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particle physics

Also known as subatomic physics

branch of physics dealing with the interactions of subatomic particles

AI overview

Particle physics is the branch of science that studies the tiniest building blocks of matter and how they interact with each other. Understanding these fundamental particles and their interactions helps explain how the universe works at its most basic level.

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Image: Institute of nuclear and particle physics 00048 REP SDR-65 (0666).jpg

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Commons category: Particle physics
Commons gallery: Particle physics
Stack Exchange tag: physics.stackexchange.com/tags/particle-physics

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Particle physics or high-energy physics is the study of fundamental particles and forces that constitute matter and radiation. The field also studies combinations of elementary particles up to the scale of protons and neutrons, while the study of combinations of protons and neutrons is called nuclear physics.

The fundamental particles in the universe are classified in the Standard Model as fermions (matter particles) and bosons (force-carrying particles). There are three generations of fermions, although ordinary matter is made only from the first fermion generation. The first generation consists of up and down quarks which form protons and neutrons, and electrons and electron neutrinos. The three fundamental interactions known to be mediated by bosons are electromagnetism, the weak interaction, and the strong interaction.