Question

222 86Radon decays to 218 84Polonium with a half-life of 3.8 days. Calculate the kinetic energy (in MeV) of the alpha particle that is released in this decay.

Answer 1

For an alpha decay given as

Z is the atomic number and A is the mass number.

Kinetic energy of alpha particle is given by

Where is the disintegration energy of the decay.

We have the reaction,

So, kinetic energy of the decay will be

Let us find out the disintegration energy of the decay.

c is the velocity of light

Using standard available values we have

So,

We know,

Hence,

So, kinetic energy of the alpha particle emitted is