Particle physics is a BIG subject. There are so many known particles that I doubt anyone can name each one (at least not without taking the time to memorize them all).
While most people don’t need to understand all the details, we can benefit from knowing the basics. It’s worth knowing how scientists currently answer some of our big questions.
What fundamental building blocks makeup everything we see in the world? What forces cause systems to move in certain ways and to evolve?
Chemistry provides some answers. Stuff is made of atoms and molecules, which mostly experience electric and magnetic forces. Each element in the periodic table is made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Most chemical reactions are due to the movement of electrons. Understanding chemistry is useful.
Physics takes us deeper.
Just as atoms are made of smaller particles, protons and neutrons are also made of smaller particles. These particles are called quarks. There are six types of quarks, with the names up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom. There are also six particles called leptons, named electron, muon, tau, electron-neutrino, muon-neutrino, and tau-neutrino.
In addition to the quarks and leptons, particles called gauge bosons mediate the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions. Gravity is the only force not described by The Standard Model. (Einstein’s general theory of relativity provides a useful framework for understanding gravity.)
And, of course, let’s not forget the Higgs Boson, discovered in 2012.
Quanta Magazine has an amazing new visualization of The Standard Model.
Check it out!
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