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Subatomic Physics 1 Trivia Quiz

Here's my first quiz on particle physics. Hope you enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by chrisjwebb. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
chrisjwebb

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
65,562

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
4059

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Baryons consist of three quarks. Which three make up the proton? Hint

up, up, up

down, down, up

up, up, down

up, down, top

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Question 2 of 10

2. One way to study cosmic rays is to use a cloud chamber. Who originally devised this piece of apparatus in 1911? Hint

J. J. Thomson

John Cockroft

Ernest Rutherford

C. T. R. Wilson

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these particles experiences the strong force? Hint

Neutrino

Electron

Pion

Muon

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Question 4 of 10

4. The neutrino associated with the decay of a neutron was postulated in 1931 by which famous physicist?

Answer: (Just the surname will suffice.)

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1935 Yukawa predicted the existence of the pi-meson. In which year was it finally discovered?

Answer: (I'll give you a clue - 19__)

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Eightfold Way categorises which groups of particles? Hint

Hadrons and Neutrinos

Baryons and Leptons

Leptons and Neutrinos

Mesons and Baryons

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which physicist sucessfully predicted the existence AND the mass of the 'omega-minus' particle, using his theories on The Eightfold Way? Hint

Yuval Ne'eman

Enrico Fermi

C. D. Anderson

Murray Gell-Mann

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Question 8 of 10

8. The 'omega-minus' consists of three strange quarks. What is its strangeness? Hint

-1

-3

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Question 9 of 10

9. In a baryon, three strange quarks cannot simultaneously occupy the lowest energy state.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. In the theory of quark colour, a red quark will attract an 'anti-red' antiquark.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Baryons consist of three quarks. Which three make up the proton?

Answer: up, up, down

Protons are composed of two up quarks and a down quark. Neutrons are made from two down quarks and an up quark.

2. One way to study cosmic rays is to use a cloud chamber. Who originally devised this piece of apparatus in 1911?

Answer: C. T. R. Wilson

When an electrically charged particle passes through supersaturated vapour, it ionises the vapour's atoms. Droplets of water settle on these ions and trace out the particle's trajectory. This is the principle of the cloud chamber.

3. Which of these particles experiences the strong force?

Answer: Pion

The electron, muon and neutrinos are all leptons ie. particles which do not experience the strong force.

4. The neutrino associated with the decay of a neutron was postulated in 1931 by which famous physicist?

Answer: Wolfgang Pauli

Wolfgang Pauli predicted this particle's existence after noticing anomalous energy losses in the beta decay of neutrons.

5. In 1935 Yukawa predicted the existence of the pi-meson. In which year was it finally discovered?

Answer: 1947

It was discovered by C. F. Powell, after a number of experiments studying cosmic rays in the French Pyrenees.

6. The Eightfold Way categorises which groups of particles?

Answer: Mesons and Baryons

Murray Gell-Mann and Yuval Ne'eman developed The Eightfold Way when they noticed patterns in the properties of the many known mesons and baryons.

7. Which physicist sucessfully predicted the existence AND the mass of the 'omega-minus' particle, using his theories on The Eightfold Way?

Answer: Murray Gell-Mann

Gell-Mann predicted the mass of this particle to 0.06 percent using the Eightfold Way patterns. This just shows the power of symmetries and patterns in physics.

8. The 'omega-minus' consists of three strange quarks. What is its strangeness?

Answer: -3

The strangeness of a particle is defined as '-no. of strange quarks'. Each strange quark has charge 'minus one third' and therefore its charge is -1.

9. In a baryon, three strange quarks cannot simultaneously occupy the lowest energy state.

Answer: False

It is false because there is ample evidence to suggest that the 'omega-minus' exists. This statement is true for three identical strange quarks. However, if quark colour is taken into account, it is possible for three strange quarks, each of different colour, to exist simultaneously in the lowest energy state.

10. In the theory of quark colour, a red quark will attract an 'anti-red' antiquark.

Answer: True

Yes, colour and opposite-colour will attract (explaining the mesons) and unlike colours will attract, with their attraction being maximised if they cluster in threes, one quark of each colour (explaining the baryons).

Source: Author chrisjwebb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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