Chapter 30 - Nuclear Reactions and Elementary Particles - Learning Path Questions and Exercises - Conceptual Questions - Page 1029: 4

(a) To yield a product nucleus that is of the same species as the target nucleus, the reaction should involve a transfer of particles between the incident particle and the target nucleus. One possible reaction scenario is: 3He + target -> target + 2p In this reaction, the incident 3He particle (which has two protons and one neutron) transfers two protons to the target nucleus, resulting in the formation of a product nucleus that is of the same species as the target nucleus. The two protons ejected from the target nucleus form alpha particles (2He), which can be detected experimentally. (b) To yield a product nucleus that has the same number of nucleons as the target nucleus but one less neutron, the reaction should involve the emission of a neutron from the target nucleus. One possible reaction scenario is: 3He + target -> product + n In this reaction, the incident 3He particle collides with the target nucleus, and the energy transferred from the incident particle to the target nucleus causes the emission of a neutron. The product nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the target nucleus but one less neutron. The specific product nucleus formed would depend on the target nucleus and the reaction energy.

(a) To yield a product nucleus that is of the same species as the target nucleus, the reaction should involve a transfer of particles between the incident particle and the target nucleus. One possible reaction scenario is: 3He + target -> target + 2p In this reaction, the incident 3He particle (which has two protons and one neutron) transfers two protons to the target nucleus, resulting in the formation of a product nucleus that is of the same species as the target nucleus. The two protons ejected from the target nucleus form alpha particles (2He), which can be detected experimentally. (b) To yield a product nucleus that has the same number of nucleons as the target nucleus but one less neutron, the reaction should involve the emission of a neutron from the target nucleus. One possible reaction scenario is: 3He + target -> product + n In this reaction, the incident 3He particle collides with the target nucleus, and the energy transferred from the incident particle to the target nucleus causes the emission of a neutron. The product nucleus has the same number of nucleons as the target nucleus but one less neutron. The specific product nucleus formed would depend on the target nucleus and the reaction energy.