Topic Menu

Cyber-chess a chess instruction site
Particle Questions that include Feynman Diagrams

Q5.

(a)

(i) Underline the particles in the following list that may be affected by the weak interaction:

positron
neutron
photon
neutrino
positive pion

 

Anything with quarks in it can be affected by the weak interaction as it involves the changing of quark flavour. The leptons are the result of weak interactions found in beta decays.

if all correct - lose one mark for each error.

(ii) Underline the particles in the following list that may be affected by the electromagnetic force.

electron
antineutrino
proton
neutral pion
negative muon

 

The electromagnetic force affects anything that has charge. Therefore only the neutral particles will not be affected by it.

if all correct - lose one mark for each error..

(4 marks)

(b) A positive muon may decay in the following way:

(i) Exchange each particle for its corresponding antiparticle and complete the equation to show how a negative muon may decay.

(ii) Give one difference and one similarity between a negative muon and an electron.

Difference: The electron has less mass (or rest energy) than the muon.

Similarity: They are both fundamental particles - leptons OR they are both negative.

(3 marks)

(c) Complete the Feynman diagram, which represents electron capture, by labelling all the particles involved.

(3 marks)

(Total 10 marks)