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Particle Physics and The Standard Model

Q1.
A cosmic ray, consisting of a fast-moving proton, collides with a proton within the nucleus of
an atom in the upper atmosphere. Three particles, a proton, a neutron and a pion result from
the collision.

Write a particle equation for this collision.

(2)
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(Total for question = 2 marks)

Q2.
Which of the following particles is an example of a fundamental particle?

A nucleus

B neutrino

C pion

D proton

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q3.
A particle has a mass of 1 u and a charge of −1.6 × 10−19 C.

Which of the following could be the particle?

A antiproton

B electron

C neutron

D positron

(Total for question = 1 mark)

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Q4.

The neutral lambda Λ0 particle is a baryon of mass 1116 MeV/c2 and contains one strange
quark.

The table shows quarks and their relative charge.

Calculate the mass of the Λ0 particle in kg.

(3)
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Mass of Λ0 particle = ........................................................... kg

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q5.
A proton has a mass of 1.67 × 10−27 kg.

Which of the following shows the conversion of this mass to GeV/c2 ?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

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Q6.

Which of the following particle equations is correct for the decay of a proton within a
nucleus?

A p → n + β+

B p → p + β+

C p → n + β+ + v

D p → p + β+ + v

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q7.

A high energy proton collides with a stationary proton and a π0 particle is produced.
The equation for the reaction is

p + p → p + p + π0
(i) Explain why the proton must have a high energy in order for this reaction to occur.
(2)
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(ii) The rest mass of the π0 is of the rest mass of a proton.

In this reaction the total kinetic energy of the particles decreases.
Calculate the minimum decrease in kinetic energy if the reaction is to occur.
rest mass of proton = 938 GeV/c2
(2)
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Minimum decrease in kinetic energy = ...........................................................

(Total for question = mark)

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Q8.

A high-energy proton can interact with a photon to produce two particles.

Which of the following could be the two particles produced?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q9.
The bubble chamber photograph shows tracks made by a proton and a pion. The proton and
pion were both created by the decay of a lambda particle. No other particles were produced.

* Explain how observations and measurements from the photograph can be used to
establish information about the lambda particle.
(6)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)

Q10.
The bubble chamber photograph shows tracks made by a proton and a pion. The proton and
pion were both created by the decay of a lambda particle. No other particles were produced.

[Same Image as in Q9]

The rest mass of the lambda particle is 1115 MeV / c2.

(i) Calculate this mass in kg.

(3)
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Mass = ........................................................... kg

(ii) The rest mass of a proton is 940 MeV / c2. The rest mass of a pion is 140 MeV / c2.
The kinetic energy of the lambda particle just before decay is 4.95 GeV.
Calculate the total kinetic energy of the proton and pion in MeV.
(3)
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Total kinetic energy = ........................................................... MeV

(Total for question = 6 marks)

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Q11.

The bubble chamber photograph shows tracks made by a proton and a pion. The proton and
pion were both created by the decay of a lambda particle. No other particles were produced.

[Same Image as in Q9]

The lambda particle consists of up, down and strange quarks.

Explain how the conservation of charge, baryon number and lepton number apply to the
decay of the lambda particle.
(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q12.

The bubble chamber photograph shows tracks made by a proton and a pion. The proton and
pion were both created by the decay of a lambda particle. No other particles were produced.

[Same Image as in Q9]

Write an equation to represent the decay of the lambda (Λ) particle.
(1)
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(Total for question = 1 mark)

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Q13.
Which row of the table summarises the mass and charge of an antineutron?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q14.
The π− particle has a mass of 140 MeV / c2.

Which row of the table is correct for the antiparticle of a π− ?

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q15.

A muon (μ) is a lepton with a mass of 106 MeV/c2.

Calculate the mass of a muon in kg.

(3)
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Mass of muon = ........................................................... kg

(Total for question = 3 marks)

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Q16.

The neutral lambda Λ0 particle is a baryon of mass 1116 MeV/c2 and contains one strange
quark.

The table shows quarks and their relative charge.

The Λ0 particle cannot be directly observed in particle experiments, however some of the
decay products can.

Explain why the Λ0 particle cannot be directly observed but information about it can be
obtained by studying its decay particles.
(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

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Q17.

A negatively charged pion decays into a muon and an antineutrino. The diagram shows
tracks in a particle detector formed in such an event.

Write a particle equation to represent this decay.

(1)
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(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q18.

A negatively charged pion decays into a muon and an antineutrino. The diagram shows
tracks in a particle detector formed in such an event.
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According to the standard model, the pion and muon are classified within two different
groups of particles.

State which group each particle belongs to and describe the two groups.
(4)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

Q19.

Pions (π+, π −, π 0) are created in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays collide with
protons. Pions are unstable and decay rapidly.

(a) Pions are the lightest of the hadrons. Charged pions (π + and π −) decay to produce
muons which then decay to positrons or electrons.
(i) A positive pion π + has a quark composition .
State with a justification the possible quark compositions of a neutral pion π 0.
(2)
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(ii) Muons are examples of leptons whereas pions are examples of mesons.
State a structural difference between leptons and mesons.
(1)
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(b) Muons with a speed of 0.99c travel a distance of 15 km to reach the surface of the Earth
from the upper atmosphere.
(i) Show that the time it takes a muon to travel this distance is about 51 μs.
(2)
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(ii) The muons are unstable particles.

