Energy Distribution in Radioactive Decay

Steps:

• Recall α-decay emits helium nuclei (2 protons, 2 neutrons), reducing atomic number by 2 and mass by 4.
• Recall β-decay involves neutron-to-proton conversion, emitting electron/positron and antineutrino, a three-body process.
• Note α-decay is two-body, yielding discrete particle energies; β-decay shares energy variably, yielding continuous spectrum.
• Evaluate options against decay mechanisms to identify the accurate statement.

Why C is correct:

• β-decay is a three-body process where the electron and antineutrino share kinetic energy variably, producing a continuous energy spectrum per the Fermi theory of beta decay.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: β⁻-decay emits an antineutrino, not a neutrino.
• B: α-decay is a two-body process, so α-particles have discrete kinetic energies.
• D: α-decay reduces proton number by 2 (from helium nucleus), not 4.

Final answer: C