Particle Physics

Complete the equation for this decay.

By considering momentum, calculate the speed of nucleus R after the decay.

speed = ______ $\text{m s}^{-1}$

State three quantities that are conserved during the decay.

1 ________________________________________________

2 ________________________________________________

3 ________________________________________________

Nitrogen-12 ($^{12}_{7}\text{N}$) is an unstable isotope of nitrogen that decays by the emission of radiation to carbon-12 ($^{12}_{6}\text{C}$).

Complete the full nuclear equation for the decay, including all the particles involved.

State the charge on the positron in terms of the elementary charge $e$.

charge = ______ $e$

State the group (class) of fundamental particle to which the positron belongs.

In Table 7.1, state the flavour and charge of the three antiquarks that comprise the antiproton.

Table 7.1

State what is meant by a fundamental particle.

Determine $p$.

$p$ = ______

Nucleus $X$ undergoes $\beta^-$ decay to form nucleus $Z$.

Complete the equation representing this decay.

A sample of a radioactive substance emits particles that are positively charged and have a continuous range of kinetic energies.

State and explain whether the nuclei in the sample are undergoing $\alpha$-decay, $\beta^+$ decay or $\beta^-$ decay.

An antiparticle equivalent of the neutron is called the antineutron. The quarks in the antineutron are the antiparticles of the quarks in a neutron.

The elementary charge is $e$.

In Table 8.1, state the flavour and charge of the three antiquarks that comprise the antineutron.

Table 8.1

In $\beta^-$ decay, a neutron decays to form a proton.

Theory predicts that an antineutron should decay to form an antiproton. A particle and an antiparticle should also be observed.

Suggest the names of the particle and the antiparticle.

particle: ______
antiparticle: ______

State the names of two different leptons.

1 ______

2 ______

In the following list, underline all the particles that are hadrons.

antineutrino     beta-plus     meson     neutron

By reference to quark composition, show that the charge of a proton is $+1.6 \times 10^{-19}\text{ C}$.

Determine the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral atom of tritium.

number of protons = ______
number of neutrons = ______
number of electrons = ______

Draw a labelled diagram to represent a simple model of the arrangement of the protons, neutrons and electrons in a tritium atom.

Complete the equation to represent the radioactive decay of tritium.

State the name of particle X.

Determine the quark composition of a tritium nucleus.

State what is meant by a fundamental particle.

Particle Q is a meson with a charge of 0.

Determine a possible quark composition for Q.

Particle Q has a mass of $0.67\ \text{u}$ and a kinetic energy of $2.1 \times 10^{-16}\ \text{J}$.

Calculate the speed of particle Q.

speed = ______ $\text{m s}^{-1}$

State the number of electrons in a neutral atom of radium-228.

number of electrons = ______

A nucleus of radium-228 undergoes a series of decays to form nucleus X. During the process, 5 $\alpha$-particles and 4 $\beta^-$ particles are emitted.

Determine the number of protons and the number of neutrons in nucleus X.

number of protons = ______
number of neutrons = ______

Determine the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral atom of tritium.

number of protons = ______
number of neutrons = ______
number of electrons = ______

Draw a labelled diagram to represent a simple model of the arrangement of the protons, neutrons and electrons in a tritium atom.

Complete the equation to represent the radioactive decay of tritium.

State the name of particle X.

Determine the quark composition of a tritium nucleus.

The paths of particles X and Z are shown.

Complete Fig. 6.1 to show possible paths for particles W and Y.

Describe what may be inferred about the structure of an atom from the path of particle X.

When a beam containing many alpha particles is incident on thin gold foil, nearly all of the alpha particles follow paths that are similar to the path of particle Z.

Describe what may be inferred from this about the structure of an atom.

State the mass and the charge, in terms of the atomic mass unit $u$ and the elementary charge $e$, of an alpha particle.

mass = ______ $u$
charge = ______ $e$

State the name of this type of hadron.

Show, by reference to their constituent quarks, that the hadrons in an alpha particle have charges of either zero or $+1e$.

State the name of the class (group) of fundamental particles that contains a neutrino.

Identify a possible flavour for this other quark.

State what type of hadron is P.

State what particle is represented by X.

Compare the nucleon numbers of Q and R.

Compare the charges of Q and R.