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University Physics Volume 3

Key Terms

University Physics Volume 3Key Terms

Key Terms

antiparticle: subatomic particle with the same mass and lifetime as its associated particle, but opposite electric charge

baryon number: baryon number has the value $B = + 1$ for baryons, $- 1$ for antibaryons, and 0 for all other particles and is conserved in particle interactions

baryons: group of three quarks

Big Bang: rapid expansion of space that marked the beginning of the universe

boson: particle with integral spin that are symmetric on exchange

color: property of particles and that plays the same role in strong nuclear interactions as electric charge does in electromagnetic interactions

cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR): thermal radiation produced by the Big Bang event

cosmology: study of the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe

dark energy: form of energy believed to be responsible for the observed acceleration of the universe

dark matter: matter in the universe that does not interact with other particles but that can be inferred by deflection of distance star light

electroweak force: unification of electromagnetic force and weak-nuclear force interactions

exchange symmetry: property of a system of indistinguishable particles that requires the exchange of any two particles to be unobservable

fermion: particle with half-integral spin that is antisymmetric on exchange

Feynman diagram: space-time diagram that describes how particles move and interact

fundamental force: one of four forces that act between bodies of matter: the strong nuclear, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and gravitational forces

gluon: particle that that carry the strong nuclear force between quarks within an atomic nucleus

grand unified theory: theory of particle interactions that unifies the strong nuclear, electromagnetic, and weak nuclear forces

hadron: a meson or baryon

Hubble’s constant: constant that relates speed and distance in Hubble’s law

Hubble’s law: relationship between the speed and distance of stars and galaxies

lepton: a fermion that participates in the electroweak force

lepton number: electron-lepton number $L_{e},$ the muon-lepton number $L_{μ},$ and the tau-lepton number $L_{τ}$ are conserved separately in every particle interaction

mesons: a group of two quarks

nucleosynthesis: creation of heavy elements, occurring during the Big Bang

particle accelerator: machine designed to accelerate charged particles; this acceleration is usually achieved with strong electric fields, magnetic fields, or both

particle detector: detector designed to accurately measure the outcome of collisions created by a particle accelerator; particle detectors are hermetic and multipurpose

positron: antielectron

quantum chromodynamics (QCD): theory that describes strong interactions between quarks

quantum electrodynamics (QED): theory that describes the interaction of electrons with photons

quark: a fermion that participates in the electroweak and strong nuclear force

redshift: lengthening of the wavelength of light (or reddening) due to cosmological expansion

Standard Model: model of particle interactions that contains the electroweak theory and quantum chromodynamics (QCD)

strangeness: particle property associated with the presence of a strange quark

strong nuclear force: relatively strong attractive force that acts over short distances (about $10^{−15}$ m) responsible for binding protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei

synchrotron: circular accelerator that uses alternating voltage and increasing magnetic field strengths to accelerate particles to higher and higher energies

synchrotron radiation: high-energy radiation produced in a synchrotron accelerator by the circular motion of a charged beam

theory of everything: a theory of particle interactions that unifies all four fundamental forces

virtual particle: particle that exists for too short of time to be observable

W and Z boson: particle with a relatively large mass that carries the weak nuclear force between leptons and quarks

weak nuclear force: relative weak force (about $10^{−6}$ the strength of the strong nuclear force) responsible for decays of elementary particles and neutrino interactions

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- Authors: Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny, William Moebs
- Publisher/website: OpenStax
- Book title: University Physics Volume 3
- Publication date: Sep 29, 2016
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-3/pages/1-introduction
- Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-3/pages/11-key-terms

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