15. A delta particle decays into a proton and a pion - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 15 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 15
15. A delta particle decays into a proton and a pion.
(a) The diagram shows tracks in a particle detector formed when the delta particle decays.
pion
prot... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:15. A delta particle decays into a proton and a pion - Edexcel - A-Level Physics - Question 15 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
State why it can be concluded from the diagram that the delta particle is neutral.
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Answer
The tracks left in the detector exhibit opposite curvatures, indicating that the total charge is zero. Since the proton, which has a positive charge, is one of the decay products, the other particle, the pion, must carry a negative charge to ensure that the total charge remains neutral.
Step 2
Deduce the charge on the pion.
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Answer
From the previous observation that the delta particle is neutral and that the proton has a positive charge, we can conclude that the pion must be negatively charged. This can be denoted as: Charge of pion = −1.
Step 3
Complete the particle equation for the decay of the delta (Δ⁰) particle:
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The complete particle equation for the decay of the delta particle is:
Δ⁰ → p + π⁻
Step 4
State why the delta particle must be classified as a baryon based on the evidence of its decay.
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Answer
The delta particle must be classified as a baryon because it decays into a proton, which is itself a baryon. Since baryons are defined as particles made up of three quarks, and the decay to a baryon confirms this characteristic structure of the delta particle.
