Protons and neutrons are made of quarks from "summary" of The Quantum Universe by Brian Cox,Jeff Forshaw
The world of particle physics is a strange one, where the familiar rules of everyday life no longer apply. At this microscopic level, matter is not made up of solid, indivisible particles as we might have once thought. Instead, scientists have discovered that protons and neutrons, the building blocks of atomic nuclei, are in fact composed of even smaller particles known as quarks. Quarks are the fundamental constituents of matter, but they have never been observed in isolation. They are always bound together in groups of two or three, forming particles such as protons and neutrons. These combinations of quarks are held together by the strong nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature. This force is mediated by particles called gluons, which act as the "glue" that binds quarks together. Each proton is made up of two "up" quarks and one "down" quark, while each neutron consists of one "up" quark and two "down" quarks. The properties of these quarks determine the characteristics of the particles they form, such as their mass, charge, and spin. By studying the behavior of quarks and the forces that act upon them, scientists have been able to unravel the mysteries of the subatomic world. The discovery of quarks and the development of the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) have revolutionized our understanding of the universe at its most fundamental level. These tiny particles and the forces that govern their interactions provide the key to unlocking the secrets of the cosmos, from the behavior of matter at the smallest scales to the evolution of the universe as a whole. In the realm of particle physics, the concept of quarks and their role in the structure of protons and neutrons is essential to our understanding of the building blocks of matter. The intricate dance of quarks and gluons within these particles shapes the world around us, influencing everything from the properties of materials to the behavior of stars millions of light-years away. Through the study of quarks and their interactions, scientists continue to probe the mysteries of the quantum universe, seeking to unlock the secrets of the cosmos and our place within it.
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