The Quark Model (OCR A Level Physics)

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Katie M

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Katie M

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Quark Model of Hadrons

  • Hadrons are a group of subatomic particles that are made up of quarks
  • These may be either a:
    • Baryon (3 quarks)
    • Meson (quark and anti-quark pair)

 6-8-2-hadrons_ocr-al-physics

Hadrons may be either a baryon or a meson

  • Quarks have never been discovered on their own, always in pairs or groups of three
  • Anti-hadrons can be either
    • Anti-baryons (3 anti-quarks)
    • Anti-meson (quark and anti-quark pair)

 6-8-2-anti-hadrons_ocr-al-physics

Anti-hadrons may be either an anti-baryon or an anti-meson

  • Note that all baryons or mesons have integer (whole number) charges eg. +1e, -2e etc.
  • This means quarks in a baryon are either all quarks or all anti-quarks. Combination of quarks and anti-quarks don’t exist in a baryon
    • e.g.

      Wrong quark composition, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

  • The anti-particle of a meson is still a quark-antiquark pair. The difference being the quark becomes the anti-quark and vice versa

Worked example

The baryon Δ++ was discovered in a particle accelerator using accelerated positive pions on hydrogen targets.Which of the following is the quark combination of this particle?

Worked example - Baryons and mesons, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Examiner Tip

Remembering quark combinations is useful for the exam. However, as long as you can remember the charges for each quark, it is possible to figure out the combination by making sure the combination of quarks add up to the charge of the particle (just like in the worked example)

Quark Model of the Proton and Neutron

  • Protons and neutrons are not fundamental particles. They are each made up of three quarks
  • Protons are made up of two up quarks and a down quark
  • Neutrons are made up of two down quarks and an up quark

 

Quarks in proton and neutrons, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Protons and neutrons are made up of three quarks

 

  • You will be expected to remember these quark combinations for exam questions

Worked example

WE - Quarks in an element question image, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

  • Step 1: Calculate number of protons:
    • The number of protons is from the proton number = 26 protons

  • Step 2: Calculate number of neutrons:
    • The number of neutrons = nucleon number - proton number = 56 - 26 = 30 neutrons

  • Step 3: Up quarks in a proton:
    • Protons are made up of uud quarks = 2 up quarks

  • Step 4: Up quarks in a neutron:
    • Neutrons are made up of udd quarks = 1 up quark

  • Step 5: Total number of up quarks:
    • 26 protons x 2 up quarks = 52 up quarks
    • 30 neutrons x 1 up quark = 30 up quarks
    • 52 + 30 = 82 up quarks

Charges of Quarks

Types of Quark

  • Quarks are fundamental particles that make up other subatomic particles such as protons and neutrons
  • Protons and neutrons are in a category of particles called hadrons
    • Hadrons are defined as any particle made up of quarks

  • Fundamental means that quarks are not made up of any other particles. Another example is electrons
  • Quarks have never been observed on their own, they’re either in pairs or groups of three
  • There are six flavours (types) of quarks that exist:

Quarks, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

The six flavours of quarks

You only need to know about up, down and strange, as well as their antiquarks.

Charges of Quark

  • The charge of a hadron is determined by the sum of the charges of its quarks
  • Each flavour of quark has a certain relative charge:

 Charge of quarks, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Each flavour of quark has a charge of either +⅔e or -⅓e

You only need to know about up, down and strange, as well as their antiquarks.

  • For example, a proton is made up of two up quarks and a down quark. Adding up their charges gives the charge of a proton:

+⅔e + ⅔e - ⅓e = +1e

  • The equivalent antiparticle of the quark is the anti-quark
  • These are identical to quarks except with opposite relative charges

Charge of anti-quarks, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Each flavour of anti-quark has a charge of either -⅔e or +⅓e. The quark composition of anti-protons and anti-neutrons changes to anti-quarks

You only need to know about up, down and strange, as well as their antiquarks.

Worked example

Particles are made up of a combination of three quarks or two quarks. Which quark combination would give a particle a charge of -1?

A. up, strange, strange

B. up, up, down

C. anti-up, anti-strange

D. anti-up, anti-up, anti-strange

  • The correct answer is D because: 
    • Each answer option has the following quarks and charges:  
      • A: uss = plus 2 over 3 minus 1 third minus 1 third = 0
      • B: uud = plus 2 over 3 plus 2 over 3 minus 1 third = +1
      • C: straight u with bar on top straight s with bar on topnegative 2 over 3 space plus space 1 third space equals space minus 1 third
      • D: uus with bar on topnegative 2 over 3 minus 2 over 3 plus 1 third equals space minus 1
    • We can see that the correct answer is the combination anti-up, anti-up, anti-strange give a charge of -1

Examiner Tip

You will be expected to remember the charge of each quark. However, instead of memorising the charges of anti-quarks too, just remember they are identical but with opposite signs.

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Katie M

Author: Katie M

Expertise: Physics

Katie has always been passionate about the sciences, and completed a degree in Astrophysics at Sheffield University. She decided that she wanted to inspire other young people, so moved to Bristol to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science. She particularly loves creating fun and absorbing materials to help students achieve their exam potential.