Answer to Question #172706 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Haley

Question

2.274 MeV represents the maximum energy of the energetic particle released in a decay from yttrium-90 directly to the ground state of zirconium-90. Which of the following statements is correct?

a) All of the energetic particles produced in this transition have the same energy and this energy is equal to the maximum energy value

b)The energetic particles have a range of energies. This is because some energy is converted to the mass of an electron and this may or may not happen during the decay.

c) The energetic particles have a range of energies. This is because extra energy can be released if a positron encounters an electron which may or may not happen during the decay

d)The energetic particles have a range of energies. This is because some energy is carried away by a neutrino and the amount carried by the neutrino varies.

Answer 1

Answer: b)The energetic particles have a range of energies. This is because some energy is converted to the mass of an electron and this may or may not happen during the decay.

DECAY PATHWAY: Yttrium-90, half-life 64.10 hours, decays via beta (-) emission (99.9989%, 2280 keV maximum, 933.7 keV average energy) to zirconium-90, half-life stable.