Calculate the Q-value (in MeV) for the alpha-decay ^ 238 _ ;92 U ; ;^ 234 _ ;90 Th +^…

PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

Calculate the Q-value (in MeV) for the alpha-decay

^{238}_{\;92}\mathrm{U}\;\rightarrow\;^{234}_{\;90}\mathrm{Th}+^{4}_{2}\mathrm{He}.

Atomic masses:

^{238}\mathrm{U}=238.050788\,\text{u}

^{234}\mathrm{Th}=234.043593\,\text{u}

^{4}\mathrm{He}=4.002603\,\text{u}

. Take

1\,\text{u}=931.5\,\text{MeV}/c^{2}