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CAIE A-Level Physics AS 11.1.10 Particles Have Discrete Energies But That Particles Have a Continuous Questions

Explain discrete alpha energies and continuous beta spectra by relating decay energy sharing to neutrinos and antineutrinos.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Physics 9702
Level
AS

Exam points

  • Explain why alpha particles have discrete energies while beta particles have continuous spectra.
  • Use energy-spectrum evidence to account for neutrino energy sharing in beta decay.

CAIE A-Level Physics AS 11.1.10 Particles Have Discrete Energies But That Particles Have a Continuous Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

A stationary nucleus of magnesium-27, 1227Mg{ }_{12}^{27} \mathrm{Mg}, decays by emitting a β−\beta^{-}particle and γ\gamma radiation. An incomplete equation to represent this decay is

1227Mg→X+β−+γ.{ }_{12}^{27} \mathrm{Mg} \rightarrow \mathrm{X}+\beta^{-}+\gamma .

State two possible reasons why the sum of the kinetic energy of the β−\beta^{-}particle and the energy of the γ\gamma radiation is less than the total energy released during the decay of the magnesium nucleus.
1.
2.

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