Physics quiz question: decay(s) converting protons to neutrons

Physics 205B Quiz 7, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 2/e, Multiple-Choice Question 29.1

The __________ process(es) convert a proton into a neutron.
(A) α.
(B) β^–.
(C) β⁺.
(D) electron capture.
(E) γ.
(F) (More than one of the above choices.)
(G) (None of the above choices.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (F)

For β⁺ decay, a proton is converted into a neutron (and emits a positron and a neutrino); for electron capture, a proton combines with an electron to convert into a neutron (and emits a neutrino); both of these processes convert protons into neutrons.

Section 30882
Exam code: quiz07bC4n
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 4 students
(C) : 9 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 0 students
(F) : 18 students
(G) : 0 students

Success level: 47%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.93