Quarks are elementary particles and fundamental constituents of matter, combining to form protons and neutrons within atomic nuclei. They interact through the strong force, mediated by gluons, and come in six 'flavors': up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom, each possessing unique properties such as charge and mass.

Quarks

Elementary particles are the most fundamental constituents of matter and energy, forming the basis of the Standard Model of particle physics. They include quarks, leptons, gauge bosons, and the Higgs boson, each playing a critical role in the structure and interactions of the universe at the smallest scales.

elementary particles

fundamental constituents of matter

Protons and neutrons are the fundamental particles that make up the nucleus of an atom, with protons carrying a positive charge and neutrons being neutral. Together, they determine the atomic mass and the identity of the element, playing a crucial role in the structure and stability of matter.

protons and neutrons

atomic nuclei

The strong force, also known as the strong nuclear force, is one of the four fundamental forces of nature and is responsible for holding the nuclei of atoms together by binding protons and neutrons. It operates at very short ranges, overcoming the electromagnetic repulsion between positively charged protons to maintain nuclear stability.

strong force

Gluons are elementary particles that act as the exchange particles for the strong force between quarks, which are the building blocks of protons and neutrons. They are massless, carry a color charge, and are responsible for binding quarks together to form hadrons, such as protons and neutrons, in atomic nuclei.

gluons

Six flavors

Up flavor

Down flavor

Charm flavor

Strange flavor

Top flavor

Bottom flavor

unique properties

Charge is a fundamental property of matter that causes it to experience a force in the presence of other charged matter. It comes in two types, positive and negative, and is quantified in units of coulombs, with like charges repelling and opposite charges attracting each other.

charge

Mass is a fundamental property of physical objects that quantifies the amount of matter contained within them, playing a crucial role in the laws of physics, especially in mechanics and gravitation. It is invariant in classical physics but can vary according to the theory of relativity when an object approaches the speed of light.

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