Classification of particles AYr1

What are the two types of particles?

Hadrons, Leptons

Leptons definition

• fundamental particles; cannot be broken down further

• experience the weak nuclear force

• they do not experience the strong nuclear force

Hadrons definition

• particles that are made up of quarks

• experience the strong nuclear force

(although Hadrons can experience all four fundamental forces)

Baryon definition

a particle that is made up of 3 quarks

Antibaryon definition

a particle that is made up of 3 antiquarks

Meson definition

a particle that is made up of a quark and antiquark

Note: cannot have a quark-antiquark pair e.g. up and antiup because they’ll annihilate

What is a muon

a ‘heavy electron’, these decay into electrons

What are the three types of quarks

up (u), down (d), strange (s)