Carbon-14, whose nucleus has atomic number 6 and mass number 14, undergoes a…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Particles and radiation · Particles and radiation
Problem
Carbon-14, whose nucleus has atomic number 6 and mass number 14, undergoes a spontaneous transformation that produces nitrogen-14, whose nucleus has atomic number 7 and mass number 14. No other nuclides have been observed among the visible decay products.
Assume that total nucleon number and electric charge are conserved in the process.
(a) Calculate the numerical change in mass number ΔA and in atomic number ΔZ that occurs in this transformation.
(b) Identify the mode of radioactive decay responsible for this transformation and name the primary emitted particle.
(c) Using conservation of charge and nucleon number, explain in detail why the decay mode you identified in part (b) is required for the observed change in the nucleus.
(d) State whether a neutrino or an antineutrino is produced in this decay. Justify your answer by discussing lepton-number conservation.