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Physics A-level Paper 1 > Particle Physics > Flashcards

Particle Physics Flashcards

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1
Q

How is specific charge calculated?

A

the overall charge of the atom/nucleus divided by the total mass of the atom/nucleus

(total protons x charge of a proton) / (total nucleons x mass of a nucleon)

NpQp/NnMn

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2
Q

What is the charge of a proton?

A

1.6x10^-19C

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3
Q

What is the charge of a neutron?

A

0C

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4
Q

What is the charge of an electron?

A

-1.6x10^-19

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5
Q

What is meant by the ‘rest mass’ of a particle?

A

the minimum mass of a particle is when it is at rest, hence this is the ‘rest mass’

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6
Q

What is the mass of a proton?

A

1.67x10-27kg

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7
Q

What is the mass of a neutron?

A

1.67x10-27kg

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8
Q

What is the mass of an electron?

A

9.11x10-31kg

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9
Q

Define nucleon number, and state which letter this is represented by.

A

the total number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus, A

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10
Q

Define proton number, and state which letter this is represented by.

A

the total number of protons in the nucleus or the total number of electrons orbiting the nucleus, Z

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11
Q

What is an Isotope?

A

an atom which contains the same number of protons and electrons as its element but has a different number of neutrons

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12
Q

What force holds together the nucleus of an atom and what is its attractive range?

A

Strong nuclear force, 3fm

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13
Q

What is the repulsive range of the strong nuclear force and why is this useful?

A

0.5fm, it prevents the nucleus from collapsing in on itself

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14
Q

What subatomic particles make up an alpha particle and state the charge of this particle?

A

2 protons and 2 neutrons (Helium nucleus), 2+ charge

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15
Q

What is the range of alpha radiation in air and what barrier can be used to stop it?

A

approx. 5cm, thin paper

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16
Q

When might a nucleus undergo alpha decay?

A

when its mass number is very large

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17
Q

Which particles are emitted during beta minus decay?

A

a fast moving electron and an antineutrino

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18
Q

What happens during beta minus decay?

A

a neutron turns into a proton and an electron and antineutrino are emitted.

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19
Q

Why do nuclei undergo beta minus decay?

A

the nucleus has too many neutrons

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20
Q

What is emitted during gamma decay?

A

a gamma photon

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21
Q

What happens during gamma decay?

A

EM radiation is emitted from the unstable nucleus in the form of a photon.

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22
Q

When do nuclei experience gamma decay?

A

when they have too much energy

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23
Q

What is a neutrino and why is it released during beta decay?

A

it was hypothesised this was to balance the conservation of energy. it also balances lepton number.

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24
Q

What is an antiparticle?

A

every particle has a corresponding antiparticle. It has the same mass and rest energy but an equal and opposite charge. it is made of antiquarks.

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25
Q

Which particles are released during beta plus decay?

A

positron and neutrino

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26
Q

What happens during beta plus decay?

A

a proton turns into a neutron and a positron and neutrino are released.

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27
Q

Why do nuclei experience beta plus decay?

A

if a nucleus is proton rich

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28
Q

What is the antiparticle of an electron?

A

positron

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29
Q

What is the antiparticle of a proton?

A

antiproton

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30
Q

What is the antiparticle of a neutron?

A

antineutron

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31
Q

What is annihilation?

A

when a particle and its antiparticle meet they are destroyed releasing a large amount of energy via photons. the amount of energy released is the rest energy of the particle/antiparticles.

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32
Q

What is pair production?

A

When a particle and its antiparticle are made, if there is enough energy absorbed by photons.

33
Q

What is a photon?

A

a ‘packet’ of energy. it has no charge and no mass, each photon has its own discrete energy value dependent on its frequency.

34
Q

What is a neutrino?

A

a particle with no charge and very small mass. it is not affected by electrostatic forces because they have no charge so they can pass through other particles without interacting. millions pass through the body every second.

35
Q

How is the energy of a photon calculated?

A

E = hf
or
E=hc/wavelength

36
Q

What is Planck’s constant?

A

h, 6.63x10^-34Js

37
Q

What is the rest energy of a particle?

A

the amount of energy required to make a particle move. the amount of energy release in annihilation

38
Q

Which particle carries the gravity force?

A

graviton?

39
Q

Which particles carry the weak force?

A

W+, W-, Zo

40
Q

Which particles carry the EM force?

A

photons

41
Q

Which particles carry the strong force?

A

Gluon

42
Q

What particles does the gravity force act on?

A

all

43
Q

What particles does the weak force act on?

A

quarks, leptons

44
Q

What particles does the EM force act on?

A

quarks, leptons, W+, W-

45
Q

What particles does the strong force act on?

A

quarks, gluons

46
Q

What is the weak nuclear force responsible for?

A

radioactive decay of subatomic particles

47
Q

What is the electromagnetic force?

A

the force between two charged objects, due to the exchange of virtual photons

48
Q

What are the different flavours of quarks (in their pairs)?

A

Up and down
top and bottom
strange and charm

49
Q

What is the quark structure of a proton?

A

uud

50
Q

What is the quark structure of a neutron?

A

udd

51
Q

What is a baryon made up of?

A

3 quarks

52
Q

What is an antibaryon made up of?

A

3 antiquarks

53
Q

What is a meson made up of?

A

a quark and an antiquark pair

54
Q

What are the properties of a hadron?

A

Heavy and massive

not fundamental so can be split up

55
Q

What force do hadrons experience?

A

strong

56
Q

What force is responsible for the decay of hadrons?

A

weak

57
Q

If a hadron has protons involved in its decay, what is it?

A

baryon

58
Q

If a hadron does not have protons involved in its decay, what is it?

A

meson

59
Q

What are the properties of a lepton?

A

light and small

fundamental

60
Q

What forces do leptons interact via?

A

if charged, EM or weak

61
Q

Which particles are baryons?

A

protons, neutrons

62
Q

Which particles are mesons?

A

pions, kaons

63
Q

What force do mesons carry?

A

strong

64
Q

What is the only stable baryon?

A

proton

65
Q

What must be conserved for a nuclear reaction to occur?

A

charge, Q
lepton number, L
baryon number, B
(strangeness, S)

66
Q

When is strangeness conserved?

A

during strong and EM but not weak interactions.

67
Q

Why is strangeness not conserved during weak interaction?

A

lighter particles containing strange quarks cannot decay via strong so must decay via weak.

68
Q

What is an exchange particle?

A

Exchange or virtual particles interact with particles to produce the effects of attraction or repulsion. They do this by shuttling back and forth between the particles, carrying small packets of energy.

69
Q

What happens during electron capture?

A

an electron in an atom’s inner shell is drawn into the nucleus where it combines with a proton, forming a neutron and a neutrino. The neutrino is ejected from the atom’s nucleus.

70
Q

What type of interaction is electron capture?

A

weak

71
Q

Which exchange particle is present in electron capture?

A

W+

72
Q

Which exchange particle is present in strong nuclear ineractions?

A

pion

73
Q

Which particle will decay into a pion?

A

kaon

74
Q

Which particle does a muon decay into?

A

electron

75
Q

Define strange particles.

A

Strange particles are particles that are produced through the strong interaction and decay through the weak interaction. (eg kaons).

76
Q

What are strange particles always created as?

A

pairs

77
Q

What does particle physics rely on?

A

the collaborative efforts of large teams of scientists and engineers to validate new knowledge

78
Q

Which two factors are always conserved?

A

energy and momentum

Physics A-level Paper 1 (7 decks)

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