QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Name the nuclear processes grouped under beta decay?

[Ans: Negative beta decay, positive beta decay and orbital electron capture.]

2. In a basic beta decay process, when 𝑍 → 𝑍 + 1, then how does the neutron number change?

[Ans: 𝑁 → 𝑁 − 1, so that the mass number A remains a constant.]

3. In a beta decay process, nucleon having two up quarks and one down quark is converted into a
nucleon with 1 up quark and 2 down quarks. Which one of the three beta decay processes is
this?[particle physics view]

[Ans: β+ decay

By the quark model, hadrons are made up of quarks. A proton is composed of 2 up quarks and 1 down
quark and neutron has 2 down quark and 1 up quark. So, here a proton is converted into a neutron
which is a positive beta decay process. (Basically, an up quark becomes a down quark.) ]

4. An electron capture process is accompanied by the emission of ______ along with the neutrino
emission.

[Ans: X-rays.

When the nucleus of an atom captures an electron from its orbital, a vacancy is created there. Then the
electrons in the higher energy level shifts to lower energy state to fill the vacancy and thus emitting X-
rays. (Assuming that the electron capture was from an inner shell.)]

5. In an electron capture process, the total X- ray energy emitted is equal to the ______ of the
captured electron.

[Ans: Binding energy of captured electron.]

6. Calculate the lower limit for the atomic mass energy difference between the parent and
daughter species for the feasibility of the positive beat decay process.

[Ans: 1.022 MeV.

The Q value for positive beta decay is given by:

Q = [m (AX) - m (AX’) - 2me] c2 ; Q value must be positive for any decay to occur. So looking at the
equation, the atomic mass energy difference must be at least 2mec2 = 1.022 MeV to permit β+ decay.]

7. From the beta spectrum it is observed that the maximum K.E. of the emitted electron is 4.38
MeV. Assuming that the neutrino mass is zero, what is the Q value of the decay.

[Ans: 4.38 MeV

If neutrino rest mass is assumed to be zero then Q = (Te)max and at the endpoint of beta spectrum where
the electron has maximum energy, the antineutrinos have vanishingly small energies.]

8. Complete the process:

𝐴
𝑍𝑋 + 𝑒 − → ??𝑋 ′ + ?

𝐴 𝐴 ′
[Ans: 𝑍𝑋 + 𝑒− → 𝑍−1𝑋 + 𝜈 (electron capture)]