_ Physics Factsheet & Number 144 At GCSE we study conservation laws for classical Physics. We perform calculations for conservation of momentum in collisions, realise that kinetic energy is usually not conserved in a collision, and assume conservation of mass and charge in various situations ‘This Factsheet will restrict itself to Particle Physics, The above conservation laws still hold (except that conservation of mass becomes conservation of mass/energy), bot new laws specific to sub-atomic particles also arise QPP Tie conservation laws we sudy in Particle Physics are in-addition to the classical laws. Standard model ‘The standard mode! for particles includes the idee of quarks (which form hadrons) and leptons. Reactions and interactions between these particles involve the fundamental forces. However some interactions occur, and others do not occur. A number of conservation laws seem to dictate what is allowed and what is not allowed, We will look at some of thes. Conservation of mass/energy In chemistry, when mass seems to disappear during a chemical reaction, we assume that a reactant (usvally a gas) has escaped with the “missing” mass, In Particle Physics, mass and energy are interchangeable according to Einstein's equation: ‘where is the energy in joules, mis the mass in kg and ¢ = 3:0x10!ms" Examplel: (@ Caloulate the energy that could be created from a 0.24kg mass (b) Find the mass that could be formed from 4.2x10%F of energy, Answer: (0) B= me? = 2.210" (b) m=Ble?= Tx 10g Example2: ‘A thorium nucleus decays to become radium, emitting an alpha article. pee amen i Th» MRa+ fo. ‘The masses of the particles: Th: mass = 3.7876«10%kg Re; mass =3.7210%10™%g cx mass = 6.64710 (a) Caleulate the mass that is converted to energy (primarily as ke. of the alpha particle). (b) Calculate this ke in joules Answer (a) m= mass Th — mass Ra ~ mass = 1.3010 kg © 17x10" “Exam Hint: In mass/energy conversions, the masses and energies can be expressed in kg, atomic units, joules, electron- volts, etc, Try to be familiar with the different units, and learn to convert from one to another One collision that does occur in particle accelerators is: PtP pt p+ PtP (the fine above the symbol indicates the antiparticle — in this case, the antiproton) ‘The source of the mass of the new proton and antiproton is the Kinetic energy of the colliding paticles. Conservation of charge This is a law we assume at GCSE, For instance, when sodium hydroxide neutralises hydrochloric acid, charged particles (ions) are formed: 11> Na’ + OH” +H" + Teep 41+) 26 @ The same idea can be used to check the possibility of particle interactions occurring, Example3: Which of these interactions would be impossible on charge conservation grounds? @ptn>pep (yn pte Answer: @ — p+np+p Q 1402141 (cannot occur) ) n-opee QO=1+E1 (possible) Charge conservation allows this second reaction, however, as we ‘will see, other conservation laws mean this reaction is not possible Conservation of baryon number Hadrons, such as protons and neutrons and pions, are large subatomic particles composed of quarks (fundamental particles). Hadrons are divided into baryons, antibaryons, and mesons. A baryon number is associated with each of these hadrons: Hadron Type | Composition | Examples Baryon 3 quarks | proton ___| neutron Meson 1 quark plus | pion, x 0 1 antiquark | kaon, K ‘Antibaryon | 3 antiquarks | antiproton a antineutron ‘The conservation law says thal, in any reaction, baryon number is conserved —_———$$_$_— 8144, Conservation Lawsin Particle Physics Physics Factsheet SNE el Example ‘Which of these reactions is excluded because baryon number is, not conserved? @ptpopspewan O)p+p >p+p+n Answer: (pep >ptpemen® B 1f=1414+0+0 allowed ©) pp Sptptn B: l#1= 14141 not allowed ExampleS: Option (a) above is not excluded by baryon number. Why is it not