What are the different classifications of sub-atomic particles?

Firstly, particles can be split up into to main categories: hadrons and leptons.

Hadrons interact with the strong force and are made of quarks. Leptons don't interact with the strong force and are fundamental particles (they aren't made of quarks). Examples of leptons are electrons, muons and neutrinos.

Hadrons can further be sub-divided again: Baryons and Mesons. 

Baryons are made up of three quarks, where as mesons are made up of a quark and anti-quark. Examples of baryons are protons (up up down) and mesons are pions (up antidown).

JB
Answered by Jordan B. Physics tutor

2015 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How would you calculate the vertical and horizontal components of the velocity of an object with an initial velocity of 15m/s which is travelling upwards at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal?


A source of green laser light has a wavelength of 560nm, what is its frequency? Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and using the correct units.


A nail of mass 7.0g is held horizontally and is hit by a hammer of mass 0.25kg moving at 10ms^-1. The hammer remains in contact with the nail during and after the blow. (a) What is the velocity of the hammer and nail after contact?


What is an equipotential in an electric/gravitational field?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning