The protons and neutrons in the nuclei of atoms undergo inter-conversions through the exchange of

Options

A. electron or `beta`-particle
B. charged mesons
C. photons
D. positrons

Answer

B

Explanation

The protons and neutrons undergo interconversions inside the nucleus through the exchange of positively and negatively charged mesons, `pi^+` and `pi^-` . The exchange of a `pi^+` between the proton (p) and and neutron (n) in a `._1^2H` nucleus may be represented as `p_1+n_2 undersetlarr to n_1+pi^(+) + n_2 undersetlarr to n_1+n_2` Similarly, the exchange of a (`pi^-` may be represented as `p_1+n_2 undersetlarr to p_1 + pi^(-) + p_2 undersetlarr to n_1+n_2` .