2 Quarks and Leptons

3.2.1.5-7 Particles and Radiation”

7407 / 7408 PHYSICS KS5 Animated Science

2015
Animated Science
2020
 2.1 The Particle Zoo (3.2.1.5) 1 hour I can.... (tick off)

1. Associate hadrons with the strong interaction.

Learning Objectives... Assessment Practice.... 2. Classify hadrons into baryons and mesons.
3. Differentiate between baryons and mesons in
1. Hadrons are subject to the strong • SAM 1 terms of baryon number and are able to
interaction. • PHYA May 2013 Q3(a) demonstrate baryon number conservation in
2. There are two classes of hadrons. • PHYA May 2014 Q1 interactions.
3. Baryon number and its conservation. • PHYA May 2012 Q3 4. Explain that the proton is the only stable
4. The proton as the only stable baryon. hadron and that all other baryons eventually
5. The pion as the exchange particle of the decay into protons.
strong nuclear force. ICT Links... 5. Identify the pion as the exchange particle of
6. The decay of kaons into pions. Leptons http://www.particleadventure. the strong nuclear force.
are affected by the weak interaction. org/quarks_leptons.html 6. Recognise and describe kaon decay.
7. Examples of leptons and their 7. Identify leptons and how they can interact
antiparticles. Stretch and Challenge... through the weak interaction.
8. Lepton number and its conservation. 8. Identify the lepton numbers of electrons,
9. The decay of muons into electrons. muons and neutrinos and demonstrate lepton
10. Strange particles and their production number conservation in examples of the
through the strong interaction and their What is the Higg’s boson and weak interaction.
decay through the weak interaction. why is it so important to the 9. Describe the decay of muons into electrons.
11. Strangeness and its conservation in standard model? 10. Identify strange particles and describe their
strong interactions. production and decay.
12. Strangeness does not have to be 11. Demonstrate the conservation of strangeness
conserved in the weak interaction. in strong interactions.
12. Explain that strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.
Skills
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of hadrons, baryons, mesons.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how decay eq can be analysed I need further help with....
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of leptons.
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of strange particles.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.

Animated Science
2020
 Mr D Powell
2018
Animated Science
2018

2.1 The Particle Zoo (3.2.1.5) 1 hour

Learning Objectives... u

1. Explain how we can find new d

particles

2. States whether we can predict

new particles

3. Describe strange particles

d
Starter question...

one word, two silly

bulls......
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2020
Cosmic Rays – 1 proton? The proton starts off the
cosmic rays, but what is
the Kinetic energy of that
particle in Joules.

(Extension what is the

total energy of the
proton including rest
mass energy?)

Ans…
E = 1.6 x 10-4 J

NB: The “Aurore

Australe” are mostly
caused by electrons
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron 2020
Cosmic Radiation Breakdown (Extension)

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Discovery Timeline…

So interestingly the
electron was only
discovered really quite
recently…

1931 seemed to have a

real balloon of the
important things.

1950 kicked off the huge

expansion.

Now we seem to have

dried up a bit after 1997!

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The Big Picture - Lets review what all this means!

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 Properties of quarks
symbol relative charge baryon strangeness
mass proton = 1 number

++ ⅔
⅔ ++⅓
⅓
up uu
up 11 00

down
down dd 22 -- ⅓
⅓ ++⅓
⅓ 00
-1
-- ⅓
⅓ ++⅓
⅓
strange s 40
strange s 40 -1
charm c 600 +⅔ +⅓ 0
charm c 600 +⅔ +⅓ 0
top
top
t
t
90 000
90 000 ++ ⅔
⅔ +⅓
+ ⅓ 0
0

bottom
bottom bb 2000
2000 -- ⅓
⅓ ++ ⅓
⅓ 00

Antiquarks have the same mass but opposite

charge, baryon number and strangeness.
 The quark model of hadrons
BARYONS
Consist of three quarks: qqq

ANTIBARYONS
Consist of three antiquarks: qqq
MESONS
Consist of a quark-antiquark pair: qq

This is called the ‘Standard Model’.

Yukawa & the False Meson! Yukawa predicts
exchange particle
In 1934 Hideki Yukawa predicted the existence and the approximate
mass of a particle called the "meson" as the carrier of the strong
force that holds the atom together. Predicts Strong
Force
Yukawa called his carrier particle the meson, from mesos, the Greek
word for intermediate, because its predicted mass was between
that of the electron and that of the proton, which has about 1,836 Greater than e
times the mass of the electron. mass

Carl Anderson found the "mu meson" (or muon) in 1936 with other
decay products of cosmic ray interactions. The mu meson had Less proton mass
about the right mass to be Yukawa's carrier of the strong nuclear
force, but over the course of the next decade, it became evident
that it was not the right particle.
Mu meson?
It was eventually found that the mu meson did not participate in
the strong nuclear interaction at all, but rather behaved like a heavy
version of the electron, and is in fact a lepton rather than a meson.
Found out it was
They had found the muon! not but a muon
TASK: explain the sequence of events Animated Science
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Muons (Big Brother of the Electron!)
Elementary
The muon (mu μ is a fundamental particle similar to the electron,
(no quarks) with a -1.6 x 10-19C negative charge and mass 200x
that of the electron Rest Mass is (106MeV). (experiences the Charge -1.6
electromagnetic force via the photon (exchange particle & weak x10-19C
interaction so decays)

Together with the electron, the tau, (not needed for A2) and the Lepton
three neutrinos, it is classified as a lepton.

As is the case with other leptons, the muon is a fundamental

particle. Unstable

The muon is unstable with a mean lifetime of 2.2 µs. (Half Life)
Long life –
This comparatively long decay life time (the second longest Weak
known) mediated by the weak interaction.

Decays 3
particles
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Muon Decay – Weak!

All muons decay to three daughter particles

(an electron plus two neutrinos of different
types)

(Learn this diagram & decay)

TASK: Explain Muon decay

Logical Reasoning - Symmetrical
1) What particles are
• Charge is conserved bottom to top. involved?
• Muon converts to muon neutrino of same type (or 2) Draw a conservation
antiparticle version). grid.
• Electron & anti neutrino pair produced. (or 3) Why does this
reversed with e+ and ve) Cons Lepton Number.. happen? Animated Science
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Cloud Chamber Investigations…

Each image shows an interaction or decay fill in your

worksheet using the following slides…

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 p
n n
p

This is an alpha particle

breaking from the Pb210
nucleus. As it is 2p & 2n and is
charged +2 it is heavy and
causes a large ion trail.

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Wandering low energy muon is
scattered off air particles, thick
line, high ionisation

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 e - -

-

Track shows a possible muon

which hits an electron
knocking out the electron out
of an atom and both carry on
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 p
n n
p

Highly ionising Background

Alpha particle, travels slowly.

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High energy muon just passes
right through with thin line
(low ionisation)

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 e

e-


-

Track shows a possible muon

decay into two hidden neutrinos,
and an electron. Can also happen
with + you can tell if you apply a
magnetic field.
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Pions Hadron (quarks)
In particle physics, pion (short for pi u
meson) is the collective name for Meson (2 quark)
three subatomic particles: π0, π+ d
and π−.
-1/0/+1
Pions are the lightest mesons and Quarks
play an important role in explaining Lightest Meson
low-energy properties of the strong
nuclear force. - is Antiparticle
Anti- Rest mass
Particle Quark S Decays to
particle MeV/c2

Charged  +  μ+ + ν μ
Pion − + / 139.6 0
 -  μ- +
Neutral
Pion 0 0 ? 135.0 0 2γ

Pion decay via weak interaction On average, charged pions exist for around 26 nanoseconds; neutral pions last a tiny
Animated Science
fraction of this around 10-16s 2020
Kaons Hadron

In particle physics, a kaon also called K-meson is u

Charge/Uncharged
any one of a group of four mesons distinguished
by the fact that they carry a quantum number s
called strangeness. Meson

In the quark model they are understood to 2 quarks

contain a single strange quark (or antiquark). Strange

quark Strangeness +1 /-1
The K+ decay via the W+ boson (weak
interaction) is one where strangeness is not S not cons when decay
conserved.

Anti- Rest mass

Particle Quark S Decays to
particle MeV/c2

Charged +1 μ+ + ν μ
Kaon K+ K− 494 -1 or π+ + π0
Neutral
K0 d 498 +1
Kaon s -1
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Kaon Decay…
High Energy K+ Decay
The K+ decay via the W+ boson (weak
interaction) is one where strangeness is not
conserved. +
𝑜
+¿+  ¿
The charge Q is conserved and mass and +¿ →  ¿
𝐾
energy overall (due to size of Kaon 493MeV v
Pion 139MeV)

When the decay is higher energy different

products are produced to lower energy.
K+ / K- Low Energy Decay
You can see the rest mass is smaller on the
bottom interactions produced than before. +
There are two alternatives which are seen but
you can remember either one, as both would
+
be correct for most A-level questions.
+
Most important is to make sure that Lepton
and Charge are conserved. +
High Energy K+ Decay - Extension
+
The K+ decay via the W+ boson (weak
interaction) is one where strangeness is +¿ → 
𝑜
+¿+  ¿
¿
not conserved. 𝐾

The charge Q is conserved and mass

and energy overall (due to size of Kaon
493MeV v Pion 139MeV)

You just need to know the top formulae

Advanced Explanation (for fun)

Weak interactions: The strange antiquark (s) of the kaon transmutes into an
up antiquark (u) by the emission of a W+ boson;

the W+ boson subsequently decays into a down antiquark (d) and an up quark (u).

Strong interactions: An up quark ( u) emits a gluon (g) which decays into a down
quark (d) and a down antiquark (d). Animated Science
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Why are they Strange?
Strangeness was introduced by Murray Gell-Mann
and Kazuhiko Nishijima to explain the fact that
certain particles, such as the kaons were created
easily in particle collisions yet decayed much more s lost in weak interaction
slowly than expected for their large masses.
(around 10-8s compared to pions around 10-16s)

Noting the collisions, it was postulated that a new

conserved quantity, dubbed "strangeness", was
preserved during their creation, but not conserved
in their decay. For example…

“s” is conserved during the strong (collisions) and

the electromagnetic interactions, but not during
the weak interactions.

The weak interaction happen very fast in around

10-8s meaning that they cannot occur by strong or
EM interaction.
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Strangeness Check?

Kaon created easily in

collisions

Decay is slow (for

mass 10-8s)

Strangeness
Conserved on Creation

Conserved in strong &

EM

Not conserved in
decay (lost!)

Look at the interactions as shown, does the strangeness or anti strange quark
disappear?

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Meson summary diagram
K0 K+
(ds) (us)

π– π0 π+
(du) uu, dd (ud)

K– K0
(su) (sd)
Strange Particle are always created in pairs?

Strange particles are particles

that include a strange or anti-
strange quark

An example of these are kaons

Strange particles always:

• produced through
the strong interaction (gluon
exchange) and are produced
in quark-antiquark pairs (to
conserve strangeness)

• decay through
the weak interaction where hyperon
strangeness is not conserved

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More Strangeness…
So remember three key
facts…
Strange particles…
1. contain an 's' quark or
antiquark
2. have surprisingly long
lives (100,000 times
longer than expected!)
3. are produced in pairs
which suggests that they
have an additive
conserved quality.
Hyperon: is not very stable but has 3 quarks inc including strangeness
K0 K-,K+ are created by the strong interaction
(therefore strangeness is conserved) but decay
via the weak interaction (W- or W+)
They decay by a variety of mechanisms and
'strangeness' is not conserved when a weak
interaction occurs (eg. the S into an U means
that no strange quarks result when strange
particles decay)
The hyperon “lambda” o has uds and the Ko
means that the strangeness balances.
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Exam Practice Question… (2023)

The hyperon neutral “lambda” particle o is a bayron with a strangness of -1

One possible decay for the o is ….

Can you deduce the quark structure of a

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Exam Practice Question… (2023)
The hyperon neutral “lambda”
particle o is a bayron with a
strangness of -1
One possible decay for the o is ….
Define Quarks in what you know…
n -> udd
->
• The question gives you S = -1 so must
have an s quark and two others.

• The charge must balance out to zero.

Can you deduce the quark structure
of a
Q -> S = -1/3

So the two must combine to be +1/3

u = +2/3

D = -1/3

So uds
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Accelerators

NB: Synchrotron Radiation – bright light produced when electrons move in circles. Animated Science
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Animated Science
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Synchrotron

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Modern Detectors...
Modern detectors
consist of many
different pieces of
equipment which
test for different
aspects of an event.

These many
components are
arranged in such a
way that physicists
can obtain the most
data about the
particles spawned by
an event.

This is a schematic
design of a typical
modern detector.
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Modern Detectors 2 (extension)
The reason that detectors are divided into many components is that each component tests
for a special set of particle properties.

These components are stacked so that all particles will go through the different layers
sequentially. A particle will not be evident until it either interacts with the detector in a
measurable fashion, or decays into detectable particles.

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Extension Ideas on Muons….

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Review Activity for some of the Pions /Kaons / Muons

Q S Quarks MeV/c2 Drawing(s) Interaction(s) Misc?

+

−

0

K+

K0 No decay required for

AS

K−

-
 Answers
Complete:
name symbol quarks charge B S

proton
proton pp uud ++ 11 +1 0
0

neutron
neutron nn udd 00 ++ 11 0
0

pion
pion plus
π+ u
udd +1 0 0
plus
omega
Ω- sss --11 ++ 11 - -33
minus
neutral Λ0 uds 00 ++ 11 - -11
lambda
 2.2 The Particle Sorting (3.2.1.5) 2 hours I can.... (tick off)

1. Associate hadrons with the strong interaction.

Learning Objectives... Assessment Practice.... 2. Classify hadrons into baryons and mesons.
3. Differentiate between baryons and mesons in
1. Hadrons are subject to the strong • SAM 1 terms of baryon number and are able to
interaction. • PHYA May 2013 Q3(a) demonstrate baryon number conservation in
2. There are two classes of hadrons. • PHYA May 2014 Q1 interactions.
3. Baryon number and its conservation. • PHYA May 2012 Q3 4. Explain that the proton is the only stable
4. The proton as the only stable baryon. hadron and that all other baryons eventually
5. The pion as the exchange particle of the decay into protons.
strong nuclear force. ICT Links... 5. Identify the pion as the exchange particle of
6. The decay of kaons into pions. Leptons http://www.particleadventure. the strong nuclear force.
are affected by the weak interaction. org/quarks_leptons.html 6. Recognise and describe kaon decay.
7. Examples of leptons and their 7. Identify leptons and how they can interact
antiparticles. Stretch and Challenge... through the weak interaction.
8. Lepton number and its conservation. 8. Identify the lepton numbers of electrons,
9. The decay of muons into electrons. muons and neutrinos and demonstrate lepton
10. Strange particles and their production number conservation in examples of the
through the strong interaction and their What is the Higg’s boson and weak interaction.
decay through the weak interaction. why is it so important to the 9. Describe the decay of muons into electrons.
11. Strangeness and its conservation in standard model? 10. Identify strange particles and describe their
strong interactions. production and decay.
12. Strangeness does not have to be 11. Demonstrate the conservation of strangeness
conserved in the weak interaction. in strong interactions.
12. Explain that strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.
Skills
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of hadrons, baryons, mesons.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how decay eq can be analysed I need further help with....
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of leptons.
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of strange particles.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.

Animated Science
2020
 Mr D Powell
2018
Animated Science
2018

2.2 The Particle Sorting (3.2.1.5) 1 hour

Learning Objectives...

1. Identify different
classifications of
particles

2. Recognise Hadrons

3. Recognise Leptons

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2020
Hadrons
Meson
 Hadrons are unstable with the exception being
the proton the only stable Hadron.
q
 Hadrons are composed of smaller fundamental
q
particles called Quarks.

 Meson have 2 Quarks (q and anti q) and Baryons

Quarks
3. Hence mesons don’t decay to protons or
neutrons.
Baryon
 They all have masses much larger than that of
leptons. q

q q
 Some carry charge i.e. (p, Kˉ, K )
+

 Some have no charge i.e. (n, Ko) (due to quark

composition)
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Particle Model...

 Copy out this flow chart on A3 paper and add any information you can to the
bubbles explained why they are separated as such....

Leptons: fundamental
Particles e.g. electron,
neutrino Baryons: made up of
Three quarks

Hadrons: not
Particles fundamental,
made from quarks
Mesons: made up of
two
quarks
Gauge Bosons:
Fundamental particles,
Force carriers e.g.
photon

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Fundamental Forces

 The gauge bosons for electromagnetic forces and gravity are

without mass. These forces have infinite range.
 The gauge bosons for the strong and weak interactions have
mass. These forces are short range.
 The strong interaction only acts between hadrons (particles
made of quarks)
 The weak interaction acts on all particles.
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Particles & Properties

Weak decay

Weak decay

0 0
-1 +1
Weak decay
+1,0,-1 -1,0,+1

Weak decay
+1,0,-1 -1,0,+1

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Conservation of Energy

 Here is an example using a proton and antiproton collisions which have rest
energy of about 1GeV each.

 A number of other particles could be produced totalling 6Gev in total energy

in this case another proton and antiproton
Rest
Total Kinetic Energy
energy
Energy Of
of the
Before Products
products

6GeV 1GeV x 2 2Gev x 2

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Pair Production / Creation – Recap positron e+ electron e-

In which a high-energy photon produces a

particle and its antiparticle near the nucleus.
OR extremely rare two gamma rays produce
the pair.

This can only occur if the photon energy

E= hf ….. E = ……. 2mc2
Gamma ray  Gamma ray 
where m is the mass of the particle, with rest
energy mc2 for each particle of the pair positron e+
produced.
nucleus
More generally, particles are always created in
particle–antiparticle pairs. The masses of
particles and their antiparticles are identical. Gamma ray 

All other properties, such as charge, spin,

lepton or baryon number, are equal but electron e-
opposite in sign.
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Exam Question – Example – Copy and Complete
electron e-
A high-energy positron (Ek = 2.0 keV) collides with a 0.511MeV
stationary electron and produces two gamma rays.

1) Show the energy of each photon is 8.2 x 10-14J 0.511MeV

positron e+
2) Calculate the wavelength of the photon?

ET = 2keV + (2 x 511keV) = 1024keV

ET = 1024keV * 1.6 x 10-19

= 1.64 x 10-13J
2 x Gamma ray 
Energy of 1 photon = 1.64 x 10 J * 0.5
-13

= 8.19 x 10-14J

E= hf ….. E =

 = m

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Quick Questions…

 Give an example of each on your whiteboard?

Leptons
Baryons

Particles Hadrons

Mesons
Gauge
Boson
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2020
 2.3 Leptons at Work (3.2.1.5) 2 hours I can.... (tick off)

1. Associate hadrons with the strong interaction.

Learning Objectives... Assessment Practice.... 2. Classify hadrons into baryons and mesons.
3. Differentiate between baryons and mesons in
1. Hadrons are subject to the strong • SAM 1 terms of baryon number and are able to
interaction. • PHYA May 2013 Q3(a) demonstrate baryon number conservation in
2. There are two classes of hadrons. • PHYA May 2014 Q1 interactions.
3. Baryon number and its conservation. • PHYA May 2012 Q3 4. Explain that the proton is the only stable
4. The proton as the only stable baryon. hadron and that all other baryons eventually
5. The pion as the exchange particle of the decay into protons.
strong nuclear force. ICT Links... 5. Identify the pion as the exchange particle of
6. The decay of kaons into pions. Leptons http://www.particleadventure. the strong nuclear force.
are affected by the weak interaction. org/quarks_leptons.html 6. Recognise and describe kaon decay.
7. Examples of leptons and their 7. Identify leptons and how they can interact
antiparticles. Stretch and Challenge... through the weak interaction.
8. Lepton number and its conservation. 8. Identify the lepton numbers of electrons,
9. The decay of muons into electrons. muons and neutrinos and demonstrate lepton
10. Strange particles and their production number conservation in examples of the
through the strong interaction and their What is the Higg’s boson and weak interaction.
decay through the weak interaction. why is it so important to the 9. Describe the decay of muons into electrons.
11. Strangeness and its conservation in standard model? 10. Identify strange particles and describe their
strong interactions. production and decay.
12. Strangeness does not have to be 11. Demonstrate the conservation of strangeness
conserved in the weak interaction. in strong interactions.
12. Explain that strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.
Skills
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of hadrons, baryons, mesons.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how decay eq can be analysed I need further help with....
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of leptons.
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge of the classification of strange particles.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of how strangeness does not have to be
conserved in the weak interaction.

Animated Science
2020
 Mr D Powell
2018
Animated Science
2018

2.3 Leptons at Work (3.2.1.5) 1 hour

Learning Objectives...

1. Consider if leptons are elementary

2. Distinguish between different types of neutrinos

3. Evaluate the importance of lepton numbers

Leptons
Baryons
Give an example of
each on your
Particles Hadrons whiteboard

Mesons
Gauge
Boson Animated Science
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Leptons
 The Lepton family of particles consist of the electron, muon and the
neutrinos. They have a lepton number of +1 (antileptons are -1)
 If you are not a Lepton it is zero!
 They are fundamental particles, with no internal structure (i.e. Quarks)
 Therefore…do not interact via strong force
 Each of the charged leptons has an antiparticle with identical mass but
whose other properties are opposite.
 Each lepton has an associated neutrino, and antineutrino

Q (Charge) Mass (in terms of

Symbol
x10-19C electron)
Electron eˉ -1.6 1
Electron-
ve 0 ≈0
Neutrino
Muon ˉ -1.6 207
Muon-
v 0 0
Neutrino

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Neutrino
Neutrinos are elementary particles that travel close to the
speed of light, lack an electric charge, are able to pass
through ordinary matter almost undisturbed and are thus
extremely difficult to detect. Neutrinos have a minuscule,
but nonzero mass. They are usually denoted by the Greek
letter (nu) 

Created as a result of certain types of radioactive decay or

nuclear reactions such as those that take place in the Sun,
in nuclear reactors, or when cosmic rays hit atoms.

There are three types, or "flavours", of neutrinos: electron

neutrinos, muon neutrinos and tau neutrinos (not needed
for AQA; each type also has an antimatter partner, called
an antineutrino.

Are generated whenever neutrons change into protons or

vice versa, the two forms of beta decay. Interactions
involving neutrinos are generally mediated by the weak
force (rad decay) W- or W+ or Zo Animated Science
2020
Neutrino
Neutrino
Neutrinos are elementary particles that travel close to the
speed of light, lack an electric charge, are able to pass
through ordinary matter almost undisturbed and are thus Fundamental
extremely difficult to detect. Neutrinos have a minuscule,
but nonzero mass. They are usually denoted by the Greek
letter (nu)  No charge

Created as a result of certain types of radioactive decay or

nuclear reactions such as those that take place in the Sun, Created in Sun
or Collisions
in nuclear reactors, or when cosmic rays hit atoms.

There are three types, or "flavours", of neutrinos: electron Low cross

section
neutrinos, muon neutrinos and tau neutrinos (not needed
for AQA; each type also has an antimatter partner, called
an antineutrino. Produced in
Weak n->p

Are generated whenever neutrons change into protons or

vice versa, the two forms of beta decay. Interactions Three Flavours
involving neutrinos are generally mediated by the weak
force (rad decay) Animated Science
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Lepton Conservation
Lepton Number Particles
We use the terms Le
+1 Electrons, electron flavored neutrino
"electron number”
and L "muon -1 Positrons, antineutrino
number“ to refer to 0 All the rest!
the lepton family of a
particle.
-
Muon number
operates with is own
family in a similar way
to lepton number and
both are always
conserved when a
massive lepton decays
into smaller ones.
Exam Tip: You must draw this out like
this in any exam questions…

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Lepton Conservation can it happen?

An electron decays into a muon, a muon

antineutrino, and an electron neutrino;

Animated Science
2020
Lepton Conservation can it happen?
Le -> 1 = 0 + 0 + 1
An electron decays into a muon, a muon
antineutrino, and an electron neutrino;
L -> 0 = 1+(-1)+0

Q -> -1 = -1 + 0 + 0

No it cannot….

Although electron and muon numbers are both conserved, energy is

not conserved. (W- is exchange particle Weak)

A muon has a lot more rest energy than an electron, and a lepton
cannot decay into something more massive than it started out due to
conservation of energy!
Animated Science
2020
2.3 Conservation Exam Question
(a) Determine whether the following reaction is a possible decay
for the neutral pion (2 marks)

Animated Science
2020
2.3 Conservation Exam Question
(a) Determine whether the following reaction is a possible decay
for the neutral pion (2 marks)

Answer…
Lepton number not conserved therefore not possible ✔
Lepton numbers for particles correct (see below) ✔
0 = 1 −1 −1 (for lepton number overall)
or 0 = 0 −1 +0 (for muon lepton number)
Any incorrect quantum number equation (for Q, B or S) loses MP2.

Bonus mark…
reference to missing muon neutrino in order to balance/conserve
(muon) lepton number. ✔
2
Animated Science
2020
 2.4/2.5 Quarks, Anti/ Cons Rules (3.2.1.6/7) 2 hours I can.... (tick off)

1. Recognise charge, baryon

Learning Objectives...
1. Properties of quarks and
antiquarks.
2. Combinations of quarks and
antiquarks required for
baryons, antibaryons and
mesons.
3. Change of quark nature in -
and + decay.
4. Application of conservation
laws for charge, baryon
number, lepton number and
strangeness for particle
interactions.
5. Conservation of energy and
momentum in interactions.
Skills
AO1: Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of quark and antiquark properties.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of quark properties to deduce quark structures.
Assessment Practice....
number and strangeness
PHYA May 2014 Q1
as properties of quarks
PHYA May 2012 Q1(a)
and antiquarks.
PHYA Jan 2013 Q3(a)
2. Analyse the quark
structure of protons,
PHYA1 May 2014 Q1(c)
neutrons, antiprotons,
PHYA1 May 2012 Q1(b)
antineutrons, pions and
kaons.
ICT Links... 3. Identify the change in
1. http://sciencepark.etacude.com/particle/introduct quark character in - and
ion.php
2. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particl + decay.
es/quark.html 4. Apply the conservation
3. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particl laws
es/meson.html
5. for charge, baryon
4. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particl
es/parint.html number, lepton number
and strangeness for
particle interactions.
Stretch and Challenge... 6. Recall that momentum
Explain  and  using Feynman diagrams
+ -
and energy are conserved
in interactions.
I need further help with....

AO1: Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of beta plus and beta minus decay. Animated Science
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of conservation laws to analyse decay equations. 2020
 Mr D Powell
2018
Animated Science
2018

2.4 Quarks and Antiquarks (3.2.1.6/7) 1 hour

Learning Objectives...

1. Define Strange Particles.

2. Explain how we know
strange particles exist.
3. Know the properties of
quarks and antiquarks.
4. Know combinations of
quarks and antiquarks
required for baryons,
antibaryons and mesons.
5. Change of quark nature in
- and + decay.

Name the Quark?

Animated Science
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Quarks....

Animated Science
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Scale of Quarks

While an atom is tiny, the nucleus is

ten thousand times smaller than the
atom and the quarks and electrons
are at least ten thousand times
smaller than that.

We don't know exactly how small

quarks and electrons are; they are
definitely smaller than 10-18 meters,
and they might literally be points, but
we do not know.

Animated Science
2020
Quarks close up...

There are six quarks, but physicists usually talk

about them in terms of three pairs: up/down,
charm/strange, and top/bottom.

(Also, for each of these quarks, there is a

corresponding antiquark.)

Quarks have the unusual characteristic of having a

fractional electric charge, unlike the proton and
electron, which have integer charges of +1 and -1
respectively.

Quarks also carry another type of charge called

color charge. (Not required)

The most elusive quark, the top quark, was

discovered in 1995 after its existence had been
theorised for 20 years.

Animated Science
2020
Naming of Quarks..
There are six flavours of quarks. "Flavours" just means
different kinds. The two lightest are called up and
down.

The third quark is called strange. It was named after

the "strangely" long lifetime of the K particle, the first
composite particle found to contain this quark.

The fourth quark type, the charm quark, was named

on a whim. It was discovered in 1974 almost
simultaneously at both the Stanford Linear
Accelerator Centre (SLAC) and at Brookhaven National
Laboratory.

The bottom quark was first discovered at Fermi

National Lab (Fermilab) in 1977, in a composite
particle called Upsilon.

The top quark was discovered last, also at Fermilab, in

1995. It is the most massive quark. It had been
predicted for a long time but had never been
observed successfully until then. Animated Science
2020
Four main quark configurations

The Proton The Pion (π+)

u u
Made up of two ‘up’ Made up of an ‘up’
quarks and a ‘down’ quark and an ’anti-
u d d
quark. down’ quark.

The Neutron
The Kaon (K+)
u Made up of 2 u
d Made up of an ‘up’
‘down’ quarks and
quark and an ‘anti-
an ‘up’ quark. s
d strange’ quark.

Animated Science
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Strangeness...

NB: Strangeness is always conserved in a strong interaction – when things hit

each other so at the start in this case, nothing and at the end still nothing!
Animated Science
2020
Strangeness... Quark
Particle Strangeness
Config
Can you check using the strangeness numbers if
these reactions are correctly listed, go through each Σ+
particle in term and work it out. Σ0
Σ−

Key Tip…
Strangeness is conserved
in strong but not weak…

Animated Science
2020
Strangeness... Quark
Particle Strangeness
Config
Can you check using the strangeness numbers if
these reactions are correctly listed, go through each Σ+ uus -1
particle in term and work it out. Σ0 uds -1
Σ− dds -1

Answer….
1. 0 + 0 = +1 -1
2. 0 + 0 = +1 + -1
3. 0 + 0 = +1 + -1 Note how a K meson and Sigma will balance out
4. 0 + 0 =-1 + -1 strangeness! (they are produced in a pair)

Key Tip…
Strangeness is conserved
in strong but not weak…

Animated Science
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Beta Decay – Reminder!

 So now we have looked at quarks

depth you will appreciate what is
happening in reality during both forms
of beta decay

 In this case a neutron turns into a

proton as a quark has a change of
flavour.

 The exchange particle is a W- boson

and results in an electron antineutrino
and electron.

 Beta plus decay is the total opposite in

every way!

Animated Science
2020
2.4 Exam Question

Protons and pions are produced in a beam from a target in an

accelerator. The two types of particles can be separated using a
magnetic field.

(a) State the quark composition of

(i) a proton,

(ii) a positive pion, π+

(2)

Animated Science
2020
2.4 Exam Question

Answer…
Protons and pions are produced in a beam from
a target in an accelerator. The two types of
particles can be separated using a magnetic field. i) uud

(a) State the quark composition of

(i) a proton,

(ii) a positive pion, π+

(2)

Animated Science
2020
 Mr D Powell
2018
Animated Science
2018

2.5 Conservation Rules (3.2.1.6/7) 1 hour

Learning Objectives... What is missing from
the meson wheel...
1. State and apply the
conservation laws for charge, 6
1
baryon number, lepton
number and strangeness for
particle interactions..

2. Clearly explain what is and

4 2 3
what is not conserved

5
Animated Science
2020
Conservation Rules Summary.....
The laws that are described on this page determine whether any particle interaction can
take place, as for them to do so each of the relevant characteristics of the fundamental
particles must be conserved.
Conservation of Charge
Any particle interaction must conserve charge (values for the various quarks have been
outlined on a previous slide)
Conservation of Baryon Number
This must also be conserved with interactions between Baryons (as anything that is not a
Baryon has a Baryon Number =0. All Baryons have a B Number=1 and all Anti-baryons
have a B Number=-1).
Conservation of Strangeness
Any Hadron that is made up a Strange quark has a Strangeness = -1. Any made up an
Anti-strange quark has S=1. Therefore anything that is not a Hadron has a S=0.
The Lepton Number
There are however two types of Lepton Number each associated with the Electron and
Muon. Any Electron or Electron-neutrino has an Le Number =1 with their anti-particles
having -1. This pattern also continues with the Lepton-muon number (L µ) and the Lepton-
tau number (Lt). (tau not required at AS)
Animated Science
2020
Conservation Laws...

 Copy out this flow chart on A4 paper and add any information you can to the
picture to explain if this can happen according to conservation laws...

Animated Science
2020
Conservation of Q/ B/ S

Rest mass
Name Symbol Q B S
GeV/C2

K minus Kˉ 0.4937 -1 0 -1
K plus K+ 0.4937 +1 0 +1
K zero Kº 0.4977 0 0 +1
K zero bar ¯
𝐾 𝑜 0.4977 0 0 -1
Neutron n 0.9396 0 +1 0
Proton p 0.9383 +1 +1 0
 minus ˉ 0.1396 -1 0 0
 plus + 0.1396 +1 0 0
Animated Science
2020
Sigma particles

These are all baryons (B= +1) with a strangeness, S of -1.

sigma-plus Σ +
charge = + 1 (equals proton charge)

sigma-zero Σ0
charge = 0

sigma-minus Σ –
charge = - 1
(Note: This is NOT the antiparticle of Σ +)

Like all baryons they eventually decay into protons for example: Σ – → n + π - , after
which the neutron decays into a proton

Animated Science
2020
Conservation of strangeness

Strangeness is always Strangeness

conserved in all strong conserved:
interactions (no
leptons involved).
S: 0 + 0 → -1 + 1
Strangeness is not
always conserved in
weak interactions.

Animated Science
2020
Can the following interactions occur ?

π -+ n → K - + Σ 0

YES: baryon numbers are: 0 + 1 → 1 + 0

AND strangeness numbers are: 0 + 0 → -1 + 1
NO: baryon numbers are: 0 + 1 ≠ 0 + 0
strangeness numbers are: 0 + 0 ≠ -1 + 0
NO: baryon numbers are: 0 + 1 → 0 + 1
BUT strangeness numbers are: 0 + 0 ≠ -1 + (-1)
Animated Science
2020
Further interactions to check
YES

NO – Charge is not
conserved (neither
is strangeness)

YES

e- + e + → p + p + v e + v e

Animated Science
2020
 Strong or weak interaction ?
Do any of the following occur ? NO STRONG
1) leptons involved INTERACTION
2) total strangeness changes e.g.: p + p → π + + π -

3) quarks change type when a proton undergoes

annihilation with an
4) W+ or W- exchange particle antiproton to produce two
pions

YES
WEAK INTERACTION
Example: Beta decay: n → p + e - + νe

Also remember kaons are created by Strong and decay by Weak

 Exam
Questions

Animated Science
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Animated Science
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Quick Questions…

 Give an example of each on your whiteboard?

Leptons
Baryons

Particles Hadrons

Mesons
Gauge
Boson
Animated Science
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Exam Question 1

A) i) Strong interaction (i.e. Particle collision

ii) Weak
iii) Weak (See p26 for example)

Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 1

B) the idea is that all hadrons are made up of 3 quarks which can never be
isolated. They each contribute charge and mass to the hadron. Each quark
also has an antiquark with opposite charge and bayron number. u = up Q
= 2/3, d = down Q = 1/3, s = strange Q = -1/3.

ii) If we look at uds, their are only 4 combinations of quark pairs;

Pi + = u + anit(d) = 2/3 + 1/3 = +1
Pi - = d + anit(u) = -1/3 + (-2/3) = – 1
K(-) = s + anti(u) = -1/3 + (-2/3) = -1
K(+) = u anti(s) = 2/3 + 1/3 = +1
Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 2

Animated Science
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Exam Question 3

Animated Science
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Exam Question 4

The Neutron
u Made up of 2
d
‘down’ quarks and
an ‘up’ quark.
d

b) Hadron or baryon

Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 5

i) Meson
ii) Anti u = -2/3 d = -1/3 so total is -1 pi(minus)
iii) B = 0 (as it is a meson, u = -B/3 d = +B/3
b)
B -> 0=0+0

L -> 0 = -1 + 1

Q -> +1 = +1 + 0

NB Muon number is not as you are missing the anti muon neutrino product
Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 6

3 Quarks

Weak (nuclear)

Proton, as all baryons eventually decay into protons.

Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 7

Animated Science
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Exam Question 8

 The pi (minus) consists of;

 a single d quark (Q = -1/3)

 a single anti u quark (Q = -2/3)

 Total charge is thus -1

 Obviously it is made of only 2 quarks

as it is a meson

Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 9

a) anti electron neutrino

b) Show that obeys additive laws...

c) 2 x 938Mev -> 4 x 938 Mev

Each initial proton collided must have at least 938MeV of kinetic energy alone to
make the reaction proceed. Otherwise their is not enough energy to form the
3 protons and antiprotons. So in total there must be 1876MeV of KE shared
between both protons. Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 10

Animated Science
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Ans Q10

Baryon & antibaryon (hadrons for 1 mark)

neutron

Animated Science
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Ans Q10

Animated Science
2020
Exam Question 11

baryon number 0+1=1+0

lepton number 0+0=0+0
charge 0 + 1 = 0 +1

Animated Science
2020
 Questions
1. Write an equation for beta-plus decay:
p → n + e+ + v e
2. Write an equation for μ+ decay:
μ+ → e+ + ve + vμ
3. Can the interaction shown below occur?

Yes, lepton numbers: +1 +0 = 0 +1

and it also conserves electron lepton type number