9. The Standard Model of Particle Physics Flashcards
What theory is used to describe the electromagnetic and weak interaction in the standard model?
The electroweak theory
What theory us used to describe strong interactions in the standard model?
Quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
What are the basic constituents of matter?
Quarks and leptons
What is the spin of a quark?
1/2
What is the spin of a lepton?
1/2
Quarks come in _ flavours and _ colours.
6
3
What are the 6 flavours of quark?
Up
Down
Strange
Charm
Top
Bottom
Leptons come in _ types.
6
How do quarks and leptons interact?
Via the spin-1 (gauge) boson
Quarks and leptons are subdivided into _ generations based on ____.
3
Mass
What are the 4 fundamental forces?
- Gravity
- Weak nuclear
- Electromagnetic
- Strong nuclear
How do the 4 fundamental forces act?
By the exchange particles (or force carriers) associated with them.
Which of the 4 fundamental forces is not part of the standard model? Why?
Gravity as it doesn’t have a quantum theory
Rank the 4 fundamental forces from weakest to strongest
- Gravity
- Weak force
- Electromagnetism
- Strong force
What does gravity act between?
All objects with mass
What does the weak force do?
It governs particle decay
What does electromagnetism act between?
Electrically charged particles
What does the strong force do?
Binds quarks together
Which particles experience gravity?
All particles with mass
Which particles experience the weak force?
Quarks and leptons
Which particles experience electromagnetism?
Electrically charged particles
Which particles experience the strong force?
Quarks and gluons
What is the force carrier particle for gravity?
Graviton (not yet observed)
What is the force carrier particle for the weak force?
W+, W-, Z0 (W and Z)
What is the force carrier particle for electromagnetism?
γ (photon)
What is the force carrier particle for the strong force?
g (gluon)
What is the range of gravity?
Infinite
What is the range of the weak force?
Short range
What is the range of electromagnetism?
Infinite
What is the range of the strong force?
Short range
What is a gluon?
A massless force carrier particle with a property called colour confinement.
What does gravity give rise to?
- Newton’s Law
- General relativity
Give the equation for Newton’s law of gravity
F = force
G = gravitational constant
M = mass 1
m = mass 2
r = separation distance
What spin does the (hypothetical) graviton have?
2
What mass does the (hypothetical) graviton have?
0
Where is the weak nuclear force most commonly seen?
Nuclear beta decay
_____________ only interact via the weak force.
Neutrino’s
What spin do gauge bosons (W and Z) have?
1
What mass do gauge bosons (W and Z) have?
Large mass: ~80 GeV/c²
Give the equation that describes how the weak force varies with distance
q = charge
r = separation distance
M_W = gauge boson mass
What does electromagnetism give rise to?
The Coulomb force