Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: jana on 05/07/2008 13:19:23

Title: What is antimatter?
Post by: jana on 05/07/2008 13:19:23

jana asked the Naked Scientists:

Can someone please explain what is antimatter?

What do you think?

Title: What is antimatter?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 05/07/2008 17:55:43

Every subatomic particle has an antiparticle which if they meet and combine releases nothing but energy.  The antiparticle for an electron is a positron which has exactly the same mass as an electron but a positive charge.  There are also some particles like photons (The particle form of electromagnetic energy) which are their own antiparticles.

The collective term antimatter refers to antiparticles in general or a collection of antiparticles in one location.

Title: What is antimatter?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 06/07/2008 08:55:41

If you were born in an untimatter Earth it would be indentical to your perception

Title: What is antimatter?
Post by: syhprum on 06/07/2008 11:15:26

This would only apply if we where located in an antimatter universe, an antimatter Earth in our present location would be a very unpleasant place to live!

Title: What is antimatter?
Post by: Alan McDougall on 08/07/2008 00:03:38

Syhprum,

I know this, I was taliking bout an antimatter universe.

Our universe does contain  antimatter but in small quantities.

The "CERN" particle collider separated minute amounts of antimatter.