alleryIn a gamma decay, which of these remains unchanged for the nucleus?
AOnly its internal energy level
BBoth its atomic and mass numbers
COnly its overall mass number
DOnly its nuclear atomic number
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Both its atomic and mass numbers
1. Gamma rays carry no charge and no mass.
2. So emitting a gamma ray leaves both atomic number and mass number unchanged.
3. Only the energy level of the nucleus decreases.
4. Hence both atomic and mass numbers stay the same.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 6 Nuclear Physics "Nuclear Physics", p.85_
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