Tag: beta decay

Questions Related to beta decay

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

Which of the following statement is correct?

  1. The rest mass of a stable nucleus is less than the sum of the rest masses of ts separated nucleons.

  2. The rest mass of a stable nucleus is greater than the sum of the rest masses of its separated nucleons

  3. In nuclear fission, energy is released by fusion two nuclei of medium mass (approximately 100 amu).

  4. In nuclear fission, energy is released by fragmentation of a very low nucleus.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Stable nucleus has mass deficit: binding energy means M_nucleus < Σ(m_nucleons). This mass defect equals binding energy/c². Option B is wrong. Option C mentions fusion, not fission. Option D has 'very low nucleus' which is garbled; should say 'very heavy nucleus'.

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

Find out the missing particle in the following nuclear reaction?
$^2 _1H+^{63} _{29}Cu \rightarrow ^{64} _{30}Zn+(?)$

  1. Proton

  2. Neutron

  3. Electron

  4. Positron

  5. Deuteron

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The given reaction :    $^2 _1 H$  $+$  $^{63} _{29} Cu  \rightarrow      ^{64} _{30} Zn  $  $+$  $^A _Z X$

In a nuclear reaction, mass number and the atomic number are conserved.
$\therefore$    $2+ 63  = 64 + A$   $\implies A = 1$
Also,  $1 + 29  = 30+Z$    $\implies Z = 0$
Thus, the missing particle is $^1 _0 n$  i.e  neutron.

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

The number of neutrons decreases by 1 after radioactive decay. Identify the type of decay.

  1. Alpha decay

  2. ${\beta}^{-}$ decay
  3. ${\beta}^{+}$ decay
  4. Electron capture

  5. Gamma decay

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

We know that for $\beta^-$ decay, one neutron is converted into proton and electron and the electron is ejected in the reaction. For this, the number of neutrons will decrease by one unit. 

But in $\beta^+$  decay , the positron is ejected and neutron number will increase by one unit. 

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

Compared to the parent nucleus, the daughter nucleus of a $\beta$ decay has:

  1. the same mass number but a smaller atomic number

  2. the same mass number but a greater atomic number

  3. a greater mass number but the same atomic number

  4. a smaller mass number but the same atomic number

  5. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

When beta decay occurs, the atomic number of nucleus will increase by one unit and mass number will remain same. Thus, here the after beta decay the daughter nucleus has same mass number as product nuclei and one unit atomic number will increase than parent nuclei.    

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

When carbon $-14$ undergoes beta (electron) decay, it transmutes into what?

  1. $Carbon-13$
  2. $Carbon-12$
  3. $Nitrogen-13$
  4. $Nitrogen-12$
  5. $Nitrogen-14$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation
Beta decay of Carbon-14 : $^{14} _{6}   $ $ \rightarrow$  $^{A} _ZX $ $+$  $^{0} _{-1} e$

Conservation of mass number :  $14 = A+ 0$    $\implies A = 14$
Conservation of atomic number :  $6 = Z-1$    $\implies Z =7$
Thus the daughter nucleus is: $^{14} _{7} N$  or  $Nitrogen- 14$.
Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

Find out the product of a $Co^{60}$ atom that undergoes one beta plus decays?

  1. iron-60

  2. manganese-60

  3. copper-60

  4. copper-62

  5. iron-62

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$\beta^+$ decay: $^{60} _{28}Co \rightarrow$ $^{A} _{Z}X$ $+$ $^0 _{+1}e$ 

In a nuclear reaction, the mass number as well as the atomic number is conserved.
$\therefore$  $60 = 0 + A$ $\implies A =60$
Also, $27 = 1 + Z$  $\implies Z = 26$
Thus, the product of the reaction is iron-60  i.e $^{60} _{26}Fe$.

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

In $\beta$ decay.

  1. Atomic number decreased by one

  2. Mass number decreases by one

  3. Proton number remains the same

  4. Neutron number decreases by one

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Beta decay of $ _Z^A X$ :    $ _Z^A X \rightarrow   _{Z+1}^A Y$ $+$ $  ^o _{-1}e$

Number of protons in X: $p _x = Z $
Number of neutrons in X: $n _x = A-Z$

Number of protons in Y: $ p _y= Z+1 $
Number of neutrons in X: $ n _y= A-(Z+1) =  A-Z - 1 $

$\implies$  $n _y = n _x -1$
Thus neutron number decreases by one in beta decay.

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

When an atom undergoes $\beta$-decay, its atomic number

  1. Does not change

  2. Increases by $1$
  3. Decreases by $1$
  4. Increases by $2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
When an atom undergoes $\beta$-decay the atomic number increases by 1.

When an atom undergoes $\beta$-decay, one of the neutrons breaks into one proton and one electron. The resultant electron is then ejected out of the nucleus and this is called as the $\beta$ particle. While the resultant proton stays inside the nucleus which results in increase of atomic number by 1, whereas the atomic mass remains invariant.

Hence the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

10 grams of $^{57}Co$ kept in an open container beta-decays with a half-life of $270$ days. The weight of the material inside the container after $540$ days will be very nearly.

  1. $10g$
  2. $5g$
  3. $25g$
  4. $125g$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$^{57}Co$ is undergoing beta decay i.e electron is being produced.But an electron has very less mass ($9.11\times10^{-31}kg$) as compared to the $Co$ atom.therefore,after $570$ days,even the atom go under large beta decay,the weight of the material in the container will be nearly $10 g$.

Multiple choice physics nuclear physics beta decay change in nucleus due to radioactive decay alpha, beta and gamma particles (rays) and their properties

During a $\beta ^-$ decay which of the following statements are correct?

  1. The daughter nucleus has one proton less than the parent nucleus

  2. The daughter nucleus has one proton more than the parent nucleus

  3. An electron which is already present within the nucleus is rejected

  4. A neutron in the nucleus decays emitting an electron

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
$\beta ^- Decay$
$^\theta _{-1}e$ or $^o _{-1}\beta \rightarrow$ Symbols for Beta particles emitted during $\beta^-$ decay.
$\theta \rightarrow$ electron is emitted
Eg- $ _{ 53 }^{ 131 }{ I }\rightarrow _{ 54 }^{ 131 }{ Xe }+ _{ -1 }^{ 0 }{ \beta  }+\bar { { \upsilon  } _{ e } } $
where,  $ _{ -1 }^{ 0 }{ \beta  }$ is $\beta$ particle
$\bar { { \upsilon  } _{ e } }$ is antineutrino
So, $(B)$ is correct option.