Question
For the $\beta^{+} ($positron$)$ emission from a nucleus, there is another competing process known as electron capture $($electron from an inner orbit, say, the $K–$ shell, is captured by the nucleus and a neutrino is emitted$).$
$\text{e}^{+}+^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X}\rightarrow\ ^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y}+\text{v}$
Show that if $\beta^{+}$ emission is energetically allowed, electron capture is necessarily allowed but not vice $–$ versa.

Answer

Let the amount of energy released during the electron capture process be $Q_1$. The nuclear reaction can be written as : $\text{e}^{+}+^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X}\rightarrow^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y}+\text{v}+\text{Q}_1\ \dots(1)$
Let the amount of energy released during the positron capture process be $Q_2$. The nuclear reaction can be written as : $^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X}\rightarrow^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y}+\text{e}^{+}+\text{v}+\text{Q}_2\ \dots(2)$
$\text{m}_\text{N}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})$ = Nuclear mass of $^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X}$
$\text{m}_\text{N}(_{\text{Z}-1}^\text{A}\text{Y})$ = Nuclear mass of $_{\text{Z}-1}^{\text{A}}\text{Y}$
$\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})$ = Atomic mass of $^\text{A}_\text{Z}\text{X}$
$\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y}) =$ Atomic mass of $^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y}$
$m_e =$ Mass of an electron
$c =$ Speed of light
$Q-$ value of the electron capture reaction is given as:
$\text{Q}_1=\Big[\text{m}_{\text{N}}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})+\text{m}_{\text{e}}-\text{m}_{\text{N}}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})\Big]\text{c}^2$
$=\Big[\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})-\text{Zm}_\text{e}+\text{m}_\text{e}-\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})+(\text{Z}-1)\text{m}_\text{e}\Big]\text{c}^2$
$=\Big[\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})-\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})\Big]\text{c}^2$
$Q-$ value of the positron capture reaction is given as:
$\text{Q}_2=\Big[\text{m}_{\text{N}}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})-\text{m}_{\text{N}}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})-\text{m}_\text{e}\Big]\text{c}^2$
$=\Big[\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})-\text{Zm}_\text{e}-\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})+(\text{Z}-1)\text{m}_\text{e}-\text{m}_\text{e}\Big]\text{c}^2$
$=\Big[\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}}\text{X})-\text{m}(^{\text{A}}_{\text{Z}-1}\text{Y})-2\text{m}_\text{e}\Big]\text{c}^2$
It can be inferred that if $Q_{2 }> 0,$ then $Q_1 > 0$; Also, if $Q_1 > 0,$ it does not necessarily mean that $Q_2 > 0.$

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free

Similar questions

Figure. shows two vessels $A$ and $B$ with rigid walls containing ideal gases. The pressure, temperature and the volume are $p_A, T_A, V$ in the vessel $A$ and $p_B, T_B, V$ in the vessel $B$. The vessels are now connected through a small tube. Show that the pressure $p$ and the temperature $T$ satisfy $\frac{\text{p}}{\text{T}}=\frac{1}{2}\Big(\frac{\text{P}_\text{A}}{\text{T}_\text{A}}+\frac{\text{p}_\text{B}}{\text{T}_\text{B}}\Big)$ when equilibrium is achieved.
It is found that yellow light does not eject photoelectrons from a metal. Is it advisable to try with orange light? With green light?
In en experiment on photoelectric effect, light of wavelength $400$ run is incident on a cesium plate at the rate of $5.0W.$ The potential of the collector plate is made sufficiently positive with respect to the emitter so that the current reaches its saturation value. Assuming that on the average one out of every $10^\circ$ photons is able to eject a photoelectron, find the photocurrent in the circuit.
Two tiny spheres carrying charges $1.5 \mu C$ and $2.5 \mu C$ are located $30 \ cm$ apart. Find the potential and electric field:
  1. At the mid $-$ point of the line joining the two charges, and
  2. At a point $10 \ cm$ from this midpoint in a plane normal to the line and passing through the mid-point.
Find the diameter of the image of the moon formed by a spherical concave mirror of focal length $7.6m.$ The diameter of the moon is $3450\ km$ and the distance between the earth and the moon is $3.8 \times 10^5\ km$.
In beta decay, an electron (or a positron) is emitted by a nucleus. Does the remaining atom get oppositely charged?
Two large metal sheets carry surface currents as shown in figure. The current through a strip of width dl is Kdl where K is a constant. Find the magnetic field at the points P, Q and R.
A bicycle is resting on its stand in the east$-$west direction and the rear wheel is rotated at an angular speed of $100$ revolutions per minute. If the length of each spoke is $30.0\ cm$ and the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field is $2.0 \times 10^{-5} T,$ find the emf induced between the axis and the outer end of a spoke. Neglect centripetal force acting on the free electrons of the spoke.
Exlplain ac voltage applied on a series LCR circuit. Explain its solution by phasor diagram.
An electrical technician requires a capacitance of $2\mu F$ in a circuitacross a potential difference of $1kV. A$ large number of $1\mu F$ capacitors are available to him each of which can withstand a potential difference of not more than $400V$. Suggest a possible arrangement that requires the minimum number of capacitors.