The energy released during beta decay is approximately A. 0.506 MeV. Therefore , A. 0.506 MeV is correct.
The energy released during beta decay can be calculated using the mass-energy equivalence formula, E=mc², where E is the energy released, m is the mass difference between the parent and daughter nuclei, and c is the speed of light.
In beta decay, a neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.
The mass difference between the neutron and the proton is:
Δm = (1.6725 × 10⁻²⁷ kg) - (1.6725 × 10⁻²⁷ kg) = 0
This means that no energy is released from the mass difference between the neutron and the proton.
However, there is a small mass difference between the electron and the antineutrino:
Δm = (9 × 10⁻³¹ kg) - (0 kg) = 9 × 10⁻³¹ kg
Plugging this value into the mass-energy equivalence formula, we get:
E = (9 × 10⁻³¹ kg) × (2.998 × 10⁸ m/s)²
E = 0.506 MeV
Therefore, the energy released during beta decay is approximately 0.506 MeV. The answer is A. 0.506MeV.