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Edexcel A-Level Physics Particle Conservation Laws

Practise Edexcel A-Level Physics charge, baryon and lepton conservation by testing decay equations and identifying missing particles.

Syllabus
Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Subsidiary/Advanced Level
Course
Physics XPH11/YPH11
Level
A2

Exam points

  • check charge conservation by summing particle charges before and after an interaction
  • use baryon and lepton numbers to decide whether a decay or collision is possible
  • identify missing particles such as neutrinos, antineutrinos, mesons or baryons from conservation laws

4.5.123 - Charge, baryon and lepton number conservation question 1

[Maximum number: 3]

A muon will decay into a neutrino, an antineutrino and an electron or a positron.
A positron is the antiparticle of an electron.

Explain whether the following decay would be possible.

You should consider conservation of charge and lepton number.

μ−→e−+ve+vˉμ\mu^{-} \rightarrow e^{-}+v_{e}+\bar{v}_{\mu}
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