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After absorbing a slowly moving neutron of mass m_N (momentum ~0) a nucleus of mass M breaks into two nuclei of masses m₁ and 5m₁ (6m₁=M+m_N), respectively. If the de Broglie wavelength of the nucleus with mass m₁ is λ, the de Broglie wavelength of the other nucleus will be

Asked in JEE Main Re-Scheduled 2011 · Splitting and decay

Answer: (3) λ

Step-by-step solution

The compound nucleus is effectively at rest, since the neutron arrives with negligible momentum.

The two fragments therefore fly apart with equal and opposite momenta.

λ=/hp depends on momentum alone, not on mass.

Both fragments share the same wavelength λ.

Why the other options are wrong

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