By considering the energy-time uncertainty principle, estimate the range of the weak nuclear interaction at low energies. Compare this range to the size of a typical nucleon (for example, a proton) and therefore explain why the weak nuclear interaction between individual nucleons is 'weak'.
I'm a bit stuck with this question: to estimate the range of weak nuclear interactions do I need to put the energy levels of a quark into the energy-time principle? Beyond doing this I am a bit lost!
Any comments would be much appreciated; this is an assignment so the work has to be original.
Best Answer
You are supposed to take 1/M and turn it into a length using dimensional analysis with hbars and c's． This is the compton wavelength of the force carrier, which gives the range of the interaction.