Episode 537: Preparation for the deep scattering and quarks topics

Explore the fact that nucleons are not fundamental particles but contain different parts.

Main aims of this topic

Quarks

Students will:

• know that Rutherford’s experiment, using alpha particles, cannot probe the nucleus because the alpha particles will interact with the nucleus by the strong nuclear force
• know that electrons, being leptons, do not feel the strong nuclear force, and so can probe the nucleus
• use electron wavelength and scattering data to calculate the size of the nucleus
• understand that the complex scattering from a nucleus reveals that nucleons are not simple points, but are themselves composed of smaller particles
• describe how hadrons are made from two or three quarks
• deduce the properties of a hadron from the properties of its constituent quarks
• draw Feynman diagrams involving quarks and gluons

Prior knowledge

Rutherford’s experiment, diffraction, and the quantum nature of electrons (wave-particle duality).

If you have not covered diffraction already, you will have to modify the suggested approach to take account of this.