Exam-style question
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In pair production, what is required for a photon to create a particle-antiparticle pair?.
- A.The photon must have energy greater than the rest mass energy of the pair.
- B.The photon must collide with another photon.
- C.The photon must be emitted from a particle.
- D.The photon must have zero energy.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The photon must have energy greater than the rest mass energy of the pair.
Explanation
Why this works
For pair production to occur, the energy of the incoming photon must be at least equal to the combined rest mass energy of the particle-antiparticle pair, as described by Einstein's equation E=mc².
Common mistake
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