How are elementary particles detected? 1) using a large electromagnet
2) allowing particles to pass through a grid of thin gold wires
3) by measuring changes that result from an interaction with matter
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) any of 1, 2, or 3 could be used to detect elementary particles
E) none of 1, 2, or 3 could be used to detect elementary particles

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each method described can be part of a system to detect elementary particles. Large electromagnets are used in particle accelerators and detectors to bend the paths of charged particles, allowing their properties to be analyzed. Thin wire grids can be part of detectors like wire chambers, where particles ionize atoms along their path, and these ionization events are detected as electrical signals in the wires. Measuring changes resulting from interactions with matter is a fundamental principle behind many types of particle detectors, such as calorimeters, which measure the energy of particles by absorbing them and measuring the resulting temperature rise or light emission.

How Are Elementary Particles Detected? 1) Using a Large Electromagnet