Fundamental Forces of Physics: Quarks, Gluons & Neutrinos Explained

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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.
 
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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.
 
I suppose you could say neutrinos carry lepton number and help conserve it in weak nuclear reactions.
 
And that's the most important thing neutrinos "do"; participate in weak interactions. Without them weak interactions couldn't happen.
 
Thanks dudes and dudettes. This should help make my essay better!
 

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