Calculate the fraction of muons which would remain after a time of 51 μs.
half-life of muon = 2.2 μs
(4)
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Fraction = ...........................................................

(iii) In fact the fraction of muons reaching the surface of the Earth is about 0.1 Explain
the discrepancy.
(2)
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(Total for question = 11 marks)

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Q20.

A muon (μ) is a lepton with a mass of 106 MeV/c2.

Muons are produced from the decay of pions in the upper atmosphere.

An example of this decay is given by the equation

(i) Explain how this decay obeys the laws of conservation of charge, baryon number and
lepton number.
(3)
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(ii) The masses of these three particles, in MeV/c2, are given below.

Explain why the total kinetic energy of the products of this decay is approximately 34
MeV. Assume the π– is stationary.
(2)
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(iii) State which two conservation laws could be used to calculate the kinetic energy of the
μ– and the just after the decay of the π–.
(2)
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* (iv) The muons are produced at a height of 10 km in the atmosphere. The velocity of the
muons is 0.99 c. The average lifetime for muons is normally 2.2 μs and yet muons produced
in the upper atmosphere are found in significant numbers at sea level.
Discuss this apparent anomaly.
(6)
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(Total for question = 13 marks)

Q21.

Protons interact with particles in the upper atmosphere and create new particles. Pions can
be produced from high energy proton collisions.

(i) State why the following reaction is not possible.

p + p → p + p + π−
(1)
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(ii) State one similarity and one difference between the electric field of a proton and the
electric field of a π−.
(2)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q22.

The neutral lambda Λ0 particle is a baryon of mass 1116 MeV/c2 and contains one strange
quark.

The table shows quarks and their relative charge.

A student suggests five ways a Λ0 particle might decay. These are

Deduce which of these decay processes are not possible.

(6)
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(Total for question = 6 marks)
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Q23.

Which of these is not made from quarks?

A proton

B neutron

C lepton

D meson

(Total for question = 1 mark)

Q24.

The discovery of the Higgs particle was an important contribution to our understanding of
particle physics.

(a) Describe the standard model for subatomic particles. You should identify the
fundamental particles and the composition of the particles we can observe.
(5)
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(b) The mass of the Higgs particle is 2.2 × 10−25 kg.

Calculate this mass in GeV/c2.
(3)
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Mass = ........................................................... GeV/c2

(c) The Higgs particle was discovered using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012. Two
beams of very high energy protons, moving in opposite directions, were made to collide.

(i) Explain the need for such high energy collisions.

(3)
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(ii) The beams of protons are contained within a ring of superconducting magnets.
Calculate the momentum of a proton in a beam.
(3)
magnetic field strength = 8.3 T
circumference of the ring = 27 km
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Momentum = ...........................................................
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(iii) State the total momentum of the products of the collision between the two beams of
protons.
(1)
Total momentum = ...........................................................

(d) A student used the equation to predict the energy of a proton in the beam, using
the momentum calculated in (c)(ii), but found the energy was far higher than 7 TeV.

Explain why.
(2)
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(Total for question = 17 marks)

Q25.

The neutral lambda Λ0 particle is a baryon of mass 1116 MeV/c2 and contains one strange
quark.

The table shows quarks and their relative charge.

State, with justification, the quark content of a Λ0 particle.

(2)
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(Total for question = 2 marks)

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Q26.

A cosmic ray, consisting of a fast-moving proton, collides with a proton within the nucleus of
an atom in the upper atmosphere. Three particles, a proton, a neutron and a pion result from
the collision.

The mass of a neutron is about the same as the mass of a proton. A student suggests that
the minimum kinetic energy the cosmic ray proton would need to create the pion in this
collision is 140 MeV.

Discuss whether this suggestion is correct. Your answer should include reference to the laws
of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy.
(4)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)

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Q27.

A cosmic ray, consisting of a fast-moving proton, collides with a proton within the nucleus of
an atom in the upper atmosphere. Three particles, a proton, a neutron and a pion result from
the collision.

The mass of a pion is 140 MeV / c2 .

Calculate the mass of the pion in kg.

(3)
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Mass = ........................................................... kg

(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q28.

A cosmic ray, consisting of a fast-moving proton, collides with a proton within the nucleus of
an atom in the upper atmosphere. Three particles, a proton, a neutron and a pion result from
the collision.

The table shows the properties of two quarks.

Give the quark structure for each of the particles produced by this collision.
(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)
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Mark Scheme – Particle Physics The Standard Model

Q1.

Q2.

Q3.

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Q5.
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Q8.
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Q9.
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Q10.

Q11.

Q12.
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Q13.

Q14.

Q15.

Q16.

Q17.
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Q18.

Q19.
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Q20.
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Q21.
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Q22.

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Q24.
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Q25.
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Q26.

Q27.

Q28.