IB Physics SL E.3.9 Neutrinos and Antineutrinos

Practise including neutrinos or antineutrinos in beta-decay equations and using charge, lepton number, energy and momentum conservation to identify the correct particle.

Exam points

include an electron antineutrino in β⁻ decay and an electron neutrino in β⁺ decay
balance lepton number alongside charge and nucleon number in beta-decay equations
use missing energy and momentum or a continuous beta spectrum as evidence for the neutrino

[Maximum number: 1]

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about kinematics and gravitation. Part 2 is about radioactivity.
Part 1 Kinematics and gravitation
A ball is released near the surface of the Moon at time t=0. The point of release is on a straight line between the centre of Earth and the centre of the Moon. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement s of the ball from the point of release.

Figure for Question E.3.9—Neutrinos and antineutrinos question 1 — IB Physics SL

The nuclear equation for the decay of calcium-47 into scandium-47 $\left({ }_{21}^{47} \mathrm{Sc}\right)$ is given by

{ }_{20}^{47} \mathrm{Ca} \rightarrow{ }_{21}^{47} \mathrm{Sc}+{ }_{-1}^{0} \mathrm{e}+\mathrm{X}

Identify X .

(electron) anti-neutrino $/ \bar{v}$ ;

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E.3.9—Neutrinos and antineutrinos question 1