Physics A-Level
Virtual photons
What Virtual photons means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Virtual photons
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Reference: AQA
Not directly detectable and exist only for the brief time of the interaction, transmitting the electromagnetic force between charged particles.
Topics that use Virtual photons
- Particle interactions (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Conservation laws at vertices
- Electromagnetic force
- Exchange particles as carriers of forces
- Fundamental interactions
- Range and strength
- Virtual particles
- Weak and electromagnetic interactions
- Exchange particles
Using Virtual photons in the exam
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