- #1
Joshk80k
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1. Homework Statement
Which of the following Nuclear Reactions are allowed?
A) e- + p --> [tex]\mu[/tex]- + p
B) n --> p + [tex]\pi[/tex]-
C) K- + p --> (anti)k0 + n
2. Homework Equations
While I don't know if there are any relevant equations, I know that there are several conservation laws that are required to make a reaction acceptable.
3. The Attempt at a Solution
A) e- + p --> [tex]\mu[/tex]- + p
I ran through a few conservation rules.
- I said that the Baryon number on each side was 1, so Baryon number is conserved.
- e- and mu are both leptons, so lepton number is conserved
- charge is conserved
On this problem I am leaning towards it being correct, but the reason I am hesitant to say so is because I am worried I am missing a conservation law somewhere.
B) n --> p + [tex]\pi[/tex]-
- Again, baryon number is conserved
- lepton number is conserved
- mesons don't require conservation
- the charge is conserved.
Again, I lean towards this being correct, but I am kind of worried about how a neutron results in the formation of a proton and pi- particle, for a number of different reasons. First, I've always associated the change of the charge of a nucleon with the release or absorption of an electron - I have never heard of a different lepton taking its place. Second, there is a really large mass discrepancy, but I think that might be solvable by the fact that the neutron could have a large kinetic energy and the p and pi- particles not moving as much.
C) K- + p --> (anti)k0 + n
-Baryon number is conserved
-Lepton number is conserved
-Charge is conserved
Am I over exaggerating in worrying that these reactions are not valid? I feel like there are too many pot-holes for a reaction to fall in, so I am really hesitant to give a definite answer.
Would anyone be able to steer me in the right direction if more conservation laws apply here?
Which of the following Nuclear Reactions are allowed?
A) e- + p --> [tex]\mu[/tex]- + p
B) n --> p + [tex]\pi[/tex]-
C) K- + p --> (anti)k0 + n
2. Homework Equations
While I don't know if there are any relevant equations, I know that there are several conservation laws that are required to make a reaction acceptable.
3. The Attempt at a Solution
A) e- + p --> [tex]\mu[/tex]- + p
I ran through a few conservation rules.
- I said that the Baryon number on each side was 1, so Baryon number is conserved.
- e- and mu are both leptons, so lepton number is conserved
- charge is conserved
On this problem I am leaning towards it being correct, but the reason I am hesitant to say so is because I am worried I am missing a conservation law somewhere.
B) n --> p + [tex]\pi[/tex]-
- Again, baryon number is conserved
- lepton number is conserved
- mesons don't require conservation
- the charge is conserved.
Again, I lean towards this being correct, but I am kind of worried about how a neutron results in the formation of a proton and pi- particle, for a number of different reasons. First, I've always associated the change of the charge of a nucleon with the release or absorption of an electron - I have never heard of a different lepton taking its place. Second, there is a really large mass discrepancy, but I think that might be solvable by the fact that the neutron could have a large kinetic energy and the p and pi- particles not moving as much.
C) K- + p --> (anti)k0 + n
-Baryon number is conserved
-Lepton number is conserved
-Charge is conserved
Am I over exaggerating in worrying that these reactions are not valid? I feel like there are too many pot-holes for a reaction to fall in, so I am really hesitant to give a definite answer.
Would anyone be able to steer me in the right direction if more conservation laws apply here?