2: Particles & Radiation Flashcards
Relative Charge & Mass of Proton, Neutron & Electron
Particle | Charge | Mass
Proton| +1 | 1
Neutron | 0 | 1
Electron | -1 | 0.0005
Nuclide Notation
Proton number is Z
Nucleon number is A
Atom is X
Isotope
Nuclei with the same atomic numbers, but different mass numbers
Strong Nuclear Force (5)
- A fundamental force, which keeps nuclei stable
- Closer than ~0.5 fm, there’s very-short range repulsion
- In-between ~0.5 fm & ~3 fm, there’s short range attraction
- Greater than ~3 fm, it has negligible effect
- Only felt by quarks (so felt by protons & neutrons)
Decay in Unstable Nuclei
Alpha & Beta Decay
Equation for Alpha Decay
(A, Z)X → (A - 4, Z - 2)Y + (4, 2)α
Equation for Beta Minus Decay
(A, Z)X → (A, Z + 1)Y + e⁻ + ̅νₑ
Neutrino’s Existence
Was hypothesised to ensure conservation of energy in beta decay (energy difference between neutron and proton wasn’t completely filled by electron)
For Every Type of Particle ____
There is a corresponding antiparticle
Comparison of Particle & Antiparticle Properties
Equal mass & rest energy (in MeV) but opposite charges
Antiparticles of Proton, Electron, Neutron & Neutrino
Antiproton, positron, antineutron, antineutrino
Photon
A discrete packet of an electromagnetic wave (and the energy it carries)
Photon Energy Equation
E = h f = h c / λ
Energy of Laser Equation
E = n h f where n is number of photons
Pair Production
If there is enough energy density in a region, the energy is converted into mass producing a particle-antiparticle pair, travelling in opposite directions
Pair Production Examples (2)
- A high energy photon can produce an electron-positron pair
- Two protons (with high kinetic energy) may collide & produce an extra proton & antiproton
Minimum Energy needed for Pair Production
The total rest energy of the particle-antiparticle pair
Eₘᵢₙ = 2E₀
Eₘᵢₙ is the minimum energy for pair production in MeV
E₀ is the rest energy of a produced particle / antiparticle in MeV
Total Energy of Particles in Pair Production
Equal to the rest energy & kinetic energy of the photon
Annihilation
When a particle meets its corresponding antiparticle, all of their mass is converted into energy in the form of two high energy photons travelling in opposite directions
Minimum Energy of a Photon in Annihilation
Equal to the rest energy of the particle / antiparticle
Total Energy of Photons in Annihilation
Equal to the total rest energy and total kinetic energy of the particle-antiparticle pair
Fundamental Interactions (4)
- Gravity
- Electromagnetic
- Weak nuclear
- Strong nuclear (or strong interaction)
Exchange Particles
A concept (virtual / unreal), which explain forces between elementary particles
Exchange Particle for Electromagnetic Force
Virtual photon
What is the Weak Interaction Responsible for? (3)
- Beta decay
- Electron capture
- Electron-proton collisions
Exchange Particles for Weak Interaction
W⁺ and W⁻ bosons
Beta- Decay Diagram
https://digestiblenotes.com/images/physics/alevel/feynman.png
Equation: n → p + e⁻ + ̅vₑ
Beta Plus Decay Diagram
Textbook page 44 figure 8
p⁺ → n + e⁺ + vₑ
Electron Capture
A nuclear proton interacts with an atomic electron (via the weak interaction), producing a neutron and electron neutrino (because the nucleus is proton-rich)