A researcher proposes the following nuclear reaction that is claimed to occur inside…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Particles and radiation · Particles and radiation
Problem
A researcher proposes the following nuclear reaction that is claimed to occur inside the Earth’s upper atmosphere when a nitrogen nucleus is struck by an incoming alpha particle.
714N+24He⟶817O+11H+−10β
Answer the following about the proposed reaction.
(a) Determine whether the total nucleon (mass) number is conserved in the proposed reaction. Show your reasoning by listing the nucleon numbers on each side.
(b) Determine whether the total electric charge is conserved in the proposed reaction. Show your reasoning by listing the charge numbers on each side.
(c) The researcher wishes to revise the equation so that it satisfies all conservation laws that apply to nuclear reactions. Describe one specific change that would bring the reaction into compliance and justify why it works.