Elementary particles

MP3 Junkie

Hi there. I'm currently writing an essay on the four fundamental forces of physics for my Advanced Higher course (an SQA qualification) but I got confused on a couple of issues:

1. what quarks make up protons and neutrons?
2. what's a gluon?
3. do neutrinos do anything at all except fly around passing through everything in really big numbers?

thanks.

arivero

1 an 2 you will find easily in any SciAm collection. As for 3, yep, they carry away momentum in any beta desintegration of the nucleus.

Janitor

I suppose you could say neutrinos carry lepton number and help conserve it in weak nuclear reactions.

selfAdjoint

And that's the most important thing neutrinos "do"; participate in weak interactions. Without them weak interactions couldn't happen.

marlon

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=43685

Hi, check out this thread...

marlon

MP3 Junkie

Thanks dudes and dudettes. This should help make my essay better!