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Question 18
Medium

Fluorine-18 decays into oxygen-18 with the release of a positron (β+\beta^+β+) and an electron neutrino (νe\nu_eνe​).

1.

State the change of quark character in β+\beta^+β+ decay.

[1]
2.

Figure 1 shows the distribution of kinetic energies of β+\beta^+β+ particles from the decay of fluorine-18. Graph showing the number of beta plus particles on the y-axis against kinetic energy on the x-axis. The curve starts at the origin, rises smoothly to a single peak, and then decreases asymmetrically to zero at a high kinetic energy value. Explain how Figure 1 supports the existence of the neutrino.

[2]
3.

The existence of the neutrino is also confirmed by interactions with nuclei. In one such interaction: νe+n→e−+Y\nu_e + \text{n} \rightarrow \text{e}^- + \text{Y}νe​+n→e−+Y. Identify particle Y.

[1]
4.

The positron released in the decay is annihilated when it encounters an electron in surrounding matter. A pair of gamma photons of equal energy is then produced. During an experiment, three gamma photons are detected: G1 with energy 4.8×10−14 J4.8 \times 10^{-14}\text{ J}4.8×10−14 J, G2 with energy 7.2×10−14 J7.2 \times 10^{-14}\text{ J}7.2×10−14 J, and G3 with energy 9.5×10−14 J9.5 \times 10^{-14}\text{ J}9.5×10−14 J. Deduce which of the three gamma photons could have been produced by this positron annihilation.

[3]

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