3: Particles 3

Particle Interaction
Paper 1
17. Four fundamental interactions: gravity, electromagnetic, weak nuclear,
1: Particles 1
Atomic Structure and the SNF strong nuclear. (The strong nuclear force may be referred to as the strong
interaction.)
2: Particles 2 18. The concept of exchange particles to explain forces between elementary
Particle Classification particles.
19. Knowledge of the gluon, Z0 and graviton will not be tested.
3: Particles 3
Particle Interaction
20. The electromagnetic force; virtual photons as the exchange particle.
21. The weak interaction limited to β− and β+ decay, electron capture and
4: Quantum electron–proton collisions; W+ and W− as the exchange particles.
Photoelectric, Energy Levels and WPD 22. Simple diagrams to represent the above reactions or interactions in terms of
incoming and outgoing particles and exchange particles (limited to β− and β+
5: Waves 1
Wave Basics and Stationary Waves decay, electron capture and electron–proton collisions).
28. The pion as the exchange particle of the strong nuclear force.
6: Waves 2 34. Strange particles as particles that are produced through the strong
Interference and Diffraction interaction and decay through the weak interaction (eg kaons).
30. Strangeness can change by 0, +1 or -1 in weak interactions.
7: Waves 3 31. Appreciation that particle physics relies on the collaborative efforts of large
Refraction and Fibre Optics
teams of scientists and engineers to validate new knowledge.
8: Mechanics 1
41. The decay of the neutron should be known.
Scalars, Vectors and Moments 42. Change of quark character in β− and in β+ decay.
43. Application of the conservation laws for charge, baryon number, lepton
9: Mechanics 2 number and strangeness to particle interactions. The necessary data will be
Motion and Newton’s Laws provided in questions for particles outside those specified.
44. Students should recognise that energy and momentum are conserved in
10: Mechanics 3
Momentum and Energy interactions.

11: Materials
Hooke’s Law and the Young Modulus

12: Electricity 1
Resistivity and Superconductivity

13: Electricity 2
Series, Parallel and Potential Dividers

14: Electricity 3
Energy, EMF and Internal Resistance

15: Further Mechanics 1

Circular Motion

16: Further Mechanics 2

Simple Harmonic Motion
Monday: Forces, Exchange Particles and the Weak Interaction Notes
 Tuesday: Forces and Feynman Diagrams Exam Questions
M9.(a) (i) three OR qqq
1

(ii) mesons
1

(iii) experience the strong interaction

made up of quarks OR not fundamental
(eventually) decay to proton
2 max

(b)
interaction exchange particle
electromagnetic (virtual)photon OR
weak W+ or W− or
W must have superscript
2

(c) (i)

If no arrow on W boson line then must be clearly slanting in correct

direction for second mark
e must have - superscript
If no clear junctions lose second mark
If no arrows on sides −1
3

(ii) lepton number must be conserved

(+1 on lhs must be +1 on rhs)
1
[10]
M10. (a)
interaction exchange particle
weak W OR W OR Z°
+ –

electromagnetic photon OR γ
2

(b) uud
1

(c) (i) an atomic/orbital/shell electron

interacts with a proton in the nucleus (via the weak interaction)
3

(ii) neutron formed or u quark changes to d quark (and neutrino released)

3
[9]
Year 12 Physics: Particles Extended Writing Task 4: Exchange Particles
This work was done by ________________________________________ and was marked by __________________________________________

S D answer B answer A* answer

All particles experience the force of ...hadrons (or baryons and mesons) and
...but only hadrons (or quarks)
gravity and the e.m. interaction if they leptons may experience the weak
experience the strong interaction.
are charged... interaction...
...the strong interaction is explained in
The exchange particles are named as The exchange particles are correctly
more detail as gluons exchanged
(virtual) photon, (graviton), W+ and/or named and matched to the correct
between quarks and pions between
W– bosons and pions and/or gluons. force...
hadrons.
...with values of ~10–18, ~10–15 and infinity
...There is some indication of the order ...there is some indication of the order (∞) or detailed description eg, within a
of their strengths (S, EM, W, G)... of their ranges (W, S, G and EM)... quark, within a nucleus and no limit to
the range.
The relationship is described as the
...the mass of a large particle requires
heavier the exchange particle the ...meaning it only exists for a short time
large amounts of energy to be borrowed
shorter the range (of the force) (accept and hence has a short range.
(to create it)...
the converse)...
The lines from the bottom represent the
Feynman diagrams are explained as
particles before and the lines above (the ...the ‘wiggly’ line represents the
showing the particles before and after
wiggle) represent the particles after the exchange of a particle (owtte).
an interaction.
interaction...
The diagram has straight lines and ...the decaying particle is labelled as n ...the decaying particle is labelled as d &
arrows. One of the decay products is and becomes p, the other decay product becomes u.
labelled as β– or e–... is labelled as ν ... ...the exchange particle is labelled as W –.
Develop… Grade Effort

T
Range
↓
Depth →
Order ⁝
Relevant
!
 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

E
……………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………..
 Wednesday: Particle Interaction Definitions

Gravity The weakest of the fundamental interactions.

Repulsive The strong interaction at distances of closer than 0.5 fm is this.

Strangeness The only quantity that isn’t always conserved in a reaction or interaction.

W Minus The exchange particle involved in electron-proton collision.

Beta Plus A type of decay when a proton changes into a neutron.

Strong Only hadrons can experience this interaction.

Up This quark decays during beta plus decay.

Charge-less leptons. These where theorised to account for the conservation of energy in beta
Neutrinos decay.

Electromagnetic An interaction of infinite range whose exchange particle is known.

Attractive The strong interaction at distances between 0.5 and 3 fm is this.

Virtual Photons The exchange particle of the electromagnetic interaction.

Down This quark decays during beta minus decay.

Feynman A simple diagram to represent reactions and interactions.

Baryons A family of particles made from three quarks.

Pions The exchange particle for the strong nuclear force.

Weak Strange particles decay through this interaction.

Strong Strange particles are created in pairs through this interaction.

W Plus The exchange particle involved in electron capture.

Beta Minus A type of decay when a neutron changes into a proton.

Mesons A family of particles made from a quark and an anti quark.

Orbital Shell Where the electron involved in electron-capture comes from.

Lepton A classification of particles that are fundamental.

Attractive Baryons Beta Minus Beta Plus

Down Electromagnetic Feynman Gravity
Lepton Mesons Neutrinos Orbital Shell
Pions Repulsive Strangeness Strong
Strong Up Virtual Photons W Minus
W Plus Weak

Thursday: Feynman Diagrams and Conversation Laws Notes

 v
The following happens due to the strong interaction:
0 + ¿+ X¿

K −¿+ p → K + K ¿

If K0 is made from a down and anti-strange deduce the quark structure of X.

X is a baryon because kaons are not baryons but there was one present before (the proton) so there must be one present after.
Zero overall charge before so X must have a negative charge (to conserve charge).
Strangeness before is -1 (since K minus is an anti up and strange)
Strangeness after is currently +1 from K zero and +1 from K plus (since it is an up and anti strange)
X must have a strangeness of -3 to conserve strangeness (it’s the strong interaction)

X is made from s s s.
 Friday: Beta Decay Exam Questions
M11. (a) neutrino (1)
1

(b) proton number = 10 (1)

nucleon number = 22 (1)
2

(c) baryon = neutron (1)

lepton = positron (1)
lepton = neutrino (1)
3

(d) ddu and uud (1)

1

(e)

–1 for each error

3
[10]
M12. (a) A = down
B = W+
C = positron and D= (electron) neutrino
symbols OK
NOT neutron
C and D either way round
3

(b) (i) weak

1

(ii) B / W(+)
1

(iii) W+ / B / exchange particle is charged / γ no charge OR W+ / B / exchange

particle has (rest) mass / γ has zero (rest) mass OR photon has infinite range
exchange particle must be clearly identified
don’t accept W more mass or shorter range
+

(c) Any two pairs

Quantity: lepton number e+(−1) + v(e)(1) = 0 after same as before
Quantity: charge u( +2/3) before 1−d(1 / 3) = +2 / 3 after decay
Quantity: baryon number
proton 1 and neutron 1 (can be shown through quarks)
can use p(+1) and e (+1)to show charge conserved
+

Each number must be correctly linked to a particle at least once for second mark
Strangeness not allowed
4
[10]