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Strangeness

Key Stage 5

Meaning

Strangeness is a conserved quantity in the strong nuclear interaction but is not conserved in the weak interaction.

About Strangeness

Strangeness is carried by the Strange-quark, which carries a strangeness of -1 and the Antistrange-quark, which carries a strangeness of +1.
During the strong interaction strangeness is transferred between hadrons.
During the weak interaction a Strange-quark may decay into a Down-quark losing its strangeness. Similarly an Antistrange-quark may decay into an Antidown-quark.
Baryons may carry a strangeness of between -3 (for matter) and +3 (for antimatter).
Mesons may carry a strangeness between -1 and 1.