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Physics > Section 1: Particles And Radiation > Flashcards

Section 1: Particles And Radiation Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the structure of an atom?

A

Inside an atom there is a nucleus which contains neutrons and protons. Electrons orbit the nucleus. Most of the atom is empty space, as the electrons orbit at relatively large distances.

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2
Q

Give the relative charges of each of the particles in the atom.

A

Proton, +1
Neutron, 0
Electron, -1

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3
Q

Give the relative masses of each of the particles in the atom.

A

Protons and neutrons have a relative mass of 1 whilst electrons have a relative mass of 0.0005

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4
Q

What is the proton number of an atom.

A

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

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5
Q

What is the nucleon number of an atom.

A

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

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6
Q

How can you estimate the relative mass of an atom

A

The relative mass of an atom is approximately the same as the nucleon number as electrons have virtually no mass

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7
Q

What is specific charge and what units is it measured in?

A

The charge of a particle divided by its mass, it is measured in Ckg^-1

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8
Q

What are isotopes

A

Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

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9
Q

Give an example of how isotopic data can be used

A

It can be used to calculate the approximate age of of organic matter. This is done by calculating the percentage of carbon which is radioactive carbon-14 present in the object being studied.

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10
Q

What are the two largest forces acting on the particles in a nucleus

A

The electromagnetic force (between protons) and the strong nuclear force

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11
Q

What is the range of repulsion of the strong nuclear force

A

Between 0 and about 0.5 fm.

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12
Q

What is the range of attraction of the strong nuclear force

A

Between 0.5 and 3 fm

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13
Q

Explain how we know there must be a strong nuclear force

A

The electrostatic repulsion is much greater than the gravitational attraction. Without another force, the strong nuclear force, the nucleus would fly apart.

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14
Q

What is a Beta- particle also known as

A

An electron

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15
Q

Why does a nucleus undergo nuclear decay

A

Because the forces in the nucleus only have a range of a few femtometres, so they struggle to hold large nuclei together. This makes the nucleus unstable.

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16
Q

How do the nucleon and proton numbers of an atom change in alpha decay?

A

The nucleon number decreases by 4 and the proton number decreases by 2

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17
Q

Give two ways of demonstrating the range of alpha particles

A

1) using a cloud chamber to observe tracks left by alpha particles
2) using a Geiger counter or spark counter to measure the amount of ionising radiation at different distances from the alpha source

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18
Q

What particles are emitted during beta minus decay

A

An electron and an antineutrino

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19
Q

What type of nuclei will decay by beta minus decay

A

Neutron rich nuclei, ones with more neutrons than protons

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20
Q

Describe the changes in the nucleus of an atom when it undergoes beta minus decay

A

A neutron turns into a proton, so the nucleon number stays the same and the proton number increases by 1.

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21
Q

Explain how the neutrino was hypothesised as a result of beta decay.

A

It originally appeared as though energy was being lost in beta decay. A new particle was hypothesised in order for energy to remain conserved, this particle had to be neutral and was named the neutrino

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22
Q

What is a photon

A

A photon is a packet of EM radiation

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23
Q

What equation would you use to calculate the energy of a photon from its wavelength

A

E=(hc)/lamda

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24
Q

How does an antiparticle differ from its corresponding particle?

A

An antiparticle has the opposite charge to its corresponding particle

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25
Q

How is an antiparticle the same to its corresponding particle

A

It has the same mass and rest energies

26
Q

Name the electrons antiparticle

A

The positron

27
Q

What is the relative charge of an antiproton

A

-1

28
Q

What is the relative charge of an antineutron

A

0

29
Q

What is the relative charge of an antineutrino

A

0

30
Q

Describe the process of pair production

A

Energy can be converted into mass and produce particles, if there is enough energy. The mass is always produced in a particle-antiparticle pair.

31
Q

What is produced in the annihilation of matter and antimatter

A

Two gamma ray photons

32
Q

What type of particle feels the strong nuclear force?

A

Hadrons

33
Q

What particle is believed to be the only stable baryon

A

Proton

34
Q

What is the baryon number of an electron

A

0

35
Q

What is the baryon number of an antineutrino

A

-1

36
Q

What is the baryon number of a kaon (K meson)

A

0

37
Q

What particles are produced when a neutron decays into a proton?

A

An electron and an electron antineutrino (as well as the proton)

38
Q

What is the anti particle of (pi)^0

A

Pi^0

39
Q

Explain what cosmic ray showers are

A

High energy particles produced as a result of radiation from space interacting with molecules in the atmosphere

40
Q

What is a lepton

A

A fundamental particle that does not feel the strong nuclear force

41
Q

What is the relative charge of an antimuon

A

+1

42
Q

In what type of interaction are strange particles produced in pairs

A

Strong interaction

43
Q

What special property do strange particles have

A

Strange particles are always produced in pairs

44
Q

In what type of interaction do strange particles decay

A

A weak interaction

45
Q

In what type of interaction is strangeness not conserved? By how much can strangeness change in this type of interaction?

A

Weak interaction. Strangeness can change by -1 0 +1

46
Q

What properties are always conserved in particle interactions

A

Charge, Baryon number, Lepton Numbers. (Energy Mass Momentum are also conserved)

47
Q

Name three quarks

A

Up, down and strange

48
Q

What is the baryon number of a quark

A

1/3

49
Q

What is the strangeness of a strange quark

A

-1

50
Q

What is the quark composition of a proton

A

uud

51
Q

What is the quark composition of a neutron

A

udd

52
Q

What is the quark composition of an antineutrino

A

_ _

ūdd

53
Q

What is the quark composition of a meson

A

1 quark and one antiquark

54
Q

Why can you not have a quark on its own

A

Quark confinement, the energy used to remove a quark from a hadron creates a quark anti-quark pair.

55
Q

What sort of interaction can change a quarks character? Name and describe an interaction in which this happens

A

The weak interaction. In beta- decay, a neutrino decays to a proton, so a down quark changes to an up quark

56
Q

What is an exchange particle

A

A virtual particle that lets a force act between two particles in an interaction

57
Q

Name the electromagnetic force exchange particle

A

Virtual photons

58
Q

Name two exchange particles of the weak interaction

A

W+ boson and the W- boson

59
Q

What do straight lines on particle interaction diagrams represent

A

Particles (not exchange particles)

60
Q

Why would a nucleus undergo electron capture

A

Because it is proton rich

61
Q

What is the difference between electron capture and electron-proton collisions

A

In electron capture, a proton in a nucleus captures an electron from the atom, turning into a neutron and emitting a neutrino.

In an electron-proton collision, a free electron collides with a free proton, producing a neutron and a neutrino.

62
Q

What is the exchange particle for electron capture, and what particles are produced

A

The W+ boson is the exchange particle and a neutron and an electron neutrino are produced.

Physics (2 decks)

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