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Particle Science: Understanding Quarks, Leptons, and the Standard Model
The Standard Model
The Standard Model classifies all known particles into fundamental types:
- Quarks: Combine to form protons and neutrons
- Leptons: Include electrons (\( e^- \)) and neutrinos
- Bosons: Force carriers, such as photons and gluons
Quarks and Leptons
Quarks
- Types: Up, Down, Strange, Charm, Top, Bottom
- Combine to form hadrons (e.g., protons: \( uud \), neutrons: \( udd \))
Leptons
- Electrons (\( e^- \)), Muons (\( \mu^- \)), and neutrinos (\( \nu \))
The Higgs Boson
The Higgs boson explains why particles have mass. Discovered in 2012 at CERN.
Applications of Particle Science
Medical Imaging
PET scans use positron annihilation to image the body.
Technology
Particle accelerators advance semiconductor manufacturing.
Understanding the Universe
Particle Science helps answer fundamental questions about the origins of matter.
Example Problem
Describe the quark composition of a proton and a neutron.
- Proton: \( uud \)
- Neutron: \( udd \)
Practice Questions
- List the six types of quarks.
- Explain the role of the Higgs boson in particle Science.
- Describe one application of particle accelerators in technology.
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