Why Don't Quarks and Antiquarks Annihilate Each Other in Mesons?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Phalanx
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Project
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion addresses key concepts in particle physics, specifically focusing on mesons, the residual strong force, neutrinos, and the concept of spin. Mesons, composed of a quark and an antiquark, do eventually annihilate each other, albeit over a short timescale. The residual strong force, which binds protons and neutrons in the nucleus, is explained through color charge interactions. Neutrinos, including the electron, muon, and tau neutrinos, are produced during particle decay to conserve lepton number. Spin is identified as a quantum number that influences particle behavior, though it should not be directly equated with classical rotation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics
  • Familiarity with quantum mechanics concepts
  • Knowledge of color charge and strong force interactions
  • Basic comprehension of particle decay processes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and interactions of mesons in particle physics
  • Study the role of the residual strong force in nuclear stability
  • Explore the characteristics and production mechanisms of neutrinos
  • Investigate the implications of spin in quantum mechanics and particle behavior
USEFUL FOR

Students and enthusiasts of particle physics, educators teaching the Standard Model, and researchers exploring quantum mechanics and fundamental forces.

Phalanx
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Project due tomorrow please help<-----------

hello, i am doing a project on the standard model for my school, i have two questions,

1)mesons are made of a quark and an anitquark, why don't they annihalate each other?

2)what is residual strong force all about, if each proton and neutron are colour neutral then why does the nucleus stick together?

3)also what are neutrinos, and i mean all of them tau electron and muon, and what do they do and how are they made

4)what is the point in spin? i have read many websites about this but none of them explain how different spins make different particles act towards each other.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Cant help with the questions, but don't leave it soo long before you ask for help next time, the more time you leave yourself the better responses you will get and the more you will understand them.
 
I would like how spin works. I've heard about and all, but I'm not quite sure what it is. I've heard that they are not actually spinning; is this true?

You can post it later, or PM some advice.
 
now i have one more question if you don't mind.

How does elecromagnetic force get 'mediated' by a photon, are charged atoms just constantly emmitting photons in all directions? and why when a photon hits an atom with an opposite charge is it attracted?
 


Originally posted by Phalanx
1)mesons are made of a quark and an anitquark, why don't they annihalate each other?
They do, eventually. A meson may survive for only a very short time before that happens.
2)what is residual strong force all about, if each proton and neutron are colour neutral then why does the nucleus stick together?
When you're far away from the proton, it appears completely color-neutral. When you get close enough, though, you start to notice that there are three "centers" of color inside it. When you're really close, the quark closest to you dominates.

It's very much like electrostatic dipoles. Take molecules of salt, for example: NaCl. When you're far enough away from the salt molecule, it just appears to be a neutral molecule. When you get close enough, you realize there's a positive end and a negative end.
3)also what are neutrinos, and i mean all of them tau electron and muon, and what do they do and how are they made
The electron, muon, and tau are NOT neutrinos -- they are massive leptons. Each has a complementary neutrino -- called the electron neutrino, muon neutrino, and tau neutrino. The neutrinos are created in order to preserve lepton number, basically. When a neutron decays, for example, it decays into a proton, electron, and electron anti-neutrino.
4)what is the point in spin? i have read many websites about this but none of them explain how different spins make different particles act towards each other.
Spin is just another quantum number, which doubles the number of states a quantum system can have. It may or may not be reasonable to consider spin as an analogy to classical rotation. Generally, it's not.

- Warren
 
Spin is just another quantum number, which doubles the number of states a quantum system can have. It may or may not be reasonable to consider spin as an analogy to classical rotation. Generally, it's not.

I thought in an orbital two different electrons have opposite spin in order to conteract the electrostatic repulsive force?

Gary
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
4K
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
9K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
19K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K