Interpreting Particle Tracks (Edexcel International A Level Physics)

The image shows red and yellow tracks in a cloud chamber. The magnetic field goes into the page. 

a) Explain how you can tell from the image that a particle-antiparticle pair is being created.

b) Identify which track represents a negatively charged particle.

Answer:

Part (a)

Step 1: Comment on the source of the tracks

• The red and yellow tracks begin together out of 'nothing'

• This indicates an uncharged particle is creating charged particles

Step 2: Comment on the radius of the tracks

• Both the red and yellow tracks have the same radius

• This indicates both particles have the same momentum, and mass, which is true for creation of a particle-antiparticle pair

Step 3: Comment on the direction of the tracks

• Both tracks spiral in opposite directions

• This indicates each particle is oppositely charged, because the (centripetal) magnetic force acts on them in the opposite directions

Part (b)

Step 1: Determine the direction of particle velocity and centripetal force

• The centripetal force on each particle must be toward the centre of orbit

• The tracks begin from a point and spiral away from each other, so the particle velocity must be as indicated in the image below:

Step 2: Apply Fleming's Left Hand Rule for the red track

• Fleming's Left Hand Rule gives the direction of the magnetic force on a positively charged particle in a magnetic field

• The first finger should point into the page, along the direction of the magnetic field

  • On the red track, the thumb should point toward the centre of orbit (the direction of the force)

  • The second finger points downward, but the actual particle velocity is upward

  • Therefore, the red track must indicate a negatively charged particle

Step 3: Check Fleming's Left Hand Rule for the yellow track

• The first finger should again point into the page

  • On the yellow track, the thumb should also point toward the centre of orbit (the direction of the force)

  • The second finger points downward, which is in agreement with the actual particle velocity

  • Therefore, the yellow track must indicate a positively charged particle

Sometimes, examiners will ask you to explain whether particles are simply moving upward or downward across an image. The first thing to consider should be the radius of the particle track: you expect the radius to be decreasing, because charged particles will tend to continue ionising other particles around them - hence losing kinetic energy.

As their kinetic energy decreases, so does their momentum - and hence, track radius will also decrease. This should be enough to determine which direction the particle is coming from and heading towards!