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Home » A nucleus is at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. Show that if it disintegrates into two smaller nuclei, the products must move in opposite directions.
A nucleus is at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. Show that if it disintegrates into two smaller nuclei, the products must move in opposite directions.
CBSE | Class 11 | Laws of Motion | NCERT | Physics
A nucleus is at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. Show that if it disintegrates into two smaller nuclei, the products must move in opposite directions.

Let m1, m2 be the masses of the two daughter nuclei, and v1, v2 be the daughter nuclei’s respective velocities. Let m be the parent nucleus’s mass.

After disintegration, total linear momentum = m1v1 +m2 v2.

The nucleus is at rest prior to disintegration. As a result, before disintegration, its linear momentum is zero.

Using the law of conservation of momentum as a guide,

Before disintegration, total linear momentum Equals After disintegration, total linear momentum

m1v1 + m2v2 = 0

v1=-m2v2/m1

The minus symbol denotes that v1 and v2 are moving in opposing directions.

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