its number of protons and its atomic weight. Step 3) Now from number of neutrons subtract 2 and from number of protons subtract 2 as an alpha particle has 2 neutrons and 2 protons and in an alpha decay an alpha particle will always form in case of any any father nucleus.

What is the formula for alpha radiation?

Alpha particle

Alpha decay
Composition 2 protons, 2 neutrons
Symbol α, α2+, He2+
Mass 6.644657230(82)×10−27 kg 4.001506179127(63) u 3.727379378(23) GeV/c2
Electric charge +2 e

What is the Q-value of alpha decay?

The “Q-value” of the decay, Qα is the difference of the mass of the parent and the combined mass of the daughter and the α-particle, multiplied by c2. Qα = (mP − mD − mα)c2. The mass difference between the parent and daughter nucleus can usually be estimated quite well from the Liquid Drop Model.

What is the product of the alpha decay of U 238?

thorium-234
Uranium-238 undergoes alpha decay to become thorium-234. (The numbers following the chemical names refer to the number of protons plus neutrons.) In this reaction, uranium-238 loses two protons and two neutrons to become the element thorium-234.

What is the general Q-value for alpha decay?

Notes: Q-value is the net kinetic energy gained in the process or, if the initial nucleus X is at rest, the kinetic energy of the products. Clearly, Q> 0 for exothermic processes such as α-decay.

How do you calculate radioactive decay?

Radioactive Decay – Equation – Formula

  1. Radioactive decay law: N = N.e-λt
  2. (Number of nuclei) N = N.e-λt
  3. (Activity) A = A.e-λt
  4. (Mass) m = m.e-λt

What is Q-value formula?

The Q value can also be expressed in terms of the binding energies of the nuclear species as: Proof. Note that the count of nucleons is conserved in a nuclear reaction. Hence, total reactant protons = total product protons and total reactant neutrons = total product neutrons.