Particle physics Flashcards
What is the smallest unit of matter?
Atom
True or False: Electrons have a positive charge.
False
Fill in the blank: Protons are found in the nucleus of an _____ .
Atom
What are the three main types of subatomic particles?
Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
What is the charge of a neutron?
Neutral
Which particle has the smallest mass?
Electron
What is the role of the strong nuclear force?
To hold protons and neutrons together in the nucleus
True or False: Quarks are fundamental particles.
True
What are the four fundamental forces of nature?
Gravity, Electromagnetism, Weak Nuclear Force, Strong Nuclear Force
Fill in the blank: The _____ is the particle that mediates the electromagnetic force.
Photon
Which particle is responsible for mediating the weak nuclear force?
W and Z bosons
What is the term for a particle that has a mass but no electric charge?
Neutron
True or False: All particles have an antiparticle counterpart.
True
What is the name of the particle associated with the Higgs field?
Higgs boson
What is the primary constituent of atomic nuclei?
Protons and Neutrons
Fill in the blank: The _____ is the force that causes the attraction between charged particles.
Electromagnetic force
What is the mass of a proton compared to that of a neutron?
Approximately equal
What do we call the process by which a neutron decays into a proton?
Beta decay
Which particle is considered a fundamental building block of matter?
Quark
True or False: Photons have mass.
False
What is the term for the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom?
Atomic number
What type of particle is a gluon?
Gauge boson
Fill in the blank: The _____ force is responsible for radioactive decay.
Weak nuclear force
What is the term for the force that holds quarks together?
Strong force
What is the main function of leptons?
They are a family of particles that include electrons and neutrinos.
True or False: The neutron is an elementary particle.
False
What are baryons?
Particles made up of three quarks.
What is the difference between fermions and bosons?
Fermions follow the Pauli exclusion principle, while bosons do not.
Fill in the blank: The _____ is a particle that carries the strong force.
Gluon
What is the mass of an electron?
Approximately 9.11 x 10^-31 kg
True or False: Neutrinos have a significant mass.
False
What do we call particles that are made of quarks?
Hadrons
What is antimatter?
Matter composed of antiparticles.
Fill in the blank: The _____ model describes the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus.
Bohr model
What is the significance of the Higgs boson?
It is associated with the mechanism that gives mass to other particles.
What is the role of neutrinos in particle physics?
They are involved in weak interactions.
Fill in the blank: The _____ is a type of particle accelerator.
Collider
What is the primary purpose of particle physics research?
To understand the fundamental components and forces of the universe.
True or False: The standard model includes gravity.
False
What is a lepton?
A fundamental particle that does not undergo strong interactions.
What are the two main categories of particles in the standard model?
Fermions and bosons
What is the role of the weak force in particle interactions?
Responsible for processes like beta decay.
Fill in the blank: The _____ is a particle that mediates the strong force.
Gluon
What is the primary characteristic of bosons?
They can occupy the same quantum state.
True or False: All baryons are unstable.
False
What is a photon?
A quantum of electromagnetic radiation.
What is the term for the process where a particle and its antiparticle collide and annihilate each other?
Annihilation
What is the significance of the discovery of the top quark?
It confirmed the predictions of the standard model.
Fill in the blank: The _____ is the force that binds electrons to the nucleus.
Electromagnetic force
What is the primary function of the strong force?
To keep protons and neutrons together in the nucleus.