possible? Answer: ptp optpe+e Q Itl= I+1+140 ‘The charge number is not conserved. a teaction is to be possible, However this reaction is allowed. You can check that it obeys all the relevant conservation laws: p+p —>p+p+m +m Conservation of lepton number Leptons are fundamental particles. And, as expected, lepton number must be conserved in any interaction, The family of leptons is composed of electrons, muons, tau particles, their antipaticles, and associated noutrinos. Lepton Symbol | Lepton number eeaton Ev eciron noulsino a | [anon mn 7 rmvon neu «| yy a tay ¢ a Ta neuiino a ‘i antielectron (positron) | gt 1 eleatron antineutrino 4 “antimuon | “+ ruon aatineutrino % - wiles 7 a ‘wu antnentsing However there is complication with lepton numbers. Bach “variety” of lepton (electron, muon, tau) must separately have its own lepton number conserved. Example6: (Chock for conservation of overall lepton number, L, for this reaction, "Then check the lepton conservation number for exch family of leptons involved. +ponte’ Answer: Wrpoate L: €1)40=0+61) noproblem Lj (1)+0=0+ 0 problem Li: 0 +0=04G1) problem Although the overall lepton number is conserved, the lepton ‘numbers for the muon and electron families are not conserved, This reaction is never observed. However the following reaction is observed: Wrenn L: (D+0=0+61) Ly CD+0=0+¢1) ‘The overall lepton number, and the number for the only family present, are both conserved, no problem no problem Barlier, we saw that a possible process for beta minus decay did not cconflict with conservation of charge. (It also does not conflict with ‘conservation of baryon number.) nap+e Example7: Soe if lepton number conservation poses a difficulty. Answer: nopte Li d=041 thore isa problem This cannot be the whole decay process, However, if we add another product to the decay (an electron antineutrino), then conservation laws are observed. (The antineutrino also solves an observed problem with energy conservation during the decay.) n> peers, Q 0= 1+(1)+0 no problem B: 1+0 +0 noproblem ly 041461) noproblem ‘This is the accepted decay equation for beta minus decay. Now some problems for you to try.144, Conservation Laws in Particle Physics Physics Factsheet SS Practice Questions 1. IF the rest mass of an electron is 9.109x10kg, find the energy in joules that this could theoretically be converted into. 2. We have said that this reaction occurs in particle accelerators PEP P+ P44? I'he rest mass of a proton (or antiproton) i 1.6710%kg, calculate the minimum total kinetic energy (in joules) ofthe incident particles 3. Which of these reactions is forbidden by conservation of charge? (@ ptpoptpem er O)pepopepee ta +m 4, Which of these tions violates conservation of lepton number? © poe siey, Op owen Owsesy 5, Show that both ofthese interactions conserve charge and baryon number: @ptprptp+® @p+popener 6 A :muon can decay as follows Woeey ax Use conservation laws to identify particle X, 5. @) p+p>p+p+m aos TT ETE8 Mowe 2. Total mass created = 3.34x107"kg * " in ADO ) +popenen Thar would be'te minimum cory oid wore thismas, Mo, PIPBSRET Be ITITG20 stow 3. @) p+poptperer D4 lalate 1sGr allowed i ey 6 wey ex (1) = (I)'K0+X charge of X=0 Cea epee te @ 1) = C 2 B0=040+X baryon numberof X= 0 Isle 1 @ T+I+14(D+1notallowed Deore merce = oeit0+X = LofX=-1 40 woe svjty, 7 “ 1, £0 =14(1)40 allowed ‘The unknown particle must be an electron antineuttino, | Lj 1=040+41 allowed ©) Yapouten Ly (1) +0=(1)+0 allowed e+ 140 not allowed =0+0 — notallowed Acknowledges: This Pcs Pathet war resanhed and writer by Pat Prema ‘he Cron Pres Bank Hous, 05 King Set alingin, Sob, TPL INL Phy Pectets maybe spied ce of Shae by tong sorts, provide tha i schoo! 2a vegiteed sss Dy ay other cans who the ror peritlon af he pier SSW 19918136 9 [Naps of tee Paces may be proce, sored va el ste rtrd, aay er frm