What particles are the result of the decay of a free (not in a nucleus) neutron?

A free neutron decays according to the following equation

n0 → p+ + e− + νe

where p+, e−, and νe denote the proton, electron and electron antineutrino, respectively.

The neutron was first thought to decay into a proton and an electron but observations lead to another particle being needed to balance the equation.

The Electron antineutrino was first theorized by Wolfgang Pauli in 1930 since the radiated electron had less energy than expected. Another particle was needed to satisfy conservation of energy and momentum. The particle was named by Enrico Fermi but not observed until 1956.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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69 Comments

Bill Coe

I think this is too scientific to be considered trivia.

Helga U. Williams

From Kindergarten questions to rocket scientist! I guess I'll have to stick with the kindergarten questions to get them right? 🤣

Irene Townsend

timwhitestevens, Shucks does that mean I'm wrong. I only pick that answer cos it was the only one that had anti in the answer. as I didn't have a clue

Charles Fish

It's too technical . . did you learn something? Good!

Jacquie Smith

Trivia is supposed to be fun. This goes beyond any fun or enjoyment.

Judy Wilson

I didn’t have a clue to the answer for this question!

timwhitestevens

Michael Johnston, No, you were correct. he gave the wrong answer. See the comment I posted. I have a B.S. degree in Physics from Duke University and have studied much graduate particle physics.

timwhitestevens

You are wrong. It is a proton, an electron, and the electron neutrino, NOT the electron anti neutrino. Even the symbol you wrote was for an electron neutrino; an electron anti neutrino has a line over the top. An anti neutron would decay into an anti proton, an anti electron (also called a positron) and an electron anti neutrino. You even spelled antineutrino wrong, as indicated from from spell check on my computer; there is a space between anti and neutrino. I have a BS degree in Physics from Duke University, and have studied much graduate particle physics