What is a neutrino
Fundamental particle that has no electrical charge (neutral) and is part of the lepton family
What is a lepton
A fundamental particle that doesn’t experience the strong nuclear force. It’s experiences the weak nuclear force
What are the 6 types of lepton
Electron and Electron neutrino
Muon and Muon neutrino
Tau and Tau neutrino
What is a hadron
A composite particle made up of quarks. Hadrons experience the strong nuclear force
What is the strong nuclear force
Base force, strongest force in nature, however shortest range of 0.5-3 fm (1fm= 1x10^-15m)
What experiences the strong nuclear force
Quarks- binds them together to form particles like protons and neutrons.
Holds protons and neutrons together inside the nucleus
What are the 2 types of Hadrons
Baryons and mesons
What is a Baryon
Particles made up of 3 quarks
E.g protons and neutrons
What is a meson?
Particles made up of a quark and an antiquark
E.g Pions and Kaons
What are the 3 quarks that are on the A level spec
Up quark, down quark and strange quark
What is the charge on an up quark
+2/3e
What is the charge on a down quark
-1/3e
What is the charge on a down quark?
-1/3e
What is the charge on a strange quark
-1/3e with strangeness of -1
What is the quark composition of proton
UUD
What is the quark composition of a neutron
UDD
What is the magnitude of charge on an electron
-1.60x10^-19
What the magnitude of charge on a proton?
+1.60x10^-19
What is meant by specific charge?
The charge per unit mass of a particle. Tells you how much charge a particle has relative to its mass. Units CKg^-1
What is the mass of an electron?
9.11x10^-31Kg
What is the mass of a proton?
1.673x10^-27
What is the mass of a neutron
1.675x10^-27
What is always important to remember when comparing mass of a proton and a neutron?
The neutron is slightly heavier than the proton
What causes beta decay
The weak nuclear force. A particle in the nucleus changes type due to a change in quark flavor.
