Particle Physics Questions
Q9.
(a)
(i) Name two baryons.
(1 mark)
(ii) State the quark structure of the pion π+
(1 mark)
(b) The K+ kaon is a strange particle.
(i) Give one characteristic of a strange particle that makes it different from a particle that is not strange.
(1 mark)
(ii) One of the following equations represents a possible decay of the K+ kaon.
K+ → π+ + π0
K+ → µ+ + v µ
State, with a reason, which one of these decays is not possible.
(2 marks)
(c) Another strange particle, X, decays in the following way:
X → π – + p
(i) State what interaction is involved in this decay.
(1 mark)
(ii) Show that X must be a neutral particle.
(1 mark)
(iii) Deduce whether X is a meson, baryon, or lepton, explaining how you arrive at your answer.
(2 marks)
(iv) Which particle in this interaction is the most stable?
(1 mark)
(Total 10 marks)
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