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phetsims / build-a-nucleus

"Build a Nucleus" is an educational simulation in HTML5, by PhET Interactive Simulations.
GNU General Public License v3.0
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Is the Most Likely Decay Mode for Be-6 correct? #208

Closed Nancy-Salpepi closed 11 months ago

Nancy-Salpepi commented 11 months ago

For https://github.com/phetsims/qa/issues/988

On the Intro Chart Screen, Be-6 is shown to decay by proton emission (100%), but on the Decay screen, it shows both alpha and proton. After discussing with @Luisav1 over slack, she discovered that according to this website, https://www-nds.iaea.org/relnsd/vcharthtml/VChartHTML.html, Be-6 should undergo alpha decay.

image

@Luisav1 will discuss w/Jason to see if a change is needed.

Luisav1 commented 11 months ago

Talking with Jason, the real decay mode for Be-6 is it emits an alpha particle and 2 protons, all at the same time. However, since a 'decay' is generally thought of as the bigger particle remains and a smaller particle (electron, proton, neutron, etc.) is emitted, in this case it would make more sense to still keep on representing Be-6 as a proton emission decay type.

Even though the 'hollywood' fix done in the decay screen would have been a possibility (where an alpha particle leaves first and then the 2 remaining protons are emitted), it's not as accurate.

Therefore, the Be-6 most likely decay for Be-6 remaining as a proton emission is alright and correct.

Luisav1 commented 11 months ago

Since we're keeping at as a proton emission this doesn't need to be addressed. Closing.