P3.3.5 Detecting Particles Flashcards

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1
Q

How did physicists detect particles in the past?

A

Cloud chambers or bubble chambers

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2
Q

How do cloud or bubble chambers work?

A

These detectors produce tracks when particles pass through them.
You can work out the type of particle from the type of track it made.

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3
Q

In 1936, two Americans discovered a particle like an electron, but bigger. What sort of particle was this?

A

A muon

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4
Q

For over 100 years now, how have scientists tried to detect particles?

A

They accelerate small particles and collide them into matter. By looking at what came out of the collisions, they work out what is inside matter.

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5
Q

This work is similar to Rutherford’s experiments. What did Rutherford fire at gold foil?

A

Positive alpha particles.

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6
Q

What did Rutherford discover?

A

The positively charged nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) at the centre of an atom.

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7
Q

What is the largest particle accelerator in the world called?

A

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland.

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8
Q

How does the LHC accelerate particles?

A

With a very strong electric field.

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9
Q

How fast can these particles be accelerated?

A

Close to the speed of light (300 000 000 m/s)

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10
Q

What are the detectors at the LHC?

A

Made of semiconductors that detect the mass and charge of a particle.

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11
Q

When scientists smashed protons and electrons together, what did they find?

A

They found that some electrons bounced off particles much smaller than a proton. This is similar to alpha particles in Rutherford’s experiment

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12
Q

They found particles inside protons and neutrons. What are these called?

A

Quarks

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13
Q

In 2012, they discovered a particle that gives everything mass. What is this called?

A

The Higgs boson

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14
Q

Compare how particles are detected today with Rutherford’s experiment.

A

In both, particles were accelerated, and collided with an object (nucleus or other particles).
However, Rutherford worked out what is in an atom, the LHC was looking for a new particle.

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