A radioactive nucleus of mass M emits a photon of frequency and the nucleus recoils. The recoil energy will be
- Mc2 - h
- h2 2/2Mc2
- zero
- h
Answer
(2) h2 2/2Mc2
Solution
Momentum of the photon: p = h c
By conservation of momentum, the nucleus recoils with an equal and opposite momentum p.
Recoil energy: E = p22M
= h2 22Mc2
Answer: (2)