The `beta - decay` process , discoverwd around `1900` , is basically the decay of a neutron
Channel: Doubtnut
Date: 2020-07-05

The `beta - decay` process , discoverwd around `1900` , is basically the decay of a neutron `(n)` in the laboratory , a proton `(p)` and an electron `(e^(bar))` are observed as the decay that the kinetic energy of the electron should be a constant . But experimentally , if was observed that the electron kinectic energy has continuous spectrum Considering a three- body decay process , i.e. ` n rarr  p + e^(bar) + bar nu _(e) , ` around `1930` , pauli expained the observed `(bar nu_(e))` to be massaless and possessing negligible energy , and the neutrino to be at rest , momentum and energy conservation principle are applied from this calculate , the maximum kinectic energy of the electron is `0.8 xx 10^(6) eV` The kinectic energy carrect by the proton is only the recoil energy   If the - neutrono had a mass of `3 eV// c^(2)` (where c is the speed of light ) insend of zero mass , what should be the range of the kinectic energy `K.` of the electron ?