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A Level Physics > Particles > Flashcards

Particles Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the nucleon number of an atom?

A

The number of protons + neutrons (nucleons), also known as the mass number.

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2
Q

What are the three isotopes of hydrogen?

A

Hydrogen - 1 proton 0 neutrons
Deuterium - 1 proton 1 neutron
Tritium - 1 proton 2 neutrons

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3
Q

What affects an atoms stability?

A

The no. of neutrons

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4
Q

All living things contain the same percentage of what?

A

Radioactive carbon-14 taken in from the atmosphere.

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5
Q

What happens to the percentage of carbon-14 as a living organism dies?

A

It decreases over time as they decay into stable elements.

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6
Q

How can scientists calculate the approximate age of archeological finds made from dead, organic matter.

A

By using the isotopic data to find the percentage of radioactive carbon-14 left inside of the object.

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7
Q

Define specific charge:

A

A particles charge to mass ratio

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8
Q

What is the unit for specific charge?

A

C Kg^-1

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9
Q

What is the formula for specific charge

A

Charge/Mass

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10
Q

Explain the strong nuclear force:

A

• To hold the nucleus together, there must be an attractive force stronger than the electrostatic force.
• Strong nuclear force has a very short range, it can only hold nucleons together when they are separated by a few femtometers, the magnitude of the strong nuclear force quickly falls beyond this distance.
• It works equally between all nucleons (its magnitude is the same for proton-proton, neutron-neutron or neutron-proton).
•At very small separations the force is repulsive or it would crush the nucleus to a point.

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11
Q

When does alpha emission occur?

A

With very big nuclei’s e.g. uranium or radium because the nuclei of these atoms are too big for the strong nuclear force to keep them stable.

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12
Q

What happens during alpha emission?

A

Proton number decreases by two, neutron number decreases by four.

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13
Q

What is the range of alpha emission?

A

Very short (a few cm in air, stopped by sheet of paper).

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14
Q

How can you observe alpha emission count rate?

A

Using a geiger counter, or observing the tracks left by alpha particles in a cloud chamber.

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15
Q

When does beta minus decay occur?

A

When the nucleus has too many more neutrons than protons.

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16
Q

What happens during beta minus decay?

A

• Neutron -> Proton + Electron + Antineutrino.
The mass no. stays the same, the proton no. increases by 1.

17
Q

What does the antineutrino carry during beta minus decay?

A

Energy and momentum.

18
Q

Explain Einsteins photon model of light theory linked to the photoelectric effect:

A

• Einstein suggested that EM waves exist is discrete packets (photons).
• When light hits the metals surface, the metal is bombarded by photons.
• If one of these photons collides with a free electron, the energy gained = hf.

19
Q

What is a lepton?

A

A fundamental particle that doesn’t feel the strong nuclear force (only usually interacts via the weak nuclear force).

20
Q

What are the 6 types of leptons?

A

Electron, electron-neutrino, muon, muon-neutrino, tau, tau-neutrino

21
Q

What leptons have an Le number of +1?

A

Electron, electron-neutrino.

22
Q

What leptons have an Lu number of +1?

A

Muon, muon-neutrino.

23
Q

What type of fundamental force do neutrinos take part in?

A

The weak nuclear force.

24
Q

Anti-leptons have opposite..

A

Charges and lepton numbers.

25
Q

Are electrons stable or unstable?

A

Stable

26
Q

Are muons stable or unstable?

A

Unstable, eventually decay into ordinary electrons.

27
Q

What are quarks?

A

The building blocks for hadrons.

28
Q

What are the 3 types of quarks (for A-level)?

A

Up, down, strange

29
Q

What is the difference with a strange quark compared to an up or down quark?

A

It has a strangeness of -1 (+1 if its anti-strange), whereas u and d have a strangeness of 0.

30
Q

How are strange particles created?

A

Via the strong interaction, but decay via the weak interaction (strangeness is conserved in the strong interaction, but not in the weak interaction).

31
Q

What are hadrons?

A

Particles (non-fundamental) made up of quarks that feel the strong-nuclear force.

32
Q

What are the 2 types of hadrons?

A

Baryons = 3 quarks (B=1) e.g. proton, neutron
Mesons = quark, anti-quark (B=0) e.g. pions and kaons.

33
Q

What are the two types of mesons?

A

Pions = lighter, more stable mesons.
Kaons = heavier, unstable mesons which decay into pions.

34
Q

Decay of baryons:

A

All baryons decay into protons, except protons.

A Level Physics (7 decks)

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