How did scientists prove that quarks exist?

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SUMMARY

Scientists proved the existence of quarks through high-energy collisions in particle accelerators, such as Fermilab, where particles collide at speeds close to the speed of light. The quark model, which identifies six fundamental quarks, emerged from analyzing patterns in the properties of over 30 previously considered elementary particles. While no experiment can definitively prove a theory, the quark model has consistently aligned with experimental predictions, reinforcing its validity. Current research focuses on probing the potential substructure of quarks through proton-proton collisions, with no evidence of substructure found to date, setting energy scale limits around the tera-electron volt (TeV) range.

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  • Understanding of particle physics concepts, particularly the Standard Model.
  • Familiarity with high-energy particle collisions and their significance in physics.
  • Knowledge of the quark model and its implications for particle classification.
  • Basic grasp of experimental methods in physics, including the role of accelerators.
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  • Research the Standard Model of particle physics and its components.
  • Explore the workings of particle accelerators like Fermilab and CERN.
  • Learn about the implications of the quark model on particle classification and predictions.
  • Investigate current experiments aimed at detecting potential quark substructure.
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Physicists, students of particle physics, and anyone interested in the fundamental building blocks of matter and the experimental methods used to study them.

Karimspencer
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I heard that it had something to do with acceleration in a huge accelerator in fermi-lab but where they can collide going at speeds close to the speed of light , but how does this collision help. Or is this not the way they used?
 
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First: You cannot "prove" something in physics. It is possible to falsify a theory by experiments. But if experiments and theory agree, this does not prove the theory. If many different measurements are in agreement with predictions from this theory, it is a good theory. But it can never be proven.

How did they invent the theory? They analysed the particles produced in these collisions. In high-energy collisions, a lot of particles are produced. Before the quark model, they were all considered as elementary particles, and soon 30+ of them were known. But then they found patterns in their properties. The quark model was able to explain those patterns with just 4 (today: 6) quarks, and to predict the existence of new particles, which were found later.

It is possible to calculate a lot of properties of the particles with the quark model. And up to now, no serious deviation from these predictions was found.
 
So could scientists predict what what are quarks made out of(if they were made out of something) by making high-energy collisions of quarks?
 
You cannot accelerate individual quarks. If quarks have some sub-structure, it might be possible to see this in proton-proton collisions. So far, no substructure was found, which sets lower limits for the relevant energy scale (~TeV).
 
oh ok
 

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