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No. Alpha particles are helium nuclei; such nuclei have a mass, and can therefore NOT travel at the speed of light.

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7y ago
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4mo ago

Alpha particles are emitted from the nucleus at high speeds, typically around 5-10% of the speed of light. They move with such energy due to the strong repulsive force between the positively charged alpha particle and the remaining nucleus.

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Q: Alpha particles ejected from the nucleus travel at the speed of light?
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What is ejected in a nuclear disintegration?

It can eject anything, depending on the particular nucleus and the reaction involved, ranging from alpha (Helium nucleus) to beta (electron or positron), gamma (photon/energy) to neutron. If it splits, then it can "eject", so to speak, mixed fission byproducts, which encompasses a wide range of nuclei.


Does alpha particles have less mass the beta particles?

An alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons (same as a Helium nucleus) so when a nucleus ejects an alpha it will defintely have less mass. Also it will be a new element because it has two less protons.


Why is this so that million of alpha particles bombarded on beryllium will produce only 30 neutrons?

When alpha particles are bombarded on beryllium, the process that occurs is known as the (α, n) reaction. In this reaction, the alpha particle collides with a beryllium nucleus, causing it to absorb the alpha particle and become an unstable nucleus. This unstable nucleus then decays, emitting a neutron. The probability of this reaction occurring is relatively low, which is why not all alpha particles result in neutron production.


Why do alpha particles repel the nucleus?

Alpha particles, which are composed of two protons and two neutrons, are positively charged. The nucleus of an atom is also positively charged due to its protons. Like charges repel each other, so the positive alpha particles are repelled by the positive nucleus, leading to the particles deflecting away from the nucleus.


In Rutherfords gold foil experiment shown in Figure 4-1 alpha particles that bounce straight back from the foil have struck in the gold atoms?

Alpha particles that bounce straight back in Rutherford's gold foil experiment have struck the nucleus of gold atoms. This led to the discovery that atoms have a concentrated, positively charged nucleus at their center, with most of the atom being empty space.

Related questions

Why alpha rays called helium nuclei?

Alpha rays are called helium nuclei because they consist of two protons and two neutrons, which is the same composition as a helium nucleus. When an atom undergoes alpha decay, it emits an alpha particle, which is essentially a helium nucleus that is ejected from the atom.


Are alpha particle negative or positive?

An alpha particle is a helium nucleus; it has a charge of +2.


Type of nuclear decay consisting of a helium nucleus?

Alpha decay. Alpha particles are the same as a helium-4 nucleus.


What do you think are the chances of alpha particle directly hitting the nucleus?

What do you think are the change of the alpha particles directly hitting the nucleus


Which particles is similar to a He nucleus?

The so-called alpha particles ARE helium nuclei.


What factors will affect the extent of scattering of the alpha particles?

The factors that will affect the extent of scattering of alpha particles include the charge and mass of the nucleus they interact with, the impact parameter (closest approach distance), and the energy of the alpha particles. Additionally, the angle of deflection will be influenced by the velocity and direction of the alpha particles as they approach the nucleus.


After an alpha particle leaves the nucleus will it speed up?

The alpha particle emitted in alpha decay will leave the nucleus of the atom with considerable kinetic energy. But it will begin slowing down immediately unless it's in a vacuum. This will be due to scattering events with any atoms or molecules it encounters along its path of travel. It will not experience an increase in velocity, so no, it won't speed up. A link to a related question can be found below.


What is ejected in a nuclear disintegration?

It can eject anything, depending on the particular nucleus and the reaction involved, ranging from alpha (Helium nucleus) to beta (electron or positron), gamma (photon/energy) to neutron. If it splits, then it can "eject", so to speak, mixed fission byproducts, which encompasses a wide range of nuclei.


How is the relationship between protons and alpha particles similar to the relationship between beta particles and electrons?

An Alpha Particle is a fast, bare Helium nuclei composed of two protons, two neutrons, and no electrons, that is ejected at high velocity from a decaying nuclei. A Beta Particle is an electron or positron, ejected at extremely high velocity from a decaying nuclei. Both alpha particles and protons are Bosons. Both beta particles and electrons are Leptons. Their relationships are similar because the electron and proton are both components of atoms. The beta and alpha particles are both fragments ejected from decaying atoms.


What does the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits charged particles or energy or both?

In the process of radioactive decay an unstable atomic nucleus emits energy to get closer to a state of stability. Whether this energy is emitted in particles, electromagnetic radiation, or both depends on which decay paths are available to the nucleus and which decay paths are forbidden to the nucleus by Quantum Mechanics.Some of the decay processes are:alpha - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected alpha particle (helium nucleus)beta - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected electron or positron (and the hard to detect neutrino)gamma - energy is released as electromagnetic radiation (gamma ray photon)spontaneous fission - energy is released in the momentum of the ejected fission product atoms and the ejected neutrons


Why the alpha particles could not smash the nucleus apart?

The alpha particle is positively charged (as is the nucleus) and is heavy compared with the neutron that is neutral and lighter than the alpha particle.Another viewpoint:It depends what experiment the question is about. For example, over a hundred years ago, Rutherford bombarded gold foil with alpha particles and some "bounced off" what we now call the nucleus of the atoms. However, about ten years later he did experiments in which alpha particles did indeed "split" atomic nuclei. So, sometimes alpha particles can certainly smash a nucleus apart.


Why did the path of only some alpha particles deviate?

nucleus of the atom has positive charge.alpha particles are also positively charged.like charges repel each other.so alpha particles passing near the nucleus are repelled and deviated from the normal path