- #1
Naty1
- 5,606
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I am wondering what any experts think about these Wikipedia explanations of radioactive decay. (Wiki asks for help improving this article, so somebody must recognize some issues.)
Thanks.
under "EXPLANATION":
Huh?? Does this mean anything??
What does "activation energy" assoicated with chemical reactions have to do with radioactive decay..a quantum tunneling effect...a statistical decay??
under "DECAY MODES IN TABLE FORM":
Energy carrying mass?? I did not know energy could lug mass all over the place.
I'm sure the author means "decay energy equivalent to a mass" via E=mc2...
and
Huh? What does this mean??
Thanks.
under "EXPLANATION":
The rearrangement is hindered energetically, so that it does not occur immediately
Huh?? Does this mean anything??
Such a collapse (a decay event) requires a specific activation energy
What does "activation energy" assoicated with chemical reactions have to do with radioactive decay..a quantum tunneling effect...a statistical decay??
under "DECAY MODES IN TABLE FORM":
This is true because the decay energy must always carry mass with it, wherever it appears (see mass in special relativity) according to the formula E = mc2
Energy carrying mass?? I did not know energy could lug mass all over the place.
I'm sure the author means "decay energy equivalent to a mass" via E=mc2...
and
The decay energy is initially released as the energy of emitted photons plus the kinetic energy of massive emitted particles (that is, particles that have rest mass).
If these particles come to thermal equilibrium with their surroundings and photons are absorbed, then the decay energy is transformed to thermal energy, which retains its mass.
Huh? What does this mean??