Particles and Radiation Flashcards
Isotopes
? Same number of protons but different number of neutrons. Same atomic number but different atomic mass.
Specific Charge
? Charge / Mass
Z
? Atomic number of elements
A
? Nucleon number/atomic mass
Describe strong nuclear force
Acts between nucleon at a very short range to overcome electrostatic force by holding the nucleus together. Attractive between 3fm -0.5fm and repulsive below 0.5fm.
Carbon dating
? A process that uses the decay of radioactive carbon-14 atoms that are present in all living organisms in order to determine the age of organic material.
What are the types of decay ?
Beta minus, beta plus, alpha decay,
Describe a beta minus decay
When a neutron turns into a proton. Emitting an electron and an antielectron neutrino.
n –> p + e- + _Ve
Describe a beta plus decay.
When a proton turns into a neutron. Emitting a positron and an electron neutrino.
p –> n + e+ + Ve
Describe alpha decay
When a helium nucleus is emitted
X –> Y + He
What is the equation to calculate photon energy?
E=hf = hc/λ
When is E=hf used?
As photons have wave-like properties.
We know that electromagnetic waves (and therefore photons) travel at the speed of light.
Define antiparticles
Particle that have the same mass but the opposite charge.
Law of conservation of energy
Mass and energy is always conserved
define Electron volt (eV)
? One electron volt is the amount of energy transferred when an electron is moved through a potential difference of 1 volt.
Convert eV –> J
1eV = 1.6*10^-19J
Describe annihilation
When a particle and its corresponding antiparticle collide releasing two photons. The photons must go in different directions to conserve momentum.
hf = E(rest) + E(k)
Describe pair production
Opposite of annihilation.
A photon interacts with a nucleus and its energy is converted into the mass of a particle and its corresponding antiparticle.
hf = 2E(rest) + E(k)
Define electromagnetic interactions
? An exchange of a virtual photon causing a change in momentum.
- Massless
- Undetectable
What are the 4 fundamental forces?
Gravitational - Between masses
Electromagnetic - Between charges (virtual photon)
Weak - Decay of nuclei (Boson W&Z)
Strong - Holds protons and neutrons together (Gluon)
What are the roles of exchange particles?
? they are force carriers for the fundamental forces
transfer
- energy
- momentum
- charge
The size of the exchange particles determines the range of the force; the bigger the particles the shorter the range
How is particle interactions shown?
Feynman diagrams
Electron capture
? Occurs within a proton heavy nucleus, if the electrons stray close to the nucleus then it can interact via the weak interactions to form an electron neutron and a neutrino.
p + e- –>(W+) n + Ve
Electron-proton Collision
Same equation as electron capture but different exchange particle. (W-) and Different direction (left)