0
Why is the decay time of free neutrons so much shorter than of bound ones?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
When bound inside of a nucleus, the instability of a single neutron to beta decay is balanced against the instability that would be acquired by the nucleus as a whole if an additional proton were to participate in repulsive interactions with the other protons that are already present in the nucleus. As such, although free neutrons are unstable, bound neutrons are not necessarily so. The same reasoning explains why protons, which are stable in empty space, may transform into neutrons when bound inside of a nucleus.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
In nuclear fission reactions what causes the atom's nucleus to become unstable?
the absorption of a free-moving neutron by the atom's nucleus
Where is nuclear energy stored?
Most of the energy in a nuclear power plant is due to the neutrons. The half-life of a free neutron (a neutron no longer bound to an atom) is about 15 minutes, before it breaks down by radioactive decay. When emitted from an atom in a radioactive decay, it is traveling very fast. It may be slowed down by using a moderator - a material in which it has a high likelyhood of a collision. Since it spends longer in the moderator, there is a greater probability of the energy of the breakup being contained within the moderator. In its decay, it emits energy, and this is perceived as heat, and may then be used to drive a steam generator to make power. So the energy is stored as the element of structure of the neutron, and when that structure breaks down, the energy is emitted. (or at least that part that was binding energy in the neutron).
Do neutrons determine the conductivity of the atom?
no, but they determine if it is an isotope or not
How is a neutron made?
As the name suggests, neutron stars are actually composed of neutrons. When there is a sufficiently strong gravitational field, atoms (or superheated plasma consisting of fragments of atoms) collapse, and the electrons and the protons combine to form neutrons. Only neutrons are left.
Can neutrons be divided into protons and electrons?
Yes. We can (and do) smash protons. We can slam them into each other or we can slam protons into antiprotons. Big accelerators do this kind of work. The protons will break up, but the things that we get vary as the type of collisions (and the energies) involved in the smashing project. A proton is composed of two up quarks and a down quark, and a neutron is composed of two down quarks and an up quark. The neutron is unstable outside of a nucleus. It has a half-life of a bit under 886 seconds. That's about 14.8 minutes, roughly. When a free neutron decays, it decays into a proton, an electron and an electron antineutrino.
What are the characteristics of the neutrons?
Neutrons have no electric charge and have nearly 1,840 times the mass of the electron. Free neutrons undergo beta decay with a half-life of about 10 minutes. Thus, they are not readily found in nature, except in cosmic rays. They are a penetrating form of radiation. When bombarded with neutrons, various elements undergo nuclear fission and release more free neutrons. If enough free neutrons are produced, a chain reaction can be sustained.
What is the location of the neutron?
a neutron's location in an atom is in the core, or nucleus, of that atom.Where_is_the_neutrons_location_in_the_atom
Will everything in the universe finally decay to nothing?
Some scientific theories suggest that over EXTREMELY long time periods, protons themselves can decay. If so, then a few trillion years from now, the universe may eventually decay into a sea of free neutrons.
Why aren't neutrons fluorescent?
Simply put, the emission radiation energy does not match fluorescent energies. Free neutrons are not stable and undergo beta decay with an average life span of 15 minutes (see Wikipedia).
Is a deforestation a free or bound morpheme?
Type your answer here... forest is the free morpheme
What are free and thermal neutrons?
A free neutron is any neutron not bound into an atomic nucleus. A thermal neutron is a free neutron having about the same kinetic energy as the thermal vibrations of atoms at ordinary temperatures, roughly under 2eV (0.025eV at room temperature).
Are there free neutrons in the sun?
yes
What is the antonym of bound?
The antonyms of bound are allowed, free, permitted, unbounded, and unrestricted.
In nuclear fission reactions what causes the atom's nucleus to become unstable?
the absorption of a free-moving neutron by the atom's nucleus
What are electrons and neutrons?
Electrons are the lightest electrically charged subatomic particle known. It carries a negative charge , the basic charge of electricity. An electron has a small mass, less than 0.1% the mass of an atom. Under normal circumstances, electrons move about the nucleus of an atom in orbitals that form an electron cloud bound in varying strengths to the positively charged nucleus. Electrons closer to the nucleus are held more tightly.The electron was identified in 1897 by J. J. Thomson. And neutrons are the constituent particles of every atomic nucleus except ordinary hydrogen. Discovered in 1932 by James Chadwick (1891-1974), it has no electric charge and has nearly 1,840 times the mass of the electron. Free neutrons undergo beta decay with a half-life of about 10 minutes. Thus, they are not readily found in nature, except in cosmic rays. They are a penetrating form of radiation. When bombarded with neutrons, various elements undergo nuclear fission and release more free neutrons
What happens to remainig neutrons after consumption of all the Uranium in uncontrolled Nuclear fission reaction?
Basically, there are two things that can ultimately happen to neutrons. Either they get absorbed into the nucleus of an atom, or they undergo radioactive decay. In a fission reactor, neutrons typically last only microseconds, with the life expectancy depending on conditions. A free neutron, outside the reactor, has a half life of 886 seconds, or a little less than fifteen minutes. During its lifetime, it could travel quite far, but the likelihood of a neutron getting out of the reactor is extremely small, so small that it is discounted as an event rare enough not to warrant concern.capturedescapestriggers fission
Is bound in public free?
No it cost 34.95 a month
