The existence of the neutrino was proposed in 1930 but it was not detected until 1956 - Leaving Cert Physics - Question j - 2008
Question j
The existence of the neutrino was proposed in 1930 but it was not detected until 1956. Give two reasons why it is difficult to detect a neutrino.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The existence of the neutrino was proposed in 1930 but it was not detected until 1956 - Leaving Cert Physics - Question j - 2008
Step 1
Reason 1: Property of Neutrinos
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Answer
Neutrinos are electrically neutral and very small, which makes them interact very weakly with matter. This means that they can pass through ordinary matter without being detected, making their detection extremely challenging.
Step 2
Reason 2: Low Interaction Probability
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Answer
Neutrinos have an extremely low mass, which also contributes to their weak interaction with other particles. Consequently, most neutrinos will travel through large amounts of material, such as the Earth, without any interaction, hence eluding detection.
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