Physics (AS & A Level) · May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Question 38

Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14 by emitting a β– particle. Which statement explains why the β– particles are emitted with a range of different kinetic energies?

1. AThe carbon-14 nuclei have slightly different masses.
2. BThe emitted β– particles have a range of different masses.
3. CThe energy released in the decay process is different for each carbon-14 nucleus that decays.
4. DThe energy released in the decay process is shared between the nitrogen-14 nucleus, a β– particle and an antineutrino.

As printed in the paper