Difference between revisions of "Antimatter"
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'''Antimatter''' is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts. Antiparticles can be created from energy in a particle accelerator, and they can form naturally during certain kinds of radioactive decay. | '''Antimatter''' is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts. Antiparticles can be created from energy in a [[particle accelerator]], and they can form naturally during certain kinds of [[radioactive decay]]. | ||
*The anti-particle for the electron is the positron. It has the same mass as an electron, but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge. | *The anti-particle for the [[electron]] is the positron. It has the same mass as an electron, but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge. | ||
*The anti-particle for the proton is the antiproton. It has the same mass as a proton and a negative charge. | *The anti-particle for the [[proton]] is the antiproton. It has the same mass as a proton and a negative charge. | ||
*The anti-particle for the neutron is the antineutron. It has the same mass as a neutron and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks. | *The anti-particle for the [[neutron]] is the antineutron. It has the same mass as a neutron and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks. | ||
*Smaller subatomic particles like quarks also have antiparticles. | *Smaller subatomic particles like quarks also have antiparticles. | ||
*Massless particles like | *Massless particles like [[photon]]s generally don't have antiparticles. | ||
If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy. | If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy. | ||
Antiparticles can chemically interact with each other in much the way ordinary particles do. For instance, an antiproton and a positron can combine to form anti-hydrogen. | Antiparticles can chemically interact with each other in much the way ordinary particles do. For instance, an antiproton and a positron can combine to form anti-[[hydrogen]]. | ||
==Antimatter in Science Fiction== | |||
* Several [[Star Trek]] factions, including the [[Federation]], use antimatter as fuel for their [[starship]]s. | |||
* Antimatter frequently appears in science fiction stories as an explosive, sometimes in the warheads of [[photon torpedo|missiles]] of one kind or another. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Matter-antimatter annihilation]] | * [[Matter-antimatter annihilation]] | ||
* [[Antimatter pod]] | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://particleadventure.org/frameless/antimatter.html What is Antimatter?] | * [http://particleadventure.org/frameless/antimatter.html What is Antimatter?] | ||
* [http://www.edwardmuller.com/right17.htm Antimatter Bomb Yield Calculator] | |||
[[Category: Science]] | [[Category: Science]] | ||
[[Category:Materials]] | |||
Revision as of 17:08, 9 December 2010
Antimatter is much like normal matter, but its constituent particles carry the opposite electrical charge of their normal matter counterparts. Antiparticles can be created from energy in a particle accelerator, and they can form naturally during certain kinds of radioactive decay.
- The anti-particle for the electron is the positron. It has the same mass as an electron, but it carries a positive charge instead of a negative charge.
- The anti-particle for the proton is the antiproton. It has the same mass as a proton and a negative charge.
- The anti-particle for the neutron is the antineutron. It has the same mass as a neutron and carries no charge, but it will still annihilate a neutron because the antineutron itself is composed of charged antiquarks.
- Smaller subatomic particles like quarks also have antiparticles.
- Massless particles like photons generally don't have antiparticles.
If a particle of matter comes into contact with its anti-particle, both will "annihilate" each other, converting their combined mass into energy.
Antiparticles can chemically interact with each other in much the way ordinary particles do. For instance, an antiproton and a positron can combine to form anti-hydrogen.
Antimatter in Science Fiction
- Several Star Trek factions, including the Federation, use antimatter as fuel for their starships.
- Antimatter frequently appears in science fiction stories as an explosive, sometimes in the warheads of missiles of one kind or another.