The nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons (no electrons). A nucleu

Question

The nucleus of an atom consists of protons and neutrons (no electrons). A nucleus of a carbon-12 isotope contains six protons and six neutrons, while a nitrogen-14 nucleus comprises seven protons and seven neutrons. You perform a nuclear physics experiment in which you bombard nitrogen-14 nuclei with very high speed carbon-12 nuclei emerging from a particle accelerator. As a result of each such collision, the two nuclei disintegrate completely and a mix of different particles are emitted, including electrons, protons, antiprotons (with electric charge -e each), positrons (with charge +e each), and various neutral particles (including neutrons and neutrinos). For a particular collision you detect the emitted products and find 15 protons, 2 antiprotons. 8 positrons, and 29 neutral particles. How many electrons are also emitted?

Explanation / Answer

each proton has charge e. (e=1.6*10^(-19) C)

then each nitrogen-14 nucei has total charge=7*e

each carbon-12 nucei has charge=6*e

hence total charge involved when two nuclei collide=13*e

now, from the count of different particles,

total charge observed=15*e+2*(-e)+8*e=21*e

as total charge is conserved,

total charge observed+number of electron*(-e)=total initial charge

==>21*e-number of eelctrons*e=13*e

==>number of electrons=8

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