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Nuclear and Particle Physics

Beta decay in the quark model

  • 4 things to know
  • Papers 1, 2 and 3

Overview

Recall questions on the particles emitted in beta-minus and beta-plus decay, the nucleon and quark changes involved, and balancing quark transformation equations.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Apart from the electron, what other particle is emitted in beta-minus decay?

Key term

At the quark level, which quark changes into which other quark during beta-minus decay?

Key term

At the quark level, which quark transformation occurs during beta-plus decay?

Key term

Apart from the positron, what other particle is emitted in beta-plus decay?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which lepton is emitted during beta-minus decay?

    Model answer

    An electron.

  2. 2

    At the quark level, which quark changes into which other quark during beta-minus decay?

    Model answer

    A down quark changes into an up quark.

  3. 3

    At the quark level, which quark transformation occurs during beta-plus decay?

    Model answer

    An up quark changes into a down quark.

  4. 4

    What quantity must balance on both sides of a quark transformation equation?

    Model answer

    Electric charge.

  5. 5

    How can the quark model be used to describe a particle decay?

    Model answer

    By showing the quark content of the particles before and after the decay, demonstrating how the quarks change during the process.

  6. 6

    Apart from the electron, what other particle is emitted in beta-minus decay?

    Model answer

    An electron antineutrino.

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