Exam-style question
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In a particle interaction, if the initial charge is +2 and the final charge is +1, what must the charge of the missing particle be?.
- A.+1
- B.-1
- C.0
- D.+2
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The charge of the missing particle must be -1.
Explanation
Why this works
To conserve charge, the total charge before the interaction must equal the total charge after. Therefore, if the initial charge is +2 and the final is +1, the missing particle must have a charge of -1 to balance the equation.
Common mistake
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