Subatomic Particles - AP Physics 2

To answer this question, we'll need to consult the periodic table. From the table, we know that magnesium's atomic number (the number of protons it contains in its nucleus) is 12, and sodium's is 11. We also need to realize that the mass number for each (the number of protons plus neutrons contained in the nucleus) is the same. Since the mass numbers are the same but the atomic numbers differ by one, then we can infer that a neutron is undergoing a decay into a proton and a so called positron, . The overall reaction is as follows:

Furthermore, it cannot be alpha decay, because in this process an alpha nucleus is released and the reactant's mass number and atomic number would both change. It also cannot be gamma decay, because in this process there is no change in atomic or mass numbers. Finally, it cannot be electron capture because in this process, an electron combines with a proton to generate a neutron. Thus, the mass number would not change, but the atomic number would increase by one. But in the question stem, we know the atomic number is decreasing by one rather than increasing.

Neutrons and gluons both have no charge at all, so they can be ignored. The proton and the antiproton have the same mass but opposite charges, and so have the same ration of charge:mass. However, the electron has equal charge to both the proton and the antiproton, and has a ridiculously small mass comparatively. The mass of a proton/antiproton is , while the mass of an electron is , almost 2000 times as small as a proton. Therefore, the charge:mass ratio of the electron is the smallest of the fundamental particles listed.

The correct answer is quarks. Quarks usually have charges of or . They are usually bound with other quark particles and could be mixed to form hadrons. Tau is part of the leptons family and has a charge of . Graviton does not have a charge, and is a hypothetical particle. The tachyon is a hypothetical particle assumed to be faster than light. Hadrons are strong composite particles that are composed of quarks and will result to a net integer charge.

To answer this question, we'll need to consult the periodic table. From the table, we know that magnesium's atomic number (the number of protons it contains in its nucleus) is 12, and sodium's is 11. We also need to realize that the mass number for each (the number of protons plus neutrons contained in the nucleus) is the same. Since the mass numbers are the same but the atomic numbers differ by one, then we can infer that a neutron is undergoing a decay into a proton and a so called positron, . The overall reaction is as follows:

Furthermore, it cannot be alpha decay, because in this process an alpha nucleus is released and the reactant's mass number and atomic number would both change. It also cannot be gamma decay, because in this process there is no change in atomic or mass numbers. Finally, it cannot be electron capture because in this process, an electron combines with a proton to generate a neutron. Thus, the mass number would not change, but the atomic number would increase by one. But in the question stem, we know the atomic number is decreasing by one rather than increasing.

Neutrons and gluons both have no charge at all, so they can be ignored. The proton and the antiproton have the same mass but opposite charges, and so have the same ration of charge:mass. However, the electron has equal charge to both the proton and the antiproton, and has a ridiculously small mass comparatively. The mass of a proton/antiproton is , while the mass of an electron is , almost 2000 times as small as a proton. Therefore, the charge:mass ratio of the electron is the smallest of the fundamental particles listed.

The correct answer is quarks. Quarks usually have charges of or . They are usually bound with other quark particles and could be mixed to form hadrons. Tau is part of the leptons family and has a charge of . Graviton does not have a charge, and is a hypothetical particle. The tachyon is a hypothetical particle assumed to be faster than light. Hadrons are strong composite particles that are composed of quarks and will result to a net integer charge.

To answer this question, we'll need to consult the periodic table. From the table, we know that magnesium's atomic number (the number of protons it contains in its nucleus) is 12, and sodium's is 11. We also need to realize that the mass number for each (the number of protons plus neutrons contained in the nucleus) is the same. Since the mass numbers are the same but the atomic numbers differ by one, then we can infer that a neutron is undergoing a decay into a proton and a so called positron, . The overall reaction is as follows:

Furthermore, it cannot be alpha decay, because in this process an alpha nucleus is released and the reactant's mass number and atomic number would both change. It also cannot be gamma decay, because in this process there is no change in atomic or mass numbers. Finally, it cannot be electron capture because in this process, an electron combines with a proton to generate a neutron. Thus, the mass number would not change, but the atomic number would increase by one. But in the question stem, we know the atomic number is decreasing by one rather than increasing.

Neutrons and gluons both have no charge at all, so they can be ignored. The proton and the antiproton have the same mass but opposite charges, and so have the same ration of charge:mass. However, the electron has equal charge to both the proton and the antiproton, and has a ridiculously small mass comparatively. The mass of a proton/antiproton is , while the mass of an electron is , almost 2000 times as small as a proton. Therefore, the charge:mass ratio of the electron is the smallest of the fundamental particles listed.

The correct answer is quarks. Quarks usually have charges of or . They are usually bound with other quark particles and could be mixed to form hadrons. Tau is part of the leptons family and has a charge of . Graviton does not have a charge, and is a hypothetical particle. The tachyon is a hypothetical particle assumed to be faster than light. Hadrons are strong composite particles that are composed of quarks and will result to a net integer charge.

To answer this question, we'll need to consult the periodic table. From the table, we know that magnesium's atomic number (the number of protons it contains in its nucleus) is 12, and sodium's is 11. We also need to realize that the mass number for each (the number of protons plus neutrons contained in the nucleus) is the same. Since the mass numbers are the same but the atomic numbers differ by one, then we can infer that a neutron is undergoing a decay into a proton and a so called positron, . The overall reaction is as follows:

Furthermore, it cannot be alpha decay, because in this process an alpha nucleus is released and the reactant's mass number and atomic number would both change. It also cannot be gamma decay, because in this process there is no change in atomic or mass numbers. Finally, it cannot be electron capture because in this process, an electron combines with a proton to generate a neutron. Thus, the mass number would not change, but the atomic number would increase by one. But in the question stem, we know the atomic number is decreasing by one rather than increasing.

Neutrons and gluons both have no charge at all, so they can be ignored. The proton and the antiproton have the same mass but opposite charges, and so have the same ration of charge:mass. However, the electron has equal charge to both the proton and the antiproton, and has a ridiculously small mass comparatively. The mass of a proton/antiproton is , while the mass of an electron is , almost 2000 times as small as a proton. Therefore, the charge:mass ratio of the electron is the smallest of the fundamental particles listed.