What is the difference between electrons and positrons? Why are they different, when they both have the same mass and charge?
Electrons and positrons are both elementary particles, but they have opposite charges. Electrons have a negative charge (-1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs), while positrons have a positive charge (+1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs). This means that electrons and positrons will be attracted to particles with opposite charges, and repelled by particles with the same charge.
Another difference between electrons and positrons is that electrons are considered to be fermions, which are particles that obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle, meaning that no two fermions can be in the same quantum state at the same time. Positrons, on the other hand, are considered to be anti-fermions, and they obey the opposite of the Pauli Exclusion Principle, meaning that two anti-fermions can be in the same quantum state at the same time.
In terms of their mass and charge, electrons and positrons are indeed identical, however, they are related to different properties of the same particle. Electrons and positrons are called antiparticles, they both have the same mass and charge, but opposite signs. They can be thought of as mirror images of each other. They are also created and annihilated in pairs, in certain reactions in particle physics.
In summary, both electrons and positrons have the same mass and charge, but they have opposite charges, and different properties related to quantum state and Pauli Exclusion Principle.
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