Question: In this problem, we will NOT make our common approximation that all of the energy released in alpha decay goes into the kinetic energy of

In this problem, we will NOT make our common approximation that all of the energy released in alpha decay goes into the kinetic energy of the alpha particle. In doing so, we will gain insight into why we commonly make this approximation. Consider the alpha decay of ***Pu, considered to be initially at rest. (a) What is the total energy (in MeV) released in this decay? What is the kinetic energy of the alpha particle after the decay? What is the kinetic energy of the daughter nucleus alpha particle after the decay? What percentage of the energy released in the alpha decay becomes kinetic energy of the alpha particle? What percentage of the energy released in the alpha decay becomes kinetic energy of the daughter nucleus? Is our common approximation a good approximation for this particular alpha decay
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