Elementary/irreducible particles

[coktail]

Hi! I'm wondering what the current mainstream thinking is on irreducible/elementary particles.

Is the world made up of tiny, discrete little objects?
...or...
Is the world made up of pure energy that moves in patterns that appear to be little particles?
...or...
Neither/both/something different.

Thanks!

 

[mathman]

Hi! I'm wondering what the current mainstream thinking is on irreducible/elementary particles.

Is the world made up of tiny, discrete little objects?
...or...
Is the world made up of pure energy that moves in patterns that appear to be little particles?
...or...
Neither/both/something different.

Thanks!

Both is closer to the current mainstream, with the caveat that nobody really understands quantum theory.

 

[Bill_K]

Neither. The world is made of quantum fields, whose elementary excitations carry energy and resemble discrete objects.

 

[ZapperZ]

Hi! I'm wondering what the current mainstream thinking is on irreducible/elementary particles.

Is the world made up of tiny, discrete little objects?
...or...
Is the world made up of pure energy that moves in patterns that appear to be little particles?
...or...
Neither/both/something different.

Thanks!

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...UMYGg2AWT8ICIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQ9QEwAQ&dur=152

Zz.

 

[LayMuon]

Bill's point is the best. +1

 

[coktail]

Neither. The world is made of quantum fields, whose elementary excitations carry energy and resemble discrete objects.

I have no idea what that means, but I'm excited to learn!

I'm also exploring this site: http://particleadventure.org/

Thanks!