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Particle Physics

Edexcel A-level PhysicsTopic 6 of 1319 lessons

Revision notes for Particle Physics in Edexcel Physics (9PH0). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.

  1. Alpha Particle Scattering and the Nuclear ModelIn 1909, Geiger and Marsden, working with Rutherford, fired a narrow beam of alpha particles at a very thin gold foil.
  2. Particle AcceleratorsParticle accelerators give charged particles very high energies.
  3. The Linear AcceleratorA linear accelerator (linac) accelerates charged particles in a straight line.
  4. The CyclotronA cyclotron is a circular accelerator.
  5. Particle DetectorsParticle detectors reveal particles that are far too small to see.
  6. Tracks in a Magnetic FieldA charged particle moving at right angles to a uniform magnetic field experiences a force F = BQv This force is always perpendicular to the…
  7. Relativistic Energies and GeVParticle energies are usually given in electronvolts.
  8. Mass in MeV/c2Mass and energy are equivalent, linked by ΔE = c2Δm so a mass can be written as an energy divided by c2.
  9. Particles and AntiparticlesEvery particle has a corresponding antiparticle.
  10. Pair ProductionIn pair production, a high-energy photon is converted into a particle and its antiparticle.
  11. AnnihilationWhen a particle meets its antiparticle, they annihilate: their mass is converted completely into energy, usually in the form of photons.
  12. The Standard ModelThe Standard Model is the current theory of the fundamental particles and the forces between them.
  13. QuarksQuarks are fundamental particles that make up hadrons.
  14. LeptonsLeptons are fundamental particles that do not feel the strong force.
  15. Baryons and MesonsHadrons are particles made of quarks.
  16. Quark Composition of HadronsHadrons are particles made of quarks, held together by the strong force.
  17. Conservation Laws in Particle InteractionsParticle interactions (collisions, decays and annihilations) must obey a set of conservation laws.
  18. Charge, Baryon Number and Lepton NumberTo apply the conservation laws you need three numbers for every particle.
  19. Particle Interaction QuestionsExam questions usually give an interaction and ask whether it is possible, or ask you to identify a missing particle.

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