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AQA A-Level Physics - Matter and Radiation

Terms in this set (38)

Proton
A sub-atomic particle with the following features:
- Charge of +1.60 x 10^-19 C
- Mass of 1.67 x 10^-27 kg
Neutron
A sub-atomic particle with the following features:
- Charge of 0 C
- Mass of 1.67 x 10^-27 kg
Electron
A sub-atomic particle with the following features:
- Charge of -1.60 x 10^-19 C
- Mass of 9.11 x 10^-31 kg
Nucleons
A grouped term for the neutrons and protons within the nucleus. Also the top number of a chemical element
Isotope
Atoms with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons within the nucleus
Specific Charge
The charge to mass ratio of a particle.
(1.6 x 10^-19) x (number of protons) / (1.67 x 10^-27) x (number of nucleons)
Strong Nuclear Force
A force that holds together the nucleus. Has a range of 0.5 - 3/4 femtometres (1fm = 1.0 x 10^-15)
When sub-atomic particles get to around 0.5fm from one another, there is a strong amount of repulsion, but when these particles get 3/4fm from another there is a strong force of attraction
Radioactive Decay
A naturally occurring process in which the nucleus will become unstable and emit subatomic particles to become more stable
Alpha Decay
A type of decay which releases a helium from the nucleus, this changes the element present
Beta Decay
A type of decay which releases an electron or positron in order to become stable, then releases a neutrino or anti-neutrino to balance lepton number
Beta+ Decay
A type of decay which releases a positron and a neutrino, this is because a proton in the nucleus is converting into a neutron, this changes the element present but not nucleon number
Beta- Decay
A type of decay which releases an electron and an anti-neutrino, this is because a neutron in the nucleus in converting into a proton, this changes the element present but not nucleon number
Gamma Decay
A type of decay which releases a photon, this has no mass and no charge, it is emitted from a nucleus with too much charge. This follows alpha or beta decay and the symbol is represented by γ
Electromagnetic Wave
An electric wave and a magnetic wave that travel together and vibrate at right angles to one another and in phase with one another
Radio
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: >0.1m
Microwave
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: 0.1m to 1mm
Infrared
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: 1mm to 700nm
Visible Light
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: 700nm to 400nm
Ultraviolet
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: 400nm to 1nm
X-Rays
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: 10nm to 0.001nm
Gamma Rays
A type of electromagnetic wave with a range of: <1nm
Laser
A light that consists of photons of the same frequency, a monochromatic coherent light source
Annihilation
A process where a particle and its corresponding antiparticle collide at the correct orientation. This collision allows these to be converted into photons which travel in opposite directions to one another (to conserve momentum)
Pair Production
A process where a photon which has the minimum energy to produce a particle and its corresponding antiparticle converts its energy into said matter, then any remaining energy is converted into kinetic energy for the matter
Electron Volt
A type of energy which is equal to 1.60 x 10^-19
Exchange Particles
Virtual photons which allow for the interaction of particles to produce different types of matter, a carrier of the electromagnetic force
Feynmann Diagram
An image which displays the interaction of matter. Each line represents one part of matter and as you continue up the diagram, time goes on
Weak Nuclear Force
The force responsible for beta decay as it allows for the conversion of matter into more stable products
W Bosons
A type of exchange particle that:
- Has a non-zero rest mass
- Has a very short range of no more than 0.001fm
- Can be positively or negatively charged
Photons
A type of exchange particle that:
- Has a zero rest mass
- Packet of electromagnetic waves
W-
The boson that decays into a beta- and an anti-neutrino
W+
The boson that decays into a beta+ and a neutrino
Electron Capture
The process where a proton rich nucleus converts a proton into a neutron by interacting with an electron on the innermost electron shell of the atom. This process can also occur when a proton and electron collide at a very high speed, usually involves the W+ boson
Force Carriers
Particles that are exchanged when the electromagnetic force and the weak nuclear force act respectively
Graviton
The force carrier of gravity
Z0
The force carrier of the wear nuclear force other than W bosons
Photon
The force carrier of the electromagnetic force
Gluon
The force carrier of the strong nuclear force
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