The carbon isotope 14C is used for carbon dating of archeological artifacts. 14C

Question

The carbon isotope 14C is used for carbon dating of archeological artifacts. 14C ( mass 2.34 × 10-26 kg) decays by the process known as beta decay in which the nucleus emits an electron (the beta particle) and a subatomic particle called a neutrino. In one such decay, a carbon nucelus initially at rest emits the neutrino along the positive r-axis while the electron is emitted along the positive y-axis. The electron ( mass 9.11 × 10-31 kg ) has a speed of 1 1x107 m/s and the neutrino has a momentum of 7.4×10-24 kg·m/s |

Explanation / Answer

APplying momentum conservation,

momentum before decay = momemntum after decay

0 = (7.4 x 10^-24)i + (9.11 x 10^-31 x 1.1 x 10^7)j + (2.34 x 10^-26) v

v = - 316.2 i - 428.2 j m/s

Speed = sqrt(316.2^2 + 428.2^2)

= 532.3 m/s .......Ans

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