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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
A nucleus of mass $M+\Delta m$ is at rest and decays into two daughter nuclei of equal mass $\frac{M}{2}$ each. Speed of light is $\mathrm{C}$.
The speed of daughter nuclei is
PhysicsNuclear PhysicsJEE MainJEE Main 2010
Options:
  • A
    $c \frac{\Delta m}{M+\Delta m}$
  • B
    $c \sqrt{\frac{2 \Delta m}{M}}$
  • C
    $c \sqrt{\frac{\Delta \mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{M}}}$
  • D
    $c \sqrt{\frac{\Delta m}{M+\Delta m}}$
Solution:
2598 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is:
$c \sqrt{\frac{2 \Delta m}{M}}$
Conserving the momentum
$$
\begin{gathered}
0=\frac{\mathrm{M}}{2} \mathrm{~V}_1-\frac{\mathrm{M}}{2} \mathrm{~V}_2 \\
\mathrm{~V}_1=\mathrm{V}_2 \quad \quad \ldots \ldots (1) \\
\Delta \mathrm{mc}^2=\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{\mathrm{M}}{2} \mathrm{~V}_1^2+\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{\mathrm{M}}{2} \cdot \mathrm{V}_2^2 \quad \quad \ldots \ldots (2)\\
\Delta \mathrm{mc}^2=\frac{\mathrm{M}}{2} \mathrm{~V}_1^2 \\
\frac{2 \Delta \mathrm{mc}^2}{\mathrm{M}}=\mathrm{V}_1^2 \\
\mathrm{~V}_1=\mathrm{c} \sqrt{\frac{2 \Delta \mathrm{m}}{\mathrm{M}}}
\end{gathered}
$$

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