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 photons generally don't have antiparticles.
*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]]

Latest 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.

See Also

External Links