Particle Physics

Understanding fundamental particles and the Standard Model

Topics

What are subatomic particles?

Subatomic particles are particles smaller than atoms, including protons, neutrons, and electrons that make up atoms, as well as many other particles discovered in particle physics. They include quarks (which make up protons and neutrons), leptons (like electrons), and force-carrying particles.

What is an atom?

An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains the element's properties. Atoms consist of a nucleus (containing protons and neutrons) surrounded by electrons. The number of protons determines the element, while electrons determine chemical behavior.

What is antimatter?

Antimatter is matter made of antiparticles—particles with opposite charge to normal particles. Antielectrons (positrons) have positive charge, antiprotons have negative charge. When matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate, converting to energy.

What is the Higgs boson?

The Higgs boson is a fundamental particle discovered in 2012 that is associated with the Higgs field, which gives other particles mass. The Higgs field fills all space, and particles interact with it to acquire mass, explaining why some particles are heavy while others are light.

What is the standard model?

The Standard Model is the theory describing all known fundamental particles and three of the four fundamental forces (electromagnetic, weak, and strong). It organizes particles into quarks, leptons, and force carriers, and has been extremely successful in predicting and explaining particle behavior.