Elementary Particles of Matter - Term Paper Example

The atomic structure in itself is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. In the particle physics domain, it is evident that the neutrons and protons are consequentially made up of varieties of moving smaller particles called quarks. In general, fundamental particles appear to have two primary constituents: lepton (in which the electron is of one type) and quark. Each elementary quark and lepton particles have corresponding antiparticles. An antiparticle refers to a structural atomic component with the same mass but opposite electrical charges and magnetic moments. Quarks are always attracted; thus, an isolated quark has never been found. Quarks are located in the atomic structure in pairs or triplets with other quarks and antiquarks. This research paper explains the matter of elementary particles.   

 Although atoms were once presumed to be the elementary particles of matter, recent scientific studies have revealed that bits are also made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons, which bind the atoms together with strong electromagnetic forces. Some of the physically known fundamental particles include the elementary fermions (leptons, quarks, antileptons, and antiquarks).

According to many experts, elementary particles are generally classified into their families based on their spin. For example, fermions typically have a half-integer spin while bosons have an integer spin. The elementary fermions generally are matter particles and antimatter particles. The second elementary particles include the fundamental bosons (Higgs boson and gauge bosons. On the other hand, the elementary bosons are force particles that mediate interactions among the fundamental fermions. Any particle-containing either two or more fundamental particles is referred to as a composite particle. This paper critically discusses the various elementary particles of matter with particular focus on the first sub-atomic particles, the ongoing search for more elementary particles, the fundamental four forces and their carriers, classification of elementary particles as well as the role of particle physics in cosmology.

1. The first Sub-Atomic Particles

Physics explains matter as a component of everyday atomic reactions. Everyday subject is, therefore, basically constituted of atoms. These atoms were once presumed to be matter's elementary particles. The bit is a Greek word meaning “indivisible”. Atom’s existence and atomic bombardment reactions in the case remained controversial until late 1910. Some of the leading physicists before introducing bits as a part of molecules regarded the initial atomic reactions as baseless mathematical illusions.