Particle Physics
Table of Content
Terminology + Key Information.............................................................................................................. 1
Subatomic Particles..................................................................................................................................... 2
Types of Decay................................................................................................................................................ 3
Fundamental Particle................................................................................................................................... 4
Terminology + Key Information
Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment [Rutherford]:
, + Alpha particles fired at gold foil atoms
+ This resulted in several conclusions about atoms:
→ Atoms are mostly empty space as the alpha particles went straight through the
gold foil atoms
→ The nucleus of an atom is positive because there were some alpha particles
that were deflected [small angles that are less than 10 degrees]
→ The atom has a very small nucleus as only a few particles were deflected
backwards [greater than 90 degrees]
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons (atomic
number) but different numbers of neutrons (nucleon number)
Fundamental Particle: Subatomic particle that is not composed of any other
particle
Hadrons: Made of Quarks
→ Baryons = 3 Quarks
→ Mesons = 1 Quark and 1 Anti-Quark
Nucleon Number: Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Proton Number: Total number of protons in the nucleus
Subatomic Particles
Neutrons Protons Electrons
Relative Mass = 1 Relative Mass = 1 Relative Mass = Negligible
Relative Charge = 0 Relative Charge = +1 Relative Charge = -1
Atomic Mass = 1u Atomic Mass = 1u Elementary Charge
→ 1.66 ×10−27 kg → 1.66 ×10−27 kg = 1e−¿¿
→ −1.6 ×10−19 C
Baryon = 2 Down Quarks Elementary Charge
and 1 Up Quark = 1e +¿¿ Fundamental Particle -
→ +1.6 ×10−19 C Flavour of the Lepton
family
Baryon = 2 Up Quarks and
Table of Content
Terminology + Key Information.............................................................................................................. 1
Subatomic Particles..................................................................................................................................... 2
Types of Decay................................................................................................................................................ 3
Fundamental Particle................................................................................................................................... 4
Terminology + Key Information
Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment [Rutherford]:
, + Alpha particles fired at gold foil atoms
+ This resulted in several conclusions about atoms:
→ Atoms are mostly empty space as the alpha particles went straight through the
gold foil atoms
→ The nucleus of an atom is positive because there were some alpha particles
that were deflected [small angles that are less than 10 degrees]
→ The atom has a very small nucleus as only a few particles were deflected
backwards [greater than 90 degrees]
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons (atomic
number) but different numbers of neutrons (nucleon number)
Fundamental Particle: Subatomic particle that is not composed of any other
particle
Hadrons: Made of Quarks
→ Baryons = 3 Quarks
→ Mesons = 1 Quark and 1 Anti-Quark
Nucleon Number: Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Proton Number: Total number of protons in the nucleus
Subatomic Particles
Neutrons Protons Electrons
Relative Mass = 1 Relative Mass = 1 Relative Mass = Negligible
Relative Charge = 0 Relative Charge = +1 Relative Charge = -1
Atomic Mass = 1u Atomic Mass = 1u Elementary Charge
→ 1.66 ×10−27 kg → 1.66 ×10−27 kg = 1e−¿¿
→ −1.6 ×10−19 C
Baryon = 2 Down Quarks Elementary Charge
and 1 Up Quark = 1e +¿¿ Fundamental Particle -
→ +1.6 ×10−19 C Flavour of the Lepton
family
Baryon = 2 Up Quarks and
