From: SFPhysics@aol.com
Date: Fri Jul 14 2000 - 02:56:38 PDT
From: SFPhysics@aol.com Message-ID: <1e.7f063e2.26a03dd6@aol.com> Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 05:56:38 EDT Subject: Weak Force Interactions
Hello Ellen:
I do not profess to have the correct answer but this is what I understand
from a workshop at Stanford University given by the talented Dr. Erzeberger.
If I have something wrong would someone please jump in corrections!
> 1. What does the weak force DO? I always find it described in terms of
> radiation given off in certain instances, but nothing to match the
> descriptions of gravity, e-m, and the strong force. Do researchers know?
The weak (electroweak) force holds particles together. It is the one seen
acting on Fermions (Leptons and Quarks) within larger particles. All of the
forces are the results of Boson force carriers and so is the weak (which uses
W+, W-, and Z^0). The Fermions are defined by Flavors (Neapolitan to honor
Fermi's native Italy). Take a Proton which is uud (2 up Quarks and 1 down)
the Flavor is all chocolate so the Quarks can only be the up or down in the
chocolate category of Fermion. You could not use another Quark such as the
Charm or Strange in the vanilla category, or the Top or Bottom in the
strawberry category to get a Proton. The Neutron is udd (1 up and 2 downs)
again in chocolate category. If we wanted to make an Omega particle we could
put 3 strange Quarks together; or, if we wanted something more exotic in the
way of a particle we could mix and match 1 up, 1 down, and 1 strange for a
Lambda particle.
What seems to be current thinking is that the Protons or Neutrons are each
held together by a weak (actually electroweak) force. A disturbance of the
weak charge at a quantum level destabilizes the nucleus of radioactive atoms
and they undergo spontaneous fission. That is how radioactivity is tied in
with the weak force. Remember that where an Electron is is a probability so
the Electron might even be in the nucleus or inside of a particle in the
nucleus to cause the nucleus to come apart because it has a full charge of -1.
One last thing that is really easy to understand is that Quarks have
fractional charges so that the Proton (uud) is plus charged because 1 up
Quark has a +2/3 charge with 1 down Quark having -1/3. So (+4/3) summed with
(-1/3) gives +1. A Neutron (udd) is then (+2/3) summed with 2(-1/3) gives 0.
So a Neutron supposedly with a charge of 0 still has the electroweak force
doing its job inside.
It is late and I still don't think I am being very clear. For a neat run
through the subatomic world go to < http://pdg.lbl.gov/cpep/adventure.html > .
2. Some quantum theories have a chaos of particles or potential particles
or probabilities coalescing into order. How's this relate to the second
law of thermodynamics? Does it when we're so small? If not, why not?
I am somewhat at a loss as to how to relate the two. Entropy and disorder
may be OK with normal Newtonian Physics but on a subatomic level dealing with
Quantum Mechanics there are no losses only changes and conversions.
Probability is the determining factor. That chaos can have order or order
can arise from chaos is an acceptable probability. Think of the Feynman
Diagrams where nothing is lost or wasted. It conforms to the Law of
Conservation of Matter/Energy.
Wait until you get to the part about Super String Theory... ;-)
confused, but still reading,
Ellen Koivisto
George Washington High School
San Francisco
>>
I don't know if I have been of help or muddied things up. Just remember that
a mind once stretched never returns to the same size!
Regards,
Al Sefl
Whose waistline keeps stretching also................
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