20140905

Physics quiz question: weak interaction coupling constant

Physics 205A Quiz 1, fall semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 2/e, Problems 1.37, 1.39

The relation between the weak interaction coupling constant gW and the Higgs boson mass mW (measured in units of kg) is given [*] by the expression:

(1/sqrt(32))·(gW/mW)2 = 1.86873×10–15 s4/(kg2·m4).

The units for the weak interaction coupling constant gW are:
(A) kg–2·m·s.
(B) kg2·m–2·s2.
(C) m–2·s2.
(D) m2·s–2.

[*] wki.pe/Fermi's_interaction.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

Replacing the quantities in the equation with their kg, m and s units, except for the weak interaction coupling constant gW, and also dropping all numerical values:

(gW/kg)2 = s4/(kg2·m4),

gW/kg = s2/(kg·m2),

gW = s2/m2.

Sections 70854, 70855, 73320
Exam code: quiz01w34K
(A) : 9 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 54 students
(D) : 4 students

Success level: 73%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.54

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