mesons 2.2.3

Question 1

name the properties of pions

Answer 1

-can be positive (π+), negative (π-) or neutral (π0)
-they are the lightest meson, meaning that they are more stable than other types of meson
-they are the exchange particle of strong nuclear force

Question 2

how were pions discovered

Answer 2

in cosmic rays and can be observed in a cloud chamber

Question 3

what is a gluon

Answer 3

an exchange particle of the strong force
-they are responsible for binding quarks together (strong interaction)

Question 4

what are pions responsible for

Answer 4

binding nucleons together (referred to as strong nuclear force)

Question 5

name the properties of kaons

Answer 5

-they can be positive (K+), negative (K-), or neutral (K0)
-they are more heavy than pions and more stable
-they have a short lifetime and decay into pions

Question 6

how can kaons be produced

Answer 6

by strong interaction between pions and protons

Question 7

how are kaons known to have ab unusually long lifetime

Answer 7

kaons contain a strange quark and longer lifetimes are characteristics of particles containing strange quarks

Question 8

how do kaons decay

Answer 8

through weak interaction