Particles and Radiation Flashcards
Specific charge
ratio of charge to mass of a particles
specific charge (C/kg) = charge (C) / mass (kg)
Isotopic data
The relative amounts of different isotopes of an element present in a substance
Isotopes
Atoms with the same number of protons but with different numbers of neutrons
Neutron/proton-rich nuclei
A nucleus that has many more neutrons/protons than neutrons/protons
EM spectrum
A continous spectrum of all possible frequencies of EM radiation
Pair production
When energy is converted into mass, get equal mass of matter and antimatter
Rest energy
Energy that would be produced if all the mass of a particle was turned into energy
How do cosmic ray showers work
Cosmic rays (radiation in form of charged particles from space) hit molecules in atmosphere and produce showers of high energy particles. Can observe with cloud chamber or putting lead between 2 Geiger counters
Lepton
A fundamental particle that is not affeted by the strong nuclear force
Describe pair production
Energy is converted into mass. Mass is always produed in particle-antiparticle pair
PET (positron emission spectroscopy)
Scanners in hospitals put positron-emitting isotope in bloodstream. Gamma photons form annihilation are detected because travel in opposite direction by scintillator
Quark confinement
Impossible to get quark on its own. If you supply energy, energy just used to make new quark
Exchange particle
A virtual particle that lets force act between two particles in an interaction
Force
An effect on a particle due to the presence of other particles
