AQA A-Level Physics Paper 1, June 2023: Question 10

1 mark · Medium difficulty · Multiple Choice

Identify the correct statement about muons among the given multiple-choice options.

Practise this question

Question

Multiple choice question asking which statement about muons is correct, worth 1 mark. Option A states they consist of a quark and an antiquark. Option B states they include pions and kaons. Option C states they are subject to the strong interaction. Option D states they decay into electrons.
Question text

10 Which statement about muons is correct?

[1 mark]

A They consist of a quark and an antiquark.

B They include pions and kaons.

C They are subject to the strong interaction.

D They decay into electrons.

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme shows that the correct answer for question 10 is D, which corresponds to the statement 'They decay into electrons.'

10 D They decay into electrons.

How to answer it

Properties of Muons

What this question tests

This question tests your knowledge of the classification of subatomic particles, specifically identifying the properties of leptons (muons) compared to hadrons, mesons, and baryons.

Question 10

Which statement about muons is correct?

✅ Correct Answer: D

They decay into electrons.

Muons are unstable leptons. Through the weak interaction, a negative muon typically decays into an electron, an electron antineutrino, and a muon neutrino (mu− → e− + v_e + v_mu).

💡 Key Knowledge

  • Classification: Muons are fundamental particles classified as leptons. They do not consist of quarks.
  • Interactions: As leptons, muons experience the weak, electromagnetic, and gravitational interactions, but not the strong interaction.
  • Families: Pions and kaons are mesons (hadrons made of a quark-antiquark pair), not muons.

🧠 Exam Technique

Use process of elimination based on particle families:

  • Option A describes hadrons/mesons.
  • Option B lists mesons, not leptons.
  • Option C incorrectly assigns the strong interaction to a lepton.
  • Option D is a defining characteristic decay route for muons.

❌ Common Errors

Students frequently confuse leptons with hadrons or misremember which forces leptons are subject to, incorrectly assuming all subatomic particles feel the strong nuclear force.

Mark allocation: [1 mark] awarded for selecting option D.

Topics

Physics · 3.2 Particles and radiation

Question and mark scheme from the AQA A-Level Physics examination, Paper 1, June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.