Nuclear Physics Question 9
Question 9 - 31 January - Shift 1
A free neutron decays into a proton but a free proton does not decay into neutron. This is because
(1) neutron is an uncharged particle
(2) proton is a charged particle
(3) neutron is a composite particle made of a proton and an electron
(4) neutron has larger rest mass than proton
Show Answer
Answer: (4)
Solution:
Formula: Radioactive Decay
As neutron has more rest mass than proton it will require energy to decay proton into neutron.
Option 4.
