In an alpha decay, the disintegration energy appears chiefly as:
Correct answer: B. The kinetic energies of the alpha particle and the daughter nucleus
- A. Photon energies
- B. The kinetic energies of the alpha particle and the daughter nucleus
- C. The excitation energy of the daughter nucleus
- D. The excitation energy of the alpha particle
Explanation
During alpha decay, the energy released (Q. value) is converted into the kinetic energy of the decay products. Due to the conservation of momentum, this energy is shared between the emitted alpha particle and the recoiling daughter nucleus.
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