Weak Interaction (Noun)
Meaning
(physics) an interaction between elementary particles involving neutrinos or antineutrinos that is responsible for certain kinds of radioactive decay; mediated by intermediate vector bosons.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The weak interaction is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, along with the strong interaction, electromagnetism, and gravity.
- Neutrinos interact via the weak interaction, which is responsible for certain types of radioactive decay, such as beta decay.
- The weak interaction is mediated by the exchange of W and Z bosons, which are the force carriers for this interaction.
- Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay that occurs through the weak interaction, in which a neutron is converted into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino.
- In the context of particle physics, the weak interaction plays a crucial role in shaping the universe as we know it, as it is responsible for the decay of certain particles and the synthesis of others.