Explore the fascinating paradox of neutrons in this 14-minute educational video that delves into why neutrons exist despite their inherent instability. Learn why free neutrons decay into protons after about 15 minutes, why protons have lower rest mass than neutrons, and how the Higgs field and Yukawa coupling determine particle mass. Discover the crucial reasons neutrons become stable when bound in atomic nuclei and why this phenomenon is essential for life itself. The video systematically addresses a chain of "why" questions about neutron stability, taking viewers from basic nuclear physics to deeper quantum mechanics concepts, including why two-neutron or two-proton nuclei cannot exist independently due to electromagnetic forces and the Pauli exclusion principle.
Neutrons Are Unstable, But They're Everywhere - Why?
Overview
Syllabus
0:00 Why do neutrons exist?
1:16 Why do neutrons transform to protons?
2:02 How does mass play a role in stability?
3:28 Why are down quarks heavier than up quarks?
5:02 Why some particles interact more with Higgs field - Yukawa coupling
6:06 Why isn't the universe made only of protons?
7:00 Why are neutrons stable when bound in a nucleus?
9:34 How crucial important of this phenomenon: responsible for life!
Taught by
Arvin Ash
