KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH EDUCATION (ESP)

COURSE UNIT: ELEMENTARY PARTICLES

COURSE CODE: SPH 1204

YEAR: ONE

SEMESTER: TWO

LECTURER: DR. EGESA DENIS

KIKAZI DEVINA DOROTHY 24/U/ESP/16851/PD

AKIRU JENIFFER PRISCILLA 24/U/ESP/17451/PD

AKANDWANAHO JOHNBAPTIST 24/U/ESP/013/GV

NAMAGEMBE ANNIE GRACE 24/U/ESP/16925/PD

(a) (i) State Pauli exclusive principle. [I mark]

(ii) What are bosons? [2 marks]

(iii) Describe the nature of gauge bosons. [3 marks]

(b) According to the standard model of the fundamental particles, discuss the similarities and differences between quarks and leptons.
[4 marks]

(c) Examine the characteristics of mesons. (4 marks]

(d) Explore the differences and similarities between Hyperons and nucleons and give examples in each case. [ 06 marks]

QUESTION TWO

(a)Two protons of mass 5.07 GeV-1 are separated by a distance of lxI0-15m. Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the particle,
given that Newton's gravitational constant is 6.67x l 0-11 m3kg-1s-2 [4 marks]
(b)(i) What energy is released when a negative pion at rest decays to a stable product. [2 marks]

(ii) The measured energy of the ϕ meson is 4.4 MeV, and its mass is 1019.4 MeV/c2 . Estimate the life time of the ϕ meson using
uncertainty principle. [5 marks]

(iii)Calculate the kinetic energy for the reaction K- + p ➔ /\0 + K+ + K-, if, K- beam is incident on a stationary proton target. [5mrks]
 2
f
(c)Show that the nuclear force coupling constant is dimensionless. [4 marks]
ḣc

No 1

(i)

Paul exclusion principle

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two identical fermions (particles with half-integer spin) in a quantum mechanical system
can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. In simpler terms, no two electrons in an atom can have the same four quantum
numbers.

The principle applies to fermions, which include particles like electrons, protons, and neutrons, that have a spin of 1/2, 3/2, etc.
Quantum states are specific energy levels or configurations that a particle can occupy.

(ii)

A boson is a subatomic particle whose spin quantum number has an integer value (0, 1, 2, ...). Bosons form one of the two
fundamental classes of subatomic particle. Certain elementary bosons e.g. gluons act as force carriers, which give rise to forces
between other particles, while the Higgs boson contributes to the phenomenon of mass. Other bosons, such as mesons, are composite
particles made up of smaller constituents.

(iii)
Gauge bosons are elementary particles that act as force carriers in particle physics, mediating interactions between other elementary
particles, such as quarks and leptons. They are bosons with a spin of 1. They include gluons, photons, W and Z particles which
mediate the strong, electromagnetic and weak interactions respectively.

Gluons

Gluons interact with quarks and other gluons through the strong nuclear force. Their interactions are described by the theory of
quantum chromo dynamics.

Gluons are distinguished by their color charge for example red gluons g(r), green gluons g(g), blue gluons g(b), anti-red gluon, anti-
red green and others.

Properties of gluons

 They are massless particles

Photons

These are fundamental particles that represent a quantum of light or electromagnetic radiation. Photons mediate
electromagnetic force and interact with matter through various processes such as absorption, reflection and scattering.

Properties of photons
  They are massless
 They have zero electric charge
 They have energy dependent on their frequency
 They have momentum which is dependent on their wave length
 They have a spin of 1

Application of photons

1. They are used in optics to describe the behavior of light and their interactions with matter.
2. Used to examine the different forms of electromagnetic radiations

They are used in quantum computing and quantum process.

W and Z particles

The W and Z bosons are elementary particles, specifically gauge bosons, that mediate the weak nuclear force. They have a spin of 1

Properties of W and Z

1. W-particle

 These are of two types, w+ and w- which are anti particles to each other.
 They have a mass of 80.46GeV/C².
 They have of +1 and -1 respectively

2. Z particles

 It is a neutral particle with zero charge

Significance of the W and Z particle

The discovery of the W and Z particles confirmed the existence of the weak nuclear force and completed the standard mode of
particle Physics. The W and Z particle have since been studied extensively in high energy particle collisions, providing valuable
insights into the fundamental laws of Physics.

Decay modes.

The W and Z particles are unstable and decay into other particles.

The W particle decays into a lepton such as an electron or muon and a neutrino.

The Z particle decays into a pair of leptons or a pair of quarks.

No.1 (b)

Quarks are tiny, fundamental particles that make up protons, neutrons, and other particles like hyperons. They are one of the basic
building blocks of matter in the universe.

Leptons are a type of fundamental particle, just like quarks but they do not experience the strong nuclear force.
Similarities between quarks and leptons.

 Both quarks and leptons are considered fundamental, meaning they are not made up of smaller components.

 Both belong to the class of particles called fermions, which obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle and have half-integer spin.

 Both quarks and leptons interact via the weak nuclear force and the gravitational force. Charged leptons and quarks also
interact electromagnetically.

Differences between quarks and leptons.

Quarks Leptons

Have fractional charges Have integral charges

Have color charge Have no color charge

Participate in the strong nuclear force Do not participate in the strong nuclear force

They are generally heavy in mass ( except up and down) They vary in mass

No.1 (c)

A meson is a type of hadronic subatomic particle composed of an equal number of quarks and antiquarks, usually one of each, bound
together by the strong interaction. Unlike baryons, which are made of three quarks, mesons are formed from a quark and an antiquark.
Examples of Mesons:

Pions (π): The lightest mesons, they come in three varieties: π+, π-, and π0 (neutral).

Kaons (K): These mesons contain one ordinary quark (up or down) and one strange quark.

Eta Meson (η): Another example of a meson.

Other Mesons: The J/psi particle, the upsilon meson, and the rho meson are also examples of mesons.

Unstable Nature:

Mesons are unstable and decay into other particles, they decay to other mesons or leptons through the strong, electromagnetic or weak
interactions. Mesons can be produced in collisions of other particles, such as protons, antiprotons, or other hadrons

Importance in Particle Physics:

Mesons play a crucial role in the study of particle physics, as they are mediators of the strong nuclear force and help us understand the
properties and interactions of quarks.

Characteristics of mesons

1.They are composed of a quark and an antiquark.

2.They belong to the hadron family nut are not baryons.

3.Have integer spin, usually 0 or 1, making them bosons.

5. They are unstable particles implying that they decay quickly into other particles.

6.They have mass.

7.Produced in high-energy collisions, such as those in cosmic rays or particle accelerators.

8.Some mesons carry electric charge (like π⁺), while others are neutral (like π⁰).

No.1 (d)

Nucleons are the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom. There are two types of nucleons: Protons and neutrons.

Hyperons are a type of baryon which contain at least one strange quark.

Similarities

 Both are baryons. They are made of three quarks and have baryon number 1. E.g. lambda (/\0=uds), Sigma (Σ⁺ =uus).
 Both interact through the strong force. E.g. lambda (/\0=uds).
 Both belong to the class of particles called fermions, which obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle and have half-integer spin. E.g.
lambda (/\0=uds).

Differences
Nucleons Hyperons

Made up of up and down quarks e.g. protons(uud) and neutron(udd) Contain at least one strange quark e.g. lambda( /\0=uds)

They are lighter in mass e.g. mass of a proton =938MeV Heavier in mass e.g. mass of lambda =1116MeV

They are stable They are unstable e.g. lambda decays into a proton and a pion

Found in atomic nuclei Found outside the atomic nuclei

No strangeness since they have no strange quark. e.g. neutron (udd) Have strangeness e.g. sigma (uus) has strangeness of 1

No.2 (a)

m = 5.07GeV

r = 1×1015m

G = 6.67×1011m3kg1s2

From 1 GeV = 1×109 ev

Also 1ev = 1.602×1019 J

1GeV = (1×109×1.602×1019 ) J

=1.602×1010J
5.07 GeV=(5.07×1.602×1010)J

E=8.122×1010J

E= mc2

E
m ¿ 2
c