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).

Answered by Jordan B. Physics tutor

1535 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

explain how a cyclotron produces a high energy electron


State Newton's Law of Gravitation


A pellet of mass 8.8 g embeds itself in a wooden block of 450 g which is suspended by a light in-extensible string. After the collision the block reaches a max height of 0.63 m. Calculate the initial velocity of the pellet.


Describe and explain the motion of a skydiver from leaving the aircraft to reaching terminal velocity


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences