Question

How can the lifetime of a particle indicate that its decay is caused by the strong nuclear force? How can a change in strangeness imply which force is responsible for a reaction? What does a change in quark flavor imply about the force that is responsible?

a) Longer lifetime indicates weak force; strangeness change implies electromagnetic force; quark flavor change indicates strong nuclear force
b) Longer lifetime indicates strong nuclear force; strangeness change implies weak force; quark flavor change indicates electromagnetic force
c) Longer lifetime indicates electromagnetic force; strangeness change implies strong nuclear force; quark flavor change indicates weak force
d) Longer lifetime indicates weak force; strangeness change implies strong nuclear force; quark flavor change indicates electromagnetic force

Answer 1

The lifetime of a particle indicates the force causing its decay, with shorter lifetimes indicating the strong nuclear force and longer lifetimes indicating the weak force. A change in strangeness implies the electromagnetic force, and a change in quark flavor indicates the strong nuclear force.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lifetime of a particle can indicate that its decay is caused by the strong nuclear force based on the duration of the decay. Particles with shorter lifetimes, in the range of 10-16 to 10-23 seconds, typically decay via the strong nuclear force. On the other hand, particles with longer lifetimes, in the range of 10-16 to 10-12 seconds, decay via the weak force.

A change in strangeness of a particle can imply that the electromagnetic force is responsible for the reaction, as strangeness is conserved by the strong force but not by the weak force. Additionally, a change in quark flavor can also indicate that the strong nuclear force is responsible for the reaction.