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Neutrino: meaning, definitions and examples

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neutrino

 

[ njuːˈtrinoʊ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

particle physics

A neutrino is a type of subatomic particle that is electrically neutral and interacts only via the weak nuclear force and gravity. Neutrinos are produced in nuclear reactions, such as in the sun or during supernovae. They are incredibly abundant, yet they rarely interact with matter, making them difficult to detect.

Examples of usage

  • Neutrinos travel through the Earth without any interaction.
  • The sun emits a vast number of neutrinos every second.
  • Neutrino detectors are used in various experiments to study fundamental particles.
  • Researchers detected neutrinos produced in a nearby supernova.

Etymology

The term 'neutrino' was coined by the Italian physicist Wolfgang Pauli in 1930. The word itself is derived from the Italian 'neutro', meaning neutral, with the diminutive suffix '-ino'. This name was chosen because neutrinos are neutral particles with an extremely small mass that do not carry electric charge. The discovery of the neutrino was essential for understanding the processes that occur during nuclear reactions, particularly in stars. Shortly after Pauli's proposal, neutrinos were experimentally confirmed by Clyde Cowan and Frederick Reines in 1956, for which they received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1995. Their work demonstrated that neutrinos are indeed real particles and are produced in vast quantities during nuclear fission and fusion processes. Over the years, the study of neutrinos has led to significant developments in both particle physics and cosmology, including insights into the early universe and the properties of matter.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,645, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